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KING GEORGE V GOLD HALF SOVEREIGNS

Category:  World Coins
Owner:  TMS Coins
Last Modified:  2/19/2024
Set Description
KING GEORGE V GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGNS from LONDON, MELBOURNE, PERTH, SYDNEY and SOUTH AFRICA Mints.

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 favorite of coin collectors the world over.

BRIEF HISTORY

On 28 October 1489 King Henry VII of England gave authority for the production of a new gold coin of one pound or twenty shillings in value,15.55 grams (240 grains) in weight and made from the traditional fine-gold standard established under Edward III. This coin became known as a " SOVEREIGN " because the obverse design depicted the King enthroned in regal splendor. 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 obverse features the crowned King facing and seated in his chair of state holding his sceptre and orb, and with a large rose at his feet. The legend reads HENRIC 8 GRA AGL FRANCIE HIBER REX. The reverse displays a royal shield quartered and containing the arms of France and England, and this is supported on either side by a lion and a dragon. The letters HR are placed at the bottom. The legend reads IHS AUTEM TRANSIES PERIM EDIUM ILLORUM IBAT. The mint mark Lis appears within the legend centrally placed at the top on both obverse and reverse of the coin.
The gold half-sovereign continued to be issued in similar form for the reign of Edward VI (1547-1553), the young boy who succeeded his father at only nine years of age. In his short reign of just over six years four distinct series of gold coins were produced and all but one of these carried the bust and name of his father Henry VIII. It is interesting to note that the exception was the gold half-sovereign, and this features the much more youthful head of Edward himself.
The gold half-sovereign was next struck in the reign of James I (1603-1625) during his first coinage up to and including 1604 and then discontinued.
With the introduction of regular machine made "milled" coinage under Charles II (1660-1685) the half guinea was introduced, with a value originally of ten shillings, but later of ten shillings and sixpence. So the gold half-sovereign would not appear again until the reign of George III (1760-1820).
In 1816 there was a major change in British coinage powered by the industrial revolution. The Royal Mint moved from the Tower of London to new premises on nearby Tower Hill and acquired powerful new steam-powered coining presses designed by Mathew Boulton and James Watt. In 1817 the "modern" sovereign and half-sovereign were born.

The "MODERN" SOVEREIGN, smaller and featuring on the reverse the classic St. George and the dragon design by Benedetto Pistrucci and the "MODERN" HALF-SOVEREIGN featuring the Royal Arms were introduced in 1817, during the reign of King George III (1760-1820), taking the form in which we know them today.

SPECIFICATIONS OF THE "MODERN" GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN

DIAMETER: 19.3-19.4mm ( 1834 half-sovereign: 17.9mm ).
WEIGHT: 3.994g
ALLOY: Gold.
FINENESS: 22 Carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 0.916
EDGE: Milled.

Currency gold half-sovereigns continued to be issued by the Royal Mint in London for the reigns of King George IV (1821-1830), King William IV (1831-1837), Queen Victoria (1838-1901), King Edward VII (1902-1910), and King George V (1911-1915). Proof versions of HALF-SOVEREIGNS were also issued in every reign since 1817.

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. Within a few years, sovereigns and half sovereigns ceased to be used in everyday transactions.
Production of half sovereigns at the Royal Mint stopped in 1915, and also at the Melbourne mint.
The other branch mints continued to produce half sovereigns, Sydney Australia until 1916, Perth Australia until 1920, and Pretoria South Africa until 1926.
No further half sovereigns were then issued for circulation until 1982, although half sovereigns were included in the George VI proof set of 1937 which was available for collectors, and half sovereigns were also minted but not issued for Edward VIII in 1937, and for Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
In 1980 and 1982, a proof version was issued, and this continues to the present.
In 1989, a special 500th anniversary commemorative design was struck in proof, inspired by the very first gold sovereign of 1489, showing H.M. Queen Elizabeth II seated facing on a throne.

