Set Description
KING GEORGE V, GOLD SOVEREIGNS AND HALF-SOVEREIGNS of the year 1914 ( WW 1 Outbreak )
The GOLD SOVEREIGN is one of Britain's famous coins and is highly collectable in its own right. A coin full of history and emotional attachment which has become an icon of Britain itself.
The Sovereign is known all over the world for its famous St George and the dragon design by esteemed engraver Benedetto Pistrucci.
Synonymous with wealth and reliability the sovereign has played an important part in the nation's, and the world's history. The sovereign flourished alongside Britain's growing empire to become a coin of international status. Its fineness and accuracy is amongst the highest standards of any coins throughout the world and is held in high regard for the reliability of its 22 carat gold, its weight and quality carefully maintained by The Royal Mint.
Highly prized for its numismatic value, the sovereign is the favourite of coin the collectors world over.
The Royal Mint struck its FIRST GOLD SOVEREIGN in 1489 during the reign of Henry VII. This coin became known as a "sovereign" because the obverse design depicted the King enthroned in regal splendour. It was the first gold coin produced with a value of one pound or twenty shillings, it was the largest coin yet issued in England and also the most beautiful.
The ORIGINAL GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN, a coin of half-pound or ten shillings in value and 96 grains in weight, was introduced a few years after the gold sovereign, during the reign of King Henry VIII (1509-1547). This was in the year 1544, nearly 300 years before the modern coinage period. The original design was basically a smaller version of the full sovereign.
The "MODERN" SOVEREIGN, smaller and featuring on the obverse the monarch's head and on the reverse the classic St. George and the dragon design by Benedetto Pistrucci, was introduced in 1817, during the reign of King George III (1760-1820), taking the form in which we know it today. The sovereign with the value of one pound or twenty shillings, was to replace the guinea, a coin introduced early in the reign of Charles II. As with the guinea the sovereign was struck in 22 carat gold. It has a diameter of 22 mm and a weight 7.988 g. Until the First World War, when it was superseded by paper money, the sovereign remained an every day coin used for every day commerce.
The "MODERN" HALF-SOVEREIGN again smaller and featuring on the obverse the monarch's head and on the reverse the Royal Arms was also introduced in 1817, during the reign of King George III (1760-1820).
Sovereigns and Half-sovereigns apart from the Royal Mint were issued also by the Mints of Canada, South Africa and the Australian Mints of Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
KING GEORGE V
George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936.
Born during the reign of his grandmother Queen Victoria, George was third in the line of succession behind his father, Prince Albert Edward, and his own elder brother, Prince Albert Victor. From 1877 to 1892, George served in the Royal Navy, until the unexpected death of his elder brother in early 1892 put him directly in line for the throne. On the death of Victoria in 1901, George's father ascended the throne as Edward VII, and George was created Prince of Wales. He became king-emperor on his father's death in 1910.
George V's reign saw the rise of socialism, communism, fascism, Irish republicanism, and the Indian independence movement, all of which radically changed the political landscape of the British Empire. The Parliament Act 1911 established the supremacy of the elected British House of Commons over the unelected House of Lords. As a result of the First World War (1914–1918), the empires of his first cousins Nicholas II of Russia and Wilhelm II of Germany fell, while the British Empire expanded to its greatest effective extent. In 1917, George became the first monarch of the House of Windsor, which he renamed from the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha as a result of anti-German public sentiment.
In 1924 he appointed the first Labour ministry and in 1931 the Statute of Westminster recognised the dominions of the Empire as separate, independent states within the British Commonwealth of Nations. He had smoking-related health problems throughout much of his later reign and at his death was succeeded by his eldest brother Edward VIII.
The Reign of King George V (House of Windsor) : 1910-1936.
Born: 3 June 1865.
Accession: 6 May 1910.
Married: Mary of Teck, 6 July 1893.
Coronation: Thursday, 22 June 1911.
Second Coronation as Emperor of India at the Delhi Durbar: Tuesday, 12 December 1911.
Children: Five sons, one daughter.
