Half Sovereign George V Gold Coin | Mixed Years

Half Sovereign, George V

3.99 g gross at 22 carat, holding 3.6612 g of pure gold, 19.30 mm across.

The obverse portrait is by Bertram Mackennal; the reverse is Pistrucci’s St George and the dragon. These were the last Half Sovereigns struck for general circulation before the coin returned as bullion in the 1980s.

Specifications

Why UK coins are treated differently

HMRC exempts sterling currency from capital gains tax, and the exemption reaches Sovereigns minted in 1837 and later and Britannias because they are current UK legal tender denominated in pounds. A Krugerrand, a Vreneli or an American Eagle is a chargeable asset by the same logic.

One point that catches people out: pre-1837 Sovereigns are not covered. They are no longer legal tender, so they are treated as chattels instead, under the chattels rules rather than the currency exemption.

The end of a circulating coin

British gold left everyday circulation during the First World War, and the Half Sovereign was not struck for circulation again afterwards. The Royal Mint brought it back as a bullion coin decades later. A George V piece is therefore the last of the old series rather than the first of the new one.

VAT and UK capital gains tax

HMRC treats a coin minted after 1800 as bullion gold if it is at least 900 thousandths fine, is or has been legal tender in its country of origin, and normally sells at no more than 180 per cent of the open market value of its gold (VAT Notice 701/21A). The Half Sovereign is 916.67 fine, UK legal tender and sold close to the gold price, so it meets all three tests.

It is also a United Kingdom coin with a face value in pounds, so it is sterling legal tender. The UK exemption from capital gains tax follows sterling legal tender, which is why Britannias and Sovereigns sit outside that tax while a Krugerrand, Maple Leaf or Philharmonic does not. This is a statement of the published rule, not tax advice — your own position depends on your circumstances.

Questions buyers ask

How much gold does it contain? 3.6612 g of pure gold at 916.67 fineness.

Is it exempt from capital gains tax? For UK residents, yes, because it is sterling legal tender.

Which date will I receive? A mixed date from the George V reign, as available.

Is it the same size as a modern Half Sovereign? Yes. The standard has not changed.

Authenticity checked at GoldInvest24 before dispatch. Other sizes are on the Sovereign gold coins page. Live quotes on the precious metals prices page.