The year 2000 was of particular interest to half-sovereign enthusiasts, because for the first time since 1982 the Royal Mint issued a bullion type half-sovereign which continued to be struck yearly ever since.

Currency Half-sovereigns were not issued by the Royal Mint on the following dates: 1819, 1822, 1829-1833, 1839-1840, 1854, 1868, 1881-1882, 1886, 1888-1889, 1916-1981, 1983-1999.

The half sovereign is a "protected coin" for the purposes of Part II of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981.

The European Commission have published a list of gold coins, including the gold sovereign and half-sovereign, which must be treated as investment gold in all EC member states. So the half-sovereign meets the criteria established in Article344(1), point (2) of Council Directive 2006/112EC and thus should be exempt from import VAT regardless of the selling price.

KING GEORGE V

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, 12 December 1911.
Children: five sons, one daughter.
Died: 20 January 1936, aged 70.

King George V of Great Britain succeeded to the throne upon the death of his father King Edward VII in May 1910. Several million gold coins were struck during his reign but few would be used for currency. The main reason for this was the Great War of 1914-1918, and the outbreak of this in August 1914 quickly saw the Government issue Treasury notes for one pound and ten shillings.The public were urged not to use gold and by 1915 gold had all but dissappeared from circulation in London, and the last half-sovereign being struck in that year at the Royal Mint.
Half-sovereigns continued to be issued though by the Australian branch mints of Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and at the new branch mint of Pretoria in South Africa.


The ROYAL MINT, Founded 886 AD.

The Royal Mint is the United Kingdom's official maker of British coins. It is the oldest company in the United Kingdom and is currently located in Llantrisant, Wales, where it moved to in 1968.

Operating under the legal name The Royal Mint Limited, it is a limited company that is wholly owned by His Majesty's Treasury and is under an exclusive contract to supply the nation's coinage. As well as minting circulating coins for the UK and international markets, The Royal Mint is a leading provider of precious metal products.

The Royal Mint was historically part of a series of mints that became centralized to produce coins for the Kingdom of England, all of Great Britain, the United Kingdom, and nations across the Commonwealth.

The Royal Mint was founded in 886 and moved within the Tower of London in 1279. It remained there for several hundred years before moving to what is now called Royal Mint Court, where it remained until the 1960s. As Britain followed the rest of the world in decimalising its currency, the Mint moved from London to a new 38-acre (15 ha) plant in Llantrisant, Glamorgan, Wales, where it has remained since.

Since 2018 The Royal Mint has been evolving its business to help offset declining cash use. It has expanded into precious metals investment, historic coins, and luxury collectibles, which saw it deliver an operating profit of £12.7 million in 2020–2021.

In 2022 The Royal Mint announced it was building a new plant in South Wales to recover precious metals from electronic waste. The first of this sustainably sourced gold is already being used in a new jewellery division – 886 by The Royal Mint – named in celebration of its symbolic founding date.

The SYDNEY MINT,14 May 1855.

With the discovery of gold near Bathurst in New South Wales in early 1851, huge quantities of unrefined gold began to circulate around the colony. To regain control of the economy, the colony proposed that the British government establish a Sydney branch of the Royal Mint. Approval was given in 1853, and the Sydney hospital’s southern wing was chosen as the site.

Open for business in 1855, the Sydney Royal Mint was the first overseas branch of the Royal Mint. The hospital building was converted into offices, including a bullion office for receiving gold, while new buildings to the rear contained the factory for processing the gold into coins. Today, when you walk through the entrance to the buildings at the rear of the Mint, you can see the underground machinery shafts, original roof structures and prefabricated cast-iron frame. Similar in design to structural elements used in London’s Crystal Palace, which was built for the Great Exhibition of 1851, the iron frame was specially commissioned by the Deputy Master of the Mint, Captain Edward Ward. Manufactured at the Horsley Iron Foundry in England, it was assembled and checked at the Woolwich Dockyard before being disassembled for the journey by ship and assembled again in Sydney. This structure makes the Mint an outstanding example of mid-Victorian technology, and its use of terracotta tiles in the ceilings is probably the earliest example of fire-proofed construction in Australia.

For the modern gold market, the Sydney mint is most famous for one fact: it was the place where Francis Miller developed the new process for refining gold which now bears his name. Patented in 1867, the Miller chlorine process rapidly spread around the world and more than 150 years later, it is still the bedrock of gold refining in many of the world's major refineries.

Like its neighbour, the Hyde Park Barracks, the Mint narrowly escaped demolition in the early 20th century. In 1909, a royal commission recommended that the buildings be demolished as part of a scheme to beautify the city – the industrial complex of the Mint was considered inappropriate for Macquarie Street. But funding for the redevelopment proved elusive and the buildings were spared. By this time, other mints were already operating in Melbourne and Perth, so with its outdated machinery and declining profits, the Sydney Mint finally closed in December 1926.

The MELBOURNE MINT, 12 June 1872.

The Melbourne Mint, in Melbourne, Australia, was a branch of the British Royal Mint. It minted gold sovereigns from 1872 until 1931, and half-sovereigns (intermittently) from 1873 until 1915. In 1916 it commenced minting Commonwealth silver threepences, sixpences, shillings and florins. From 1923 it minted all pre-decimal denominations. It minted rarities such as the 1921/22 overdate threepence, 1923 half-penny and 1930 penny, as well as Australia's four commemorative florins in 1927 (Canberra), 1934/35 (Melbourne Centenary), 1951 (Federation Jubilee) and 1954 (Royal Visit). It assisted the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra in producing one cent coins from 1966 to 1968 and two cent coins in 1966.[1] From 1969 all coin production moved to the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra, and the building housing the coin minting equipment was demolished shortly afterwards. The remaining administrative building is now the home of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, and has been leased to the private sector since 2001.

The former Royal Mint is located on the corner of William and La Trobe Streets (280-318 William Street and 387-429 La Trobe Street) and is of architectural significance as one of the most impressive 19th century government buildings in Victoria, and one of few Australian buildings in the true Renaissance revival style, and a virtual copy of the Palazzo Vidoni-Caffarelli, attributed to Raphael, in Rome (1515).

The mint was built between 1869 and 1872 to the designs of architect J.J Clark whose other notable works included the Old Treasury Building, Melbourne. It was opened 12 June 1872.

The colourful coat of arms placed on the front gates in mid-twentieth century were by the Melbourne woodcarver Walter Langcake. The original design, based on Queen Victoria's coat of arms, is adapted especially for a British Royal Mint branch office in colonial Victoria. The supporting animals are not crowned and a maned horse replaces the usual unicorn.

The PERTH MINT, 20 June 1899.

The Perth Mint was established in 1899 as a branch of the Royal Mint of England to refine gold mined in Western Australia during the gold rush of the late 19th century. Its purpose was to service the quickly growing population in Western Australia, which was exploding due to the discovery of gold deposits in surrounding areas. The mint was established to provide a reliable means of converting raw gold into coins and bars that could be used as currency. Money for which miners could exchange their gold was in short supply in that era so miners brought the fruits of their labor to The Perth Mint, where it was minted into gold coins.

The first gold sovereigns were struck at The Perth Mint in 1900, and by 1931, the mint had produced more than 106 million gold sovereigns. During World War II, The Perth Mint played an important role in producing coins and medals for Australia's war effort.

In 1970, ownership of The Perth Mint was transferred from Britain to the government of Western Australia, and the mint became a state-owned entity. Over the years, The Perth Mint has expanded its operations to include the production of a wide range of bullion products, including gold bars and coins, silver bars and coins, and platinum bars.

The SOUTH AFRICA MINT, 6 July 1892

Following the discovery of gold in the South African Republic (causing the 1886 Witwatersrand Gold Rush), the country's President Paul Kruger decided to establish a national mint. This was established in 1890 and opened on 6 July 1892 in Pretoria. After the end of the Second Boer War in 1902, the country was annexed into the British Empire and became the Transvaal Colony, leading to the closure of the mint after the pound sterling became the legal tender of the new colony. Under the Mint Act of 1919, the British established a branch of the Royal Mint on 1 January 1923, which produced £83,114,575 worth of sovereigns during its lifetime. As South Africa began cutting ties with Britain, the mint closed on 30 June 1941 only to be later reopened as the South African Mint.

GRADE, MINTAGE, RARITY and PEDIGREE

ROYAL MINT

1911 MS66 : 6,104,106 C
1912 MS66 : 6,224,106 C Ex Ted Reams Collection
1913 MS65 : 6.094,290 C
1914 MS67 : 7,251,124 C
1915 MS65 : 2,042,747 N

MELBOURNE MINT

1915 MS65 : 125,664 N Ex Ted Reams Collection

PERTH MINT

1911 : 130,373 R
1915 MS64 : 136,219 S Ex Reserve Bank of Australia
1918 : Not Known R3

SYDNEY MINT

1911 MS64 : 252,000 N Ex Reserve Bank of Australia
1912 MS64 : 278,000 N Ex Caranett Collection
1914 MS66 : 322,000 C Ex Reserve Bank of Australia
1915 MS65 : 892,000 C Ex Reserve Bank of Australia
1916 MS65 : 448,000 C Ex Reserve Bank of Australia

SOUTH AFRICA MINT

1925 MS64 : 946,615 C
1926 MS65 : 806,540 C

The Crown jewel of the collection is the 1914 London half-sovereign in MS67.

A superb and flashy example of this common coin.
The fields are pristine with strong and unimpaired luster.
The exceptional strike is complete and full and the eye appeal is elegant.
Preserved beyond what should be possible for a coin of this age and beauty.
To find an example as beautiful as this, as pristine, and perfect, is beyond rare. Surfaces alive with intense satiny luster, obverse field flashy and reflective. Even the edge is beautiful; each letter is remarkably crisp and high-relief, the space between them brilliant. It should go without saying that MS67 is the highest certification awarded to any coin of this type. Quite extraordinary, a piece whose near-unparalleled quality and visual appeal destines it for an elite collection of British gold.
Represents a unique conditional rarity of this date, as being the single and highest example graded by NGC and PCGS. The single finest out of 245 NGC graded, Gt. Britain, 1914 half-sovereigns to-date ( October 2023 ).
It is also the highest graded of all the certified examples of King George V London half-sovereigns.
Total mintage of all London minted King George V half-sovereigns 1911-1915 : 27,716,583.



Set Goals
KING GEORGE V, GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGNS from LONDON, MELBOURNE, PERTH, SYDNEY and SOUTH AFRICA Mints.
Obtain high-grade examples for each date of issue.
Last update : 1926 SA Half-sovereign MS65, Oct 5 2023.

Slot Name
Origin/Country
Item Description
Full Grade
Owner Comments
Pics
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70 1/2SOV 1911 G.britain NGC MS 66 GT, BRITAIN, GEORGE V GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1911
(Marsh 526; S 4006).

OBVERSE: The bare head of the King facing left. The small letters B.M. for Bertram Mackennal are shown in relief on the lower truncation towards the rear.
REVERSE: St. George mounted with streamer flowing from helmet, slaying the dragon with a sword. Date is shown below the exergue line with the small letters B.P. for Benedetto Pistrucci.
ENGRAVERS: Bertram Mackennal and Benedetto Pistrucci.
DIAMETER: 19.4mm.
WEIGHT: 3.9940g
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 6,104,106.
RATING: C (M.Marsh).

1911 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 66

The highest example graded by NGC.
Ex Baldwin Auction 49, October 5 2021.
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70 1/2SOV 1912 G.britain GEORGE V, Ex TED REAMS COLLECTION (M.Marsh 527) NGC MS 66 GT, BRITAIN, GEORGE V GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1912.
(Marsh 527; S 4006).

OBVERSE: The bare head of the King facing left. The small letters B.M. for Bertram Mackennal are shown in relief on the lower truncation towards the rear.
REVERSE: St. George mounted with streamer flowing from helmet, slaying the dragon with a sword. Date is shown below the exergue line with the small letters B.P. for Benedetto Pistrucci.
ENGRAVERS: Bertram Mackennal and Benedetto Pistrucci.
DIAMETER: 19.4mm.
WEIGHT: 3.9940g
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 6.224.316.
RATING: C (M.Marsh).

1912 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 66
NGC 3419782-016

An absolutely stunning specimen of this issue.
Superb GEM with vibrant gold color, sharp detailed strike, and fabulous luster over satiny surfaces.
ex Ted Reams Collection.
ex Heritage Auction # 3020, lot 27195, Long Beach, 11 September 2012.
NGC: Pop 1 with none grading higher.

Photo : The Tower of London. The London Royal Mint at the Tower Hill near the Tower of London


EVENTS IN HISTORY
www.onthisday.com/events/date/1912

January 1, 1912 : Event of Interest; Sun Yat-sen forms the Republic of China.

January 4, 1912 : Smallest earth-moon distance this century, 356,375 km center-to-ctr.

January 6, 1912 : New Mexico becomes 47th state of the Union.

February 14, 1912 : Arizona was admitted to the Union as the 48th state.

March 1, 1912 : U.S. Army Captain Albert Berry performs first (attached-type) parachute jump from an airplane.

March 7, 1912 : Scientific Discovery; Ronald Amundsen announces his discovery of the South Pole (located 14 December 1911).

March 11, 1912 : Election of Interest; Eleftherios Venizelos, leader of the Liberal Party, wins the Greek elections again.

March 12, 1912 : Event of Interest; Girl Guides (Girl Scouts) forms in Savannah, by Juliette Gordon Low.

April 2, 1912 : Event of Interest; Titanic undergoes sea trials under its own power.

April 10, 1912 : RMS Titanic sets sail from Southampton for her maiden (and final) voyage.

April 14, 1912 : RMS Titanic hits an iceberg at 11.40pm off Newfoundland.

April 15, 1912 : 'Unsinkable' RMS Titanic sinks at 2:27 AM off Newfoundland as the band plays on, with the loss of between 1,490 and 1,635 people.

April 18, 1912 : Cunard liner RMS Carpathia brings 705 survivors from the RMS Titanic to New York City.

May 1, 1912 : Beverly Hills Hotel opens.

May 8, 1912 : Film and television production and distribution studio Paramount Pictures is founded.

July 6, 1912 : V Summer (Modern) Olympic Games officially open Stockholm.

July 15, 1912 : British National Health Insurance Act goes into effect.

August 5, 1912 : Japan's first taxicab service begins in Ginza, Tokyo.

October 8, 1912 : Montenegro declares war on Turkey, beginning 1st Balkan War.

October 17, 1912 : Bulgaria, Greece & Serbia declares war on Turkey.

October 18, 1912 : The Treaty of Lausanne ends the Italo-Turkish War; Italy annexes Libya.
The First Balkan War breaks out, with Bulgaria, Serbia, and Greece opposed to Turkey.

November 5, 1912 : Election of Interest; Democrat candidate Woodrow Wilson is elected President of the United States, defeating Republican incumbent William Howard Taft and Progressive candidate Theodore Roosevelt.

November 9, 1912 : Ottoman garrison surrenders Thessaloniki / Salonika to the Greek army (OS Oct 27).

December 3, 1912 : Turkey, Serbia, Montenegro, Greece & Bulgaria sign weapons pact.

December 16, 1912 : First Balkan War: The Ottoman Navