Values of Coins of England and Great Britain

('Coins of the UK')

by Tony Clayton


One Pound - The Sovereign or Guinea


15s << : >> 30s

History of the Sovereign and Guinea
Pictures of the Sovereign and Guinea


Search by reign

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 2023 is significantly higher than when some of the following prices were published.

As indicated in the note below, despite lower quotes in these dated prices the bullion value of a sovereign is about £170. 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


Condition Grades

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.


Sovereign
Gold Pound
Sovereign (again)
Unite
Laurel
Unite (again)
Silver Pound

No values are available for these early hammered coins.

For Post-1817 sovereigns see below.


Broad

No values of these coins are available, although a Broad in EF was recently offered for £7,250.


Guinea


Charles II

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


James II

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


William & Mary

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


William III

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


Anne

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

George I

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.

George II

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

George III

First Head

Year    F       VF      EF
1761    2200    6000    15000

Second Head

1763    1600    4500    12000
1764    1400    4500    13000
1764ns  2200    5000    13000

Third Head

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

Fourth Head

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

Fifth Head, Spade Reverse

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

Sixth Head, Military Reverse

1813    1400    2600    7000
ns: no stop above head
Extracted from Coin News, December 2023

Sovereign


George III

Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
1817    550     900     2000    4500
1818    700     1200    5000    8500
1819    exceedingly rare
1820    550     850     1800    4000

A good VF specimen of the exceedingly rare 1819 sovereign recently sold at Sothebys for £55,000.


George IV

Type 1. Date on reverse

Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
1821    500     750     1800
1821    proof                   11000
1822    450     750     2000    3400
1823    1000    2750    8000
1824    500     900     2250    4000
1825t1  700     2000    6000    9000

Type 2. Date under King's head.

1825t2  425     700     1750    2600
1826    425     700     1500    2600
1826    proof                   9000
1827    475     750     1750    3500
1828    6000    15000   30000
1829    475     800     2500    4000
1830    475     800     2500    4000

William IV

Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
1831    600     1000    3250    5000
1831    proof                   18000
1832    500     900     2500    4000
1833    500     900     2500    4000
1835    500     900     2500    4000
1836    500     900     2000    4000
1837    525     950     2000    4500

Victoria

Young Head, Shield Reverse

Note that changes in the cost of gold mean that the minimum value of a sovereign varies.

Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
1838    800     1500    4000    8000
1839    1100    2750    4000    9500
1839    proof                   25000
1841    5000    9500    22000
1842    350     400     1000    2000
1843    350     400     1000    2000
1843ns  5000    10000
I843    750     1500
1844    350     400     1000    1800
1845    350     400     1000    1800
1846    350     400     1000    1800
1847    350     420     1000    1900
1848    350     420     1000    1900
1849    350     420     1000    1700
1850    350     420     1000    1700
1851    350     420     750     1700
1852    350     420     850     1700
1853    350     420     750     1750
1853    proof                   22000
1854    350     420     750     1750
1854lb  350     420     750     2000
1855    350     420     750     1750
1856    350     420     750     1750
1857    350     420     750     1750
1858    350     420     750     1750
1859    350     420     750     1750
1859A   750     1800    9000
1860    350     400     650     1250
1861    350     400     600     1250
1862    350     400     650     1250
1863nd  350     400     600     1250
1863dn  350     400     600     1100
1864    350     400     600     1100
1865    350     400     650     1100
1866    350     400     600     1100
1868    350     400     550     1100
1869    350     400     550     1100
1870    350     400     550     1100
1871s   350     400     550     1100
1872snd 350     400     500     1000
1872sdn 350     400     500     1000
1873s   350     400     600     1000
1874s   2000    4000    12000
Melbourne Mint
1872sM  350     400     500     1250
1873sM  extremely rare
1874sM  350     400     400     1250
1879sM  extremely rare
1880sM  700     1650    3000    6000
1881sM  350     400     450     1600
1882sM  350     400     450     1150
1883sM  350     400     600     3200
1884sM  350     400     450     1000
1885sM  350     400     450     1000
1886sM  1800    4000    6500    8250
1887sM  600     1350    3500    5000
Sydney Mint
1871sS  350     400     450     1300
1872sS  350     400     450     1600
1873sS  350     400     450     1300
1875sS  350     400     450     1300
1877sS  350     400     450     1300
1878sS  350     400     450     1400
1879sS  350     400     450     1300
1880sS  350     400     450     1500
1881sS  350     400     450     1500
1882sS  350     400     450     1300
1883sS  350     400     450     1100
1884sS  350     400     450     1100
1885sS  350     400     450     1100
1886sS  350     400     450     1100
1887sS  350     400     450     1600
s: shield reverse
dn: die number
nd: no die number
lb: larger bust
A: Ansell type
ns: narrow shield
M: Melbourne
S:Sydney

Young Head, St.George Reverse

Note that recent rises in the cost of gold mean that the minimum value of a sovereign should be 320 pounds.

Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
1871g   325     330     350     550
1872g   325     330     350     550
1873g   325     330     350     550
1874g   325     330     350     550
1876g   325     330     350     550
1878g   325     330     350     550
1879g   600     1500    13000
1880g   325     330     350     550
1884g   325     330     350     550
1885g   325     330     350     550
Melbourne Mint
1872gM  325     500     1150    4200
1873gM  325     400     450     550
1874gM  325     400     450     550
1875gM  325     400     450     550
1876gM  325     400     450     550
1877gM  325     400     450     550
1878gM  325     400     450     550
1879gM  325     400     450     550
1880gM  325     400     450     550
1881sM  325     400     450     550
1881gM  325     400     450     550
1882gM  325     400     450     550
1883gM  325     400     450     550
1884gM  325     400     450     550
1885gM  325     400     450     550
1886gM  325     400     450     550
1887gM  325     400     450     550
Sydney Mint
1871gS  325     400     450     525
1872gS  325     400     450     700
1873gS  325     400     450     550
1874gS  325     400     450     550
1875gS  325     400     450     550
1876gS  325     400     450     550
1877gS  extremely rare
1879gS  325     400     450     550
1880gS  325     400     450     550
1881gS  325     400     450     550
1882gS  325     400     450     550
1883gS  325     400     450     550
1884gS  325     400     450     550
1885gS  325     400     450     550
1886gS  325     400     450     550
1887gS  325     400     450     550
g: George & Dragon reverse
M: Melbourne
S:Sydney

Jubilee Head

Note that recent rises in the cost of gold mean that the minimum value of a sovereign should be 320 pounds.

Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
1887    325     400     450     550
1887    proof                   3000
1888    325     400     450     550
1889    325     400     450     550
1890    325     400     450     550
1891    325     400     450     550
1892    325     400     450     550
Melbourne Mint
1887M   325     400     450     550
1888M   325     400     450     550
1889M   325     400     450     550
1890M   325     400     450     550
1891M   325     400     450     550
1892M   325     400     450     550
1893Mj  325     400     450     550
Sydney Mint
1887S   325     400     1600    2750
1888S   325     400     450     550
1889S   325     400     450     550
1890S   325     400     450     550
1891S   325     400     450     550
1892S   325     400     450     550
1893Sj  325     400     450     550
M: Melbourne
S:Sydney

Old Head

Note that recent rises in the cost of gold mean that the minimum value of a sovereign should be 320 pounds.

Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
1893    325     400     450     550
1893    proof                   3250
1894    325     400     450     550
1895    325     400     450     550
1896    325     400     450     550
1898    325     400     450     550
1899    325     400     450     550
1900    325     400     450     550
1901    325     400     450     550
Melbourne Mint
1893Mo  325     400     450     550
1894M   325     400     450     550
1895M   325     400     450     550
1896M   325     400     450     550
1897M   325     400     450     550
1898M   325     400     450     550
1899M   325     400     450     550
1900M   325     400     450     550
1901M   325     400     450     550
Perth Mint
1899P   325     400     500     2500
1900P   325     400     450     550
1901P   325     400     450     550
Sydney Mint
1893So  325     400     450     550
1894S   325     400     450     550
1895S   325     400     450     550
1896S   325     400     450     550
1897S   325     400     450     550
1898S   325     400     450     550
1899S   325     400     450     550
1900S   325     400     450     550
1901S   325     400     450     550
M: Melbourne
P: Perth
S:Sydney


Edward VII

Note that recent rises in the cost of gold mean that the minimum value of a sovereign should be 320 pounds.

Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
1902    325     400     450     550
1902    proof                   700
1903    325     400     450     550
1904    325     400     450     550
1905    325     400     450     550
1906    325     400     450     550
1907    325     400     450     550
1908    325     400     450     550
1909    325     400     450     550
1910    325     400     450     550
Ottawa Mint
1908C   proof extremely rare
1909C   325     400     500     800
1910C   325     400     500     700
Melbourne Mint
1902M   325     400     450     550
1903M   325     400     450     550
1904M   325     400     450     550
1905M   325     400     450     550
1906M   325     400     450     550
1907M   325     400     450     550
1908M   325     400     450     550
1909M   325     400     450     550
1910M   325     400     450     550
Perth Mint
1902P   325     400     450     550
1903P   325     400     450     550
1904P   325     400     450     550
1905P   325     400     450     550
1906P   325     400     450     550
1907P   325     400     450     550
1908P   325     400     450     550
1909P   325     400     450     550
1910P   325     400     450     550
Sydney Mint
1902S   325     400     450     550
1902S   proof ex rare 
1903S   325     400     450     550
1904S   325     400     450     550
1905S   325     400     450     550
1906S   325     400     450     550
1907S   325     400     450     550
1908S   325     400     450     550
1909S   325     400     450     550
1910S   325     400     450     550

George V

Note that recent rises in the cost of gold mean that the minimum value of a sovereign should be 320 pounds.

Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
1911    325     400     450     550
1911    proof                   1600
1912    325     400     450     550
1913    325     400     450     550
1914    325     400     450     550
1915    325     400     450     550
1916    325     400     500     750
1917    1500    5500    20000
1925    325     400     450     550
Ottawa Mint
1911C   325     400     500     750
1913C   325     500     1750
1914C   325     400     1500
1916C   Ex Rare
1917C   325     400     600     850
1918C   325     400     500     650
1919C   325     400     500     650
Bombay Mint
1918I   325     400     450
Melbourne Mint
1911M   325     400     450     550
1912M   325     400     450     550
1913M   325     400     450     550
1914M   325     400     450     550
1915M   325     400     450     550
1916M   325     400     450     550
1917M   325     400     500     750
1918M   325     400     450     550
1919M   325     400     450     550
1920M   1350    2500    4000    6500
1921M   4000    7000    8000    24000
1922M   4000    7000    7000    25000
1923M   325     400     500     750
1924M   325     400     500     750
1925M   325     400     450     550
1926M   325     400     450     550
1928M   500     900     1700    4000
1929M   900     1000    1700    5000
1930M   325     400     500     800
1931M   325     400     750     1000
Perth Mint
1911P   325     400     450     550
1912P   325     400     450     550
1913P   325     400     450     550
1914P   325     400     450     550
1915P   325     400     450     550
1916P   325     400     450     550
1917P   325     400     450     550
1918P   325     400     450     550
1919P   325     400     450     550
1920P   325     400     450     550
1921P   325     400     450     550
1922P   325     400     450     550
1923P   325     400     450     550
1924P   325     400     450     550
1925P   325     400     500     650
1926P   500     900     1500    4200
1927P   325     400     500     750
1928P   325     400     450     600
1929P   325     400     450     550
1930P   325     400     500     675
1931P   325     400     450     550
Sydney Mint
1911S   325     400     450     550
1912S   325     400     450     550
1913S   325     400     450     550
1914S   325     400     450     550
1915S   325     400     450     550
1916S   325     400     450     550
1917S   325     400     450     550
1918S   325     400     450     550
1919S   325     400     450     550
1920S   ex rare
1921S   600     900     1750    2750
1922S   ex rare
1923S   ex rare
1924S   600     1100    1500    2750
1925S   325     400     450     550
1926S   ex rare
Pretoria Mint
1923SA  800     1850    3500    7500
1923SA  proof ex rare
1924SA          3000    5000
1925SA  325     400     450     550
1926SA  325     400     450     550
1927SA  325     400     450     550
1928SA  325     400     450     550
1929SA  325     400     450     550
1930SA  325     400     450     550
1931SA  325     400     450     550
1932SA  325     400     450     550
C: Ottawa, Canada
I: India
M: Melbourne
P: Perth
S: Sydney
SA: Pretoria, South Africa

George VI

Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
1937    proof only      3750    5500

Elizabeth II

Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
1953    ex rare
1957    325     400     450     550
1958    325     400     450     550
1959    325     400     450     550
1962    325     400     450     550
1963    325     400     450     550
1964    325     400     450     550
1965    325     400     450     550
1966    325     400     450     550
1967    325     400     450     550
1968    325     400     450     550

For the following sovereigns information is over 14 years old. As a rough guide add 200 GB pounds to each of the following values.

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 320 pounds.

1817-1968: extracted from Coin News October 2021; 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 only.


Search by reign

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


Bullion Value

On 27th November 2023 gold bullion was about $2014 per Troy oz. The sovereign contains 0.2354 oz of gold, and this gives a bullion value of 0.2354 × 2014 = about $473 or £375.

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


Links

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

Help and Advice


Values of Coins of UK - One Pound
Copyright reserved by the author, Tony Clayton
v67 27th November 2023
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