History of the Sovereign and Guinea
Pictures of the Sovereign and Guinea
One Guinea
Charles II, James II,
William & Mary, William III, Anne,
George I, George II, George III
Sovereign
George III, George IV,
William IV, Victoria, Edward VII,
George V, George VI, Elizabeth II
It is stressed that the following prices are a guide only, and in UK pounds. They represent what you might have to pay a dealer, rather than what you might be able to sell them for. I can take no personal responsibility for their accuracy, although every effort has been made to ensure that they have been copied correctly. In addition it should be noted that the price of gold coins is very dependent on the bullion value of gold, which in 2026 has risen to a level where the bullion value is so high that it exceeds any numismatic value.
As indicated in the note below, despite lower quotes in these prices the bullion value of a sovereign at thetime of writing is about £860. Current bullion values may be available on my Bullion Value page
The information has generally been taken from the UK monthly magazine
Coin News,
and is reproduced by the kind permission of
Token Publishing Ltd, 40 Southernhay East, Exeter, EX1 1PE
The headings F, VF, EF and Unc refer to the condition grades of the coins. A guide to
evaluating grades is found on my UK Coin Values Index page.
Proof coins relatively often found are listed, but the absence of a mention does not mean that
a proof of that year does not exist.
No values are available for these early hammered coins.
For Post-1817 sovereigns see below.
No values of these coins are available, although a Broad in EF was recently offered for £7,250.
Year F VF EF 1663 5000 15000 60000 1663el 4000 12000 1663b2 3500 11000 45000 1664b2 3500 11000 1664el2 4000 12000 47000 1664b3 1400 4000 16000 1664el3 2000 5000 20000 1665 1400 4000 15000 1665el 2000 6000 22000 1666 1200 3500 15000 1667 1200 3500 15000 1668 1300 4000 15000 1668el ex rare 1669 1500 3500 15000 1670 1500 3500 14500 1671 1500 3500 14500 1672b3 1500 4000 17000 1672b4 1100 3000 11000 1673b3 1200 3200 16000 1673b4 1000 3000 13000 1674 1000 3000 13000 1674ec ex rare 1675 1100 3000 13000 1675ec 1400 4000 15000 1676 900 2750 12000 1676/4 900 2750 12000 1676ec 900 4500 20000 1677 900 3000 12000 1677el ex rare 1677ec 1300 3500 15000 1678 1000 2500 13000 1678el ex rare 1678ec 1300 3500 15000 1679 1200 2750 12000 1679ec 1250 3500 15000 1680 1000 2500 11000 1680ec 1300 4000 15000 1681 1100 3250 13000 1681ec 1300 4000 16500 1682 1000 3200 12000 1682ec 1400 4500 18000 1683 1000 2500 12000 1683ec 1200 4500 16000 1684 1000 3000 13000 1684ec 1500 4500 19000 b2: bust two b3: bust three b4: bust four el: elephant below bust el2: elephant below bust 2 el3: elephant below bust 3 ec: elephant and castle below bust
Year F VF EF 1685 1500 3500 13000 1685ec 1600 4000 15000 1686b1 1300 3000 14000 1686ec1 ex rare 1686b2 1400 3500 12000 1686ec2 1600 4000 16000 1687 1700 5000 14500 1687ec 1500 4000 17500 1688 1400 3000 13000 1688ec 1400 4500 15000 b1: bust one b2: bust two ec: elephant and castle below bust ec1: elephant and castle below bust 1 ec2: elephant and castle below bust 2
Year F VF EF 1689 1100 3600 12000 1689ec 1200 3500 13000 1690 1100 3600 13000 1690ec 1200 3000 16000 1691 1100 3650 13000 1691ec 1100 3400 13000 1692 1100 3400 13020 1692el 1250 3400 13000 1692ec 1200 4250 13000 1693 1200 3250 13000 1693el 1400 4750 19000 1693ec 1450 4750 18000 1694 1200 3400 13000 1694/3 1200 3400 13000 1694ec 1300 3400 13000 1694/3ec1300 3400 14000 ec: elephant and castle below bust el: elephant below bust