Died: 20 January 1936, aged 70.
In 1914 mintage of gold still continued to be high even though World War I commenced during this year. Following the outbreak the Government issued Treasury banknotes to the value of Sovereigns and Half-Sovereigns, which were convertible to gold on demand at the Bank of England. However the public were encouraged not to do this, as the gold was no doubt needed elsewhere for purchases of vital supplies from overseas.
The coinage of the reign of King George V features a bare head portrait of the King facing to the left by the Australian sculptor, Edgar Bertram Mackennal (12 June 1863 – 10 October 1931), whose initials appear on the truncation of the bust and with the titles GEORGIVS V D: G: BRITT: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP: Mackennal was famed for his artistic sculptures, but became more numismatically interesting, as the designer of the Olympic Medals for the London Olympic Games of 1908. This led to the commission for the Coronation Medallion for King George V, and he then successfully won the commission for the coinage and for postage stamp portraits. One other Royal commission was to design the tomb for King Edward VII at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. He was also the first Australian citizen to be knighted, in 1921 and was admitted to the Royal Academy in 1922. For the Sovereign the classic St George and dragon design continues engraved, after Pistrucci with his initials in the exergue, and amazingly still featuring the tiny wwp under the lance for William Wellesley Pole from his days of the Master-ship of the Mint circa 1820. Had the London Mint continued to produce gold Sovereigns from 1928, like some of the Colonial Mints did, then a smaller portrait of George V would no doubt have appeared as at Melbourne, Perth and Pretoria. More significantly, the reverses of these Colonial small head pieces are revised and the wwp initials disappear at last.
This interesting set contains all the sovereigns and half-sovereigns minted in the London's Royal Mint, the Australian Mints of Sydney, Melbourne and Perth as well as the Canadian Mint, during the reign of King George V in 1914. All sovereigns come from the famous BENTLEY Collection. The two half-sovereigns are both finest graded for their date.
HISTORICAL EVENTS in 1914
Jan 1. The St. Petersburg–Tampa Airboat Line becomes the world's first scheduled airline, covering the 18 mile distance 23 minutes. Service ceased after three months.
Jan 5. Industrialist Henry Ford announces his $5 minimum per-day wage, doubled most workers pay from $2.40/9-hr day to $5.00/8-hr day.
Jan 14. The Gandhi-Smuts Agreement is reached between Gen. J.C. Smuts and Pacifist and Spiritual Leader Mahatma Gandhi, regarding voluntary registration, poll tax, recognition of Indian marriages and other matters.
Jan 28. Beverly Hills, California incorporated.
Feb 16. 1st airplane flight from LA to SA.
Mar 27. 1st successful non-direct blood transfusion is performed by Dr. Albert Hustin in Brussels.
Apr 14. US head of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company Stacy G. Carkhuff patents non-skid tire pattern.
Assassination
Jun 28. Assassination of Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria and his wife Sophie by Bosnian-Serb assassin Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo, setting off chain of alliances that begin WWI.
Jul 28. FIRST DECLARATION OF WAR, WWI - Austria-Hungary decides against mediation and declares war on Serbia.
Jul 29. 1st transcontinental phone link made between New York City and San Francisco
Jul 29. Austrian-Hungary bombs Belgrade.
Jul 29. British fleet leaves Portland/passes Straits of Dover
Jul 29. Russia mobilize troops along Austrian boundary
Jul 29. In response to Austria's declaration of war on Serbia, Russian diplomats and general urge general mobilization, but the Tsar calls for partial mobilization.
Jul 30. Austrian-Hungary & Russia proclaim general mobilization.
Historic Event
Jul 30. After initial reluctance, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia is persuaded to decree a general mobilizations in response to Austria; 'Think of the thousands and thousands of men who will be sent to their deaths!' he claims.
Jul 31. German Emperor Wilhelm II threatens war, orders Russia to demobilize.
Aug 1. Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany declares war on his nephew Tsar Nicholas II of Russia in WWI.
Aug 1. France and Germany mobilize their troops at outbreak of WWI.
Aug 1 Trois Vierges: German 69th infantry regiment enters Luxembourg on outbreak of WWI.
Aug 2. Belgian government receives German ultimatum.
Aug 2 German press falsely reports that French have bombed Nuremberg.
Aug 2 German troops overthrow Luxembourg.
Aug 2 Germany and Turkey sign secret treaty of alliance.
Aug 2 Great Britain mobilizes.
Aug 2 Postdam Conference ends.
Aug 2 Russian troops invade Eastern Prussia.
Aug 3. 1st unofficial trip through the Panama Canal by the SS Christobel
Aug 3. Belgium rejects demand to allow free crossing for German Army leading to their invasion hours later
Aug 3. French fleet sails to North Africa
Aug 3. German battle cruiser Goeben leaves Messina
Aug 3. Germany invades Belgium and declares war on France, beginning World War I
Aug 3. World Alliance for Promoting International Friendship through Churches forms
Aug 3. British Foreign Secretary Edward Grey famously remarks "The lamps are going out all over Europe. We shall not see them lit again in our time."
Aug 4. WWI: German army shoots Belgian priests and burns down village of Battice
Aug 4 German fleet under admiral Souchon fire on Algerian coast.
Aug 4. WWI: Germany declares war on Belgium; Britain declares war on Germany.
Aug 4. WWI: King Albert I becomes Supreme Commander of Belgian army after German declaration of war.
Declaration of War
Aug 4 WWI: Field Marshal Lord Kitchener becomes British Minister of War after British declaration of war on Germany
Aug 4. US declares neutrality on the outbreak of WWI.
Battle of Interest
Aug 5. Battle of Liège: first battle of WWI, massive German assault on forts around Belgium city of Liège led by Erich Ludendorff.
Aug 5. Montenegro declares war against Austria-Hungary in World War I
Aug 5. US and Nicaragua sign treaty granting canal rights to US
Aug 5. Westerschelde leaves due to German invasion in Belgium.
Aug 6. WWI: Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia
Aug 6. WWI: French cavalry enters Belgium
Aug 6. WWI: German Zeppelin bombs Liege, 9 killed
Aug 6. WWI: Serbia declares war against Germany
Aug 6 Denis Patrick Dowd Jr. enlists in the French Foreign Legion, becoming the first American to fight in World War I.
Aug 7. Engagement between British cruiser HMS Gloucester and German cruisers SMS Breslau and SMS Goeben off Greece.
Aug 7. French government awards King Albert of Belgium the Great Cross
Aug 7. French troops under Gen Bonneau occupy Altkitrch at Elzas
Aug 7. German army occupies city of Liege, Belgium
Aug 7. Russia invades East Prussia.
Aug 8. French troops under Gen Bonneau occupy Mulhouse at Elzas
Aug 8. Montenegro declares war on Germany.
Aug 9. German U-15 was sunk by the British cruiser, H.M.S. Birmingham
Aug 10. At Liege, German 12"/16.5" guns reach Belgian boundary.
Aug 10. German battle cruiser Goeben reaches Dardanellen/Turkey joins Germany
Aug 10. German troops reconquer Mulhouse in Elzas
Aug 10. WWI: French fall back at Alsace.
Aug 11. Jews are expelled from Mitchenick, Poland
Aug 11. John Bray patents animation
Aug 12. France and Great Britain declare war on Austria-Hungary
Aug 12. Cavalry battle at Halen, Belgium ("Battle of the Silver Helmets")
Aug 12. German 16.5"/12" guns fires on forts round Liege
Aug 12. Russian troops take East-Prussia & occupy Marggrabowa
Aug 13 -14 German army occupies forts at Liege.
Aug 13. Carl Wickman begins Greyhound, the 1st US bus line, in Minnesota
Aug 14. British field marshal John French & Gen Wilson land in France
Aug 15. Dinant, Belgium, destroyed by German bombs. Lt Charles de Gaulle (24), injured
Charles de Gaulle.
Aug 15. Japan joins side of allies
Aug 15. Panama Canal opens (under cost) with the SS Ancon making the 1st official steamship through the canal.
Aug 16. German army occupies last fort at Liege, Belgian general Leman caught
Aug 16. World War I: Battle of Cer begins.
Aug 16. Zapata & Pancho Villa over run Mexico.
Aug 17. French troops under gen de Castelnau occupy Chateau Salins
Aug 18-20. Belgian army withdraws to Antwerp
Aug 18. French troops under general Dubail occupy Sarrebourg.
Aug 18. US President Woodrow Wilson issues "Proclamation of Neutrality".
Aug 19. German army executes 150 Belgians by firing squad
Aug 19. German fleet bombs the English coast
Aug 19. In a message to the Senate, US President Woodrow Wilson urges the American people to be 'neutral in fact as well as name'.
Aug 20. German General von Bulow executes 211 Belgians
Aug 20. Battle at Gumbinnen, East-Prussia: Russians beat Germans
Aug 20. Battle at Morhange: German troops chase French, killing thousands
Aug 20. Bavarian troops kill 50 inhabitants of Nomeny, France
Aug 20. German army captured Brussels as the Belgian army retreated to Antwerp.
Aug 21. Belgium: German troops occupy Tamines
Aug 21. French offensive in the Ardennen/Sambre
Aug 22. Battle at Charleroi begins: Gen von Bulows troops beat French
Aug 22. 1st encounter between British & German troops (in Belgium)
Aug 22. Battle in Ardennen: Neufchateau, Rossignal, Tintigny & Virton
Aug 22. Canada's Finance Act, 1914, receives assent
Aug 22. General Martos' troops occupy Soldau/Neidenburg, East Prussia
Aug 22. German troops execute 384 inhabitants of Tamines, Belgium
Aug 22 WW1: Von Ludendorff and Paul von Hindenburg move into East Prussia enroute to Russia
Aug 23 -24. German troops plunder Belgium
Aug 23. Battle of Mons: General Alexander von Kluck's troops forced a British withdrawal.
Aug 23. Gen von Hausen executes 612 inhabitants of Dinant, Belgium
Aug 23. Japan declares war on Germany in World War I
Aug 24. Battle of Bergen: Germans defeat Belgian/British troops
Aug 24. German troops occupy Namur, Belgium.
Aug 25. German Zeppelins bomb Antwerp, Belgium, 10 die
Aug 25 German troops march into France and push French army to the Sedan
Aug 25 German troops in occupied Belgium begin the 6 week "Sack of Louvain," destroying historical buildings and killing hundreds of civilians
Aug 26-9/10. Russian army attacks Austrian army in Galicia.
Aug 26. Battle of Tannenberg begins (WWI): 8th German army defeats Russian Second army.
Aug 27. Second day of Battle of Tannenberg (WWI): Germans bombard Usdau
Aug 27. US war reporter Richard H Davis visits Leuven
Aug 28. World War I: Third day of Battle of Tannenberg, near Allenstein, East Prussia (present-day Poland); violent German vs. Russian battles
Aug 28. World War I: Battle of Helgoland Bight (North Sea); British fleet decisively beats Germans, nearly 800 die, and over 200 wounded
Aug 28. World War I: British General John French orders civilian evacuation of Amiens, France as German forces push in from Belgium
Aug 29. 4th day of Battle of Tannenberg (WWI): Russian Second Army panics, General Martos caught
Aug 29. Arizonian is 1st vessel to arrive in San Francisco via Panama Canal
Aug 29. Battle of St Quentin: French counter attack under General Lanrezac
Aug 29. New Zealand forces capture German Samoa
Aug 30. 1st German plane bombs Paris, 2 killed
Aug 30. Battle of Tannenberg (WWI) in East Prussia ends in destruction of the Russian Second Army with 122,000-170,000 killed, injured or captured by the German 8th Army led by Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff.
Aug 31. 24.8 cm rainfall at Bloomingdale, Michigan (state record)
Aug 31. General von Kluck decides not to attack Paris
Aug 31. German troops reconquer Soldau/Neidenburg East-Prussia.