Britain 1 Sovereign - King George III (1817-1820)

The gold sovereign introduced under King George III marked a pivotal era in British coinage. First issued in 1817 as part of the Great Recoinage, these coins aimed to stabilize Britain's monetary system following the Napoleonic Wars. As the inaugural coins in what would become one of the most enduring series in the world, these sovereigns hold both historical and numismatic significance.

Historical Insight:

These sovereigns were issued during the final years of George III's reign, a transformative period in Britain's political and economic history. As the very first of the modern gold sovereigns, their introduction marked the end of the guinea and the beginning of a new standard in gold currency that would influence British and world coinage for centuries.

Each coin is struck in 22-karat (.9167 fine) gold, containing 0.2354 troy oz of gold. The obverse features a right-facing laureate portrait of King George III, while the reverse debuts Benedetto Pistrucci's enduring design of St. George slaying the dragon—a motif that has come to define British gold coinage.

Highlights:

• Struck from 22-karat gold (.9167 fine)
• Contains 0.2354 troy oz of pure gold
• Obverse: Laureate bust of King George III facing right
• Reverse: Iconic St. George slaying the dragon by Benedetto Pistrucci
• Issued by the Royal Mint (no mint mark)
• Legal tender with £1 face value
• Grade: Extra Fine (XF)