Year F VF EF 1695 1000 3000 11000 1695ec 1500 6000 16500 1696 1000 3000 11000 1696ec extremely rare 1697b1 1000 4000 12000 1697b2 1000 3500 12000 1697ec2 2000 7000 20000 1698 1000 3000 11000 1698ec 1800 5500 13500 1699 1100 3500 12000 1699ec extremely rare 1700 1000 2750 10000 1700ec 1600 6000 1701b2 950 2750 9500 1701ec extremely rare 1701b3 2000 6750 20000 b1: bust one b2: bust two b3: bust three ec: elephant and castle below bust ec2: elephant and castle below bust 2
Year F VF EF 1702 1500 5000 18000 1703V 25000 65000 150000 1705 1500 5000 16000 1706 1500 5000 17000 1707bu 1500 5000 17000 1707au 1000 3000 14000 1707ec 1500 6000 17000 1707b2 900 3000 12000 1708b1 950 3250 13000 1708b2 900 3000 9000 1708ec 1500 6000 18000 1709 900 2200 10000 1709ec 950 4000 15000 1710 850 1800 7000 1711 850 1800 7000 1712 850 2200 8000 1713 800 2000 6500 1714 800 2000 6500 1714A 1000 2200 12000 V: VIGO below bust b1: bust one b2: bust two bu: before union au: after union ec: elephant and castle below bust A: No bar in last A in GRATIA
Year F VF EF 1714 2200 6000 20000 1715b2 900 2000 6500 1715b3 700 2000 6000 1716b3 850 2100 7000 1716b4 750 2000 6500 1716h ex rare 1717 750 2000 6500 1718 ex rare 1719 800 2000 7000 1720 800 2000 6000 1721 850 2200 6500 1721ec ex rare 1722 900 2000 7000 1722ec ex rare 1723b4 900 2000 7000 1723b5 900 2000 7000 1724 900 2200 7000 1725 900 2200 7000 1726 850 2200 7000 1726ec 2500 8000 25000 1727 900 2500 8000 b2: bust two b3: bust three b4: bust four b5: bust five ec: elephant and castle below bust h: bust four, Hanoverian shield at date.
Year F VF EF 1727ls 1600 5000 17000 1727ss 1600 5000 17000 1728 1650 5500 16000 1729E 1800 4250 17500 1729 proof ex rare 1730 900 2000 8000 1731 800 2250 9000 1731E 1600 5000 16500 1732 800 2500 9000 1732E 1500 4000 15000 1732ll 700 2000 8000 1732Ell 1650 5000 18000 1733 700 1700 6500 1734 700 1700 6500 1735 700 1700 6500 1736 700 1800 6500 1737 700 1800 6500 1738 750 1900 7000 1739 900 2000 9000 1739E 1500 5000 17000 1740 800 1800 9500 1741/39 1000 3000 11000 1743 1000 3000 12000 1745 700 1800 7000 1745L 2500 7000 30000 1746 800 2000 7500 1747 650 1500 5000 1748 650 1500 6000 1749 700 1600 6000 1750 650 1450 5000 1751 600 1400 5000 1752 600 1400 5000 1753 600 1400 5000 1755 600 1500 4500 1756 600 1500 4500 1758 600 1500 4500 1759 600 1500 4500 1760 600 1500 4500 ls: large shield ss: small shield ll: large lettering Ell: EIC below bust, large lettering E: EIC below bust L: LIMA below bust
Year F VF EF 1761 2200 6000 15000
1763 1600 4500 12000 1764 1400 4500 13000 1764ns 2200 5000 13000
1765 500 900 2200 1766 500 900 2200 1767 550 1000 2750 1768 500 900 2250 1769 500 900 2250 1770 1500 3250 8000 1771 500 700 1800 1772 500 700 1800 1773 500 700 1950
1774 450 700 1500 1775 475 700 1500 1776 450 700 1700 1777 450 700 1700 1778 850 1400 4000 1779 500 725 1350 1781 450 675 1450 1782 450 675 1450 1783 400 625 1450 1784 400 625 1350 1785 450 700 1450 1786 500 750 1500
1787 400 575 1150 1788 400 575 1150 1789 400 575 1200 1790 425 650 1350 1791 400 600 1200 1792 400 600 1200 1793 400 650 1250 1794 400 650 1200 1795 400 650 1200 1796 400 650 1200 1797 400 700 1300 1798 400 675 1300 1799 500 825 2000
1813 1400 2600 7000 ns: no stop above headExtracted from Coin News, December 2023
Year F VF EF Unc 1817 850 1200 2500 5500 1818 850 1500 5000 9000 1819 exceedingly rare 1820 800 1150 2250 5500
A good VF specimen of the exceedingly rare 1819 sovereign recently sold at Sothebys for £55,000.
Year F VF EF Unc 1821 600 900 2200 5000 1821 proof 15000 1822 600 850 2000 4500 1823 2000 4000 8500 11000 1824 600 1100 2250 4500 1825t1 1000 2750 8000 10000
1825t2 600 1000 2000 5000 1826 600 1000 2000 4250 1826 proof 13500 1827 600 1000 2000 4500 1828 6000 15000 30000 40000 1829 600 1000 2500 4500 1830 600 1000 2500 4500
Year F VF EF Unc 1831 800 1350 3500 6500 1831 proof 18000 1832 800 1200 3000 5000 1833 800 1200 3000 5500 1835 800 1200 3000 7000 1836 800 1200 3000 6000 1836N 6000 11000 22000 1837 850 1300 3000 50001836N: N on shield
Note that changes in the cost of gold mean that the minimum value of a sovereign varies.
Year F VF EF Unc 1838 1000 1750 4000 7500 1839 1500 3000 4500 8500 1839 proof 27000 1841 5500 11000 25000 35000 1842 BV BV 1000 2500 1843 BV BV 1000 2000 1843ns 5250 10000 35000 I843 750 1750 1844 BV BV 1000 2000 1845 BV BV 1000 2500 1846 BV BV 1000 2250 1847 BV BV 1000 2250 1848 BV BV 1100 2600 1849 BV BV 1100 2600 1850 BV BV 1100 2100 1851 BV BV 850 2100 1852 BV BV 900 2100 1853 BV BV 800 1850 1853 proof 22500 1854 BV BV 800 2100 1854lb BV BV 800 2300 1855 BV BV 800 2100 1856 BV BV 800 2100 1857 BV BV 800 2100 1858 BV BV 800 2100 1859 BV BV 800 2100 1859A 1000 2200 10000 1860 BV BV 750 2100 1861 BV BV 750 1300 1862 BV BV 750 1600 1863nd BV BV 750 1600 1863dn BV BV 800 1200 1864 BV BV 750 1150 1865 BV BV 750 1450 1866 BV BV 800 1450 1868 BV BV 750 1300 1869 BV BV 750 1300 1870 BV BV 750 1300 1871s BV BV 600 1100 1872snd BV BV 600 1100 1872sdn BV BV 600 1100 1873s BV BV 600 1400 1874s 2000 4500 11000 16000 Melbourne Mint 1872sM BV BV 800 1100 1873sM extremely rare 1874sM BV BV 800 1000 1879sM extremely rare 1880sM 800 1700 3000 8000 1881sM BV BV 800 1600 1882sM BV BV 800 1100 1883sM BV BV 800 1400 1884sM BV BV 800 1100 1885sM BV BV 800 1100 1886sM 1800 4000 7500 20000 1887sM 800 1500 4000 10000 Sydney Mint 1871sS BV BV 725 900 1872sS BV BV 725 1000 1873sS BV BV 725 1000 1875sS BV BV 725 1000 1877sS BV BV 725 1050 1878sS BV BV 725 1050 1879sS BV BV 725 1000 1880sS BV BV 725 1000 1881sS BV BV 725 1100 1882sS BV BV 725 1000 1883sS BV BV 725 1000 1884sS BV BV 725 1000 1885sS BV BV 725 950 1886sS BV BV 725 950 1887sS BV BV 725 1000 s: shield reverse dn: die number nd: no die number lb: larger bust A: Ansell type ns: narrow shield M: Melbourne S:Sydney
Note that recent rises in the cost of gold mean that the minimum value of a sovereign should be 860 pounds.
Year F VF EF Unc 1871g BV BV 800 950 1872g BV BV 800 1100 1873g BV BV 800 1100 1874g BV BV 800 1000 1876g BV BV 800 1100 1878g BV BV 800 1150 1879g 800 1750 6000 20000 1880g BV BV 800 1000 1884g BV BV 800 1000 1885g BV BV 800 1000 Melbourne Mint 1872gM BV BV 800 1100 1873gM BV BV 800 1000 1874gM BV BV 800 1000 1875gM BV BV 800 900 1876gM BV BV 800 1000 1877gM BV BV 800 900 1878gM BV BV 800 900 1879gM BV BV 800 900 1880gM BV BV 800 900 1881sM BV BV 800 900 1881gM BV BV 800 900 1882gM BV BV 800 900 1883gM BV BV 800 900 1884gM BV BV 800 900 1885gM BV BV 800 900 1886gM BV BV 800 950 1887gM BV BV 800 950 Sydney Mint 1871gS BV BV 800 1000 1872gS BV BV 800 950 1873gS BV BV 800 950 1874gS BV BV 800 950 1875gS BV BV 800 950 1876gS BV BV 800 1000 1877gS extremely rare 1879gS BV BV 800 1000 1880gS BV BV 800 1000 1881gS BV BV 800 1000 1882gS BV BV 800 950 1883gS BV BV 800 950 1884gS BV BV 800 950 1885gS BV BV 800 950 1886gS BV BV 800 950 1887gS BV BV 800 950 g: George & Dragon reverse M: Melbourne S:Sydney
Note that recent rises in the cost of gold mean that the minimum value of a sovereign should be 860 pounds.
Year F VF EF Unc 1887 BV BV 800 850 1887 proof 5000 1888 BV BV 800 850 1889 BV BV 800 850 1890 BV BV 800 850 1891 BV BV 800 850 1892 BV BV 800 850 Melbourne Mint 1887M BV BV 800 850 1888M BV BV 800 850 1889M BV BV 800 850 1890M BV BV 800 850 1891M BV BV 800 850 1892M BV BV 800 850 1893Mj BV BV 800 850 Sydney Mint 1887S BV BV 750 900 1888S BV BV 750 800 1889S BV BV 750 800 1890S BV BV 750 800 1891S BV BV 750 800 1892S BV BV 750 800 1893Sj BV BV 750 800 M: Melbourne S:Sydney
Note that recent rises in the cost of gold mean that the minimum value of a sovereign should be 860 pounds.
Year F VF EF Unc 1893 BV BV BV 800 1893 proof 5000 1894 BV BV BV 800 1895 BV BV BV 800 1896 BV BV BV 800 1898 BV BV BV 800 1899 BV BV BV 800 1900 BV BV BV 800 1901 BV BV BV 800 Melbourne Mint 1893Mo BV BV BV 800 1894M BV BV BV 800 1895M BV BV BV 800 1896M BV BV BV 800 1897M BV BV BV 800 1898M BV BV BV 800 1899M BV BV BV 800 1900M BV BV BV 800 1901M BV BV BV 800 Perth Mint 1899P BV BV 800 1600 1900P BV BV BV 800 1901P BV BV BV 800 Sydney Mint 1893So BV BV BV 800 1894S BV BV BV 800 1895S BV BV BV 800 1896S BV BV BV 800 1897S BV BV BV 800 1898S BV BV BV 800 1899S BV BV BV 800 1900S BV BV BV 800 1901S BV BV BV 800 M: Melbourne P: Perth S:Sydney
Note that recent rises in the cost of gold mean that the minimum value of a sovereign should be 860 pounds.
Year F VF EF Unc 1902 BV BV BV 800 1902 proof 900 1903 BV BV BV 800 1904 BV BV BV 800 1905 BV BV BV 800 1906 BV BV BV 800 1907 BV BV BV 800 1908 BV BV BV 800 1909 BV BV BV 800 1910 BV BV BV 800 Ottawa Mint 1908C proof extremely rare 1909C BV BV BV 1300 1910C BV BV BV 1300 Melbourne Mint 1902M BV BV BV 800 1903M BV BV BV 800 1904M BV BV BV 800 1905M BV BV BV 800 1906M BV BV BV 800 1907M BV BV BV 800 1908M BV BV BV 800 1909M BV BV BV 800 1910M BV BV BV 800 Perth Mint 1902P BV BV BV 800 1903P BV BV BV 800 1904P BV BV BV 800 1905P BV BV BV 800 1906P BV BV BV 800 1907P BV BV BV 800 1908P BV BV BV 800 1909P BV BV BV 800 1910P BV BV BV 800 Sydney Mint 1902S BV BV BV 800 1902S proof ex rare 1903S BV BV BV 800 1904S BV BV BV 800 1905S BV BV BV 800 1906S BV BV BV 800 1907S BV BV BV 800 1908S BV BV BV 800 1909S BV BV BV 800 1910S BV BV BV 800
Note that recent rises in the cost of gold mean that the minimum value of a sovereign should be 860 pounds.
Year F VF EF Unc 1911 BV BV BV 750 1911 proof 2000 1912 BV BV BV 750 1913 BV BV BV 750 1914 BV BV BV 750 1915 BV BV BV 750 1916 BV BV BV 800 1917 6000 15000 1925 BV BV BV 750 Ottawa Mint 1911C BV BV BV 750 1913C BV BV 1000 4000 1914C BV BV 1500 2000 1916C Ex Rare 1917C BV BV BV 750 1918C BV BV BV 800 1919C BV BV BV 800 Bombay Mint 1918I BV BV BV 750 Melbourne Mint 1911M BV BV BV 750 1912M BV BV BV 750 1913M BV BV BV 750 1914M BV BV BV 750 1915M BV BV BV 750 1916M BV BV BV 750 1917M BV BV BV 750 1918M BV BV BV 750 1919M BV BV BV 750 1920M 800 1500 2500 6500 1921M 4000 7000 8000 24000 1922M 4000 7000 8000 25000 1923M BV BV BV 775 1924M BV BV BV 775 1925M BV BV BV 750 1926M BV BV BV 750 1928M BV 900 1800 2500 1929M 900 1000 1800 2500 1930M BV BV BV 750 1931M BV BV BV 1100 Perth Mint 1911P BV BV BV 750 1912P BV BV BV 750 1913P BV BV BV 750 1914P BV BV BV 750 1915P BV BV BV 750 1916P BV BV BV 750 1917P BV BV BV 750 1918P BV BV BV 750 1919P BV BV BV 750 1920P BV BV BV 750 1921P BV BV BV 750 1922P BV BV BV 750 1923P BV BV BV 750 1924P BV BV BV 750 1925P BV BV BV 750 1926P 750 950 1850 3200 1927P BV BV BV 800 1928P BV BV BV 750 1929P BV BV BV 750 1930P BV BV BV 750 1931P BV BV BV 750 Sydney Mint 1911S BV BV BV 750 1912S BV BV BV 750 1913S BV BV BV 750 1914S BV BV BV 750 1915S BV BV BV 750 1916S BV BV BV 750 1917S BV BV BV 750 1918S BV BV BV 750 1919S BV BV BV 750 1920S ex rare 1921S 600 900 1750 3000 1922S ex rare 1923S ex rare 1924S BV BV 1500 3500 1925S BV BV BV 625 1926S ex rare Pretoria Mint 1923SA 15000 1923SA proof 3000 1924SA 3000 6000 10000 1925SA BV BV BV 750 1926SA BV BV BV 750 1927SA BV BV BV 750 1928SA BV BV BV 750 1929SA BV BV BV 750 1930SA BV BV BV 750 1931SA BV BV BV 750 1932SA BV BV BV 750 C: Ottawa, Canada I: India M: Melbourne P: Perth S: Sydney SA: Pretoria, South Africa
Year F VF EF Unc 1937 proof only 3750 5000
Year F VF EF Unc 1937 proof only 3750 5000 1953 ex rare 1957 BV BV BV 750 1958 BV BV BV 750 1959 BV BV BV 750 1962 BV BV BV 750 1963 BV BV BV 750 1964 BV BV BV 750 1965 BV BV BV 750 1966 BV BV BV 750 1967 BV BV BV 750 1968 BV BV BV 750
For the following sovereigns information is over 17 years old. As a rough guide all should be at least have the bullion value of about 860 GB pounds.
1974 125 150 1976 125 150 1978 125 150 1979 125 150 1979 proof 150 1980 150 1980 proof 150 1981 150 1981 proof 150 1982 150 1982 proof 150 1983 proof 150 1984 proof 150 1985 proof 150 1986 proof 150 1987 proof 150 1988 proof 150 1989 proof 350 1990 proof 150 1991 proof 150 1992 proof 165 1993 proof 165 1994 proof 165 1995 proof 165 1996 proof 165 1997 proof 175 1998 proof 175 1999 proof 200 2000 125 2000 proof 140 2001 125 2001 proof 140 2002 125 2002 proof 140 2003 125 2003 proof 140 2004 125 2004 proof 140 2005 125 2005 proof 140 2006 125 2006 proof 140 2007 125 2007 proof 140 2008 125 2008 proof 140 2009 125 2009 proof 140 2010 125 2010 proof 140 2011 125 2011 proof 140 2012 125 2012 proof 140 2013 125 2013 proof 140 2014 125 2014 proof 140 2015 125 2015 proof 140 2016 125 2016 proof 140 2017 125 2017 proof 140
Note that recent rises in the cost of gold mean that the minimum value of a sovereign should be about 860 pounds.
1817-1968: extracted from Coin News December 2025; 1970-date: Coin Yearbook 2007.
For Decimal One Pound coins issued from 1983 onwards, see The Decimal One Pound page
The lack of a value for a grade means either that the coin is rarely found in that grade or that it has bullion value (BV) only.
One Guinea
Charles II, James II,
William & Mary, William III, Anne,
George I, George II, George III
Sovereign
George III, George IV,
William IV, Victoria, Edward VII,
George V, George VI, Elizabeth II
On 23rd January 2026 gold bullion was about $4948 per Troy oz. The sovereign contains 0.2354 oz of gold, and this gives a bullion value of 0.2354 × 4948 = about $1163 or £862.
Please note that prices for sovereigns after 1978 given above were valid in 2007 when gold prices were much lower. Current bullion values may be available on my Bullion Value page
15s << :
>> 30s
Decimal One Pound
Post-1971 Gold
Values Index
History of the One Pound coin (Sovereign & Guinea)
History of the Decimal One Pound coin
Main History Index
Pictures of Sovereigns and Guineas
Pictures Index
Values of Coins of UK - One Pound
Copyright reserved by the author, Tony Clayton
v68 23rd January 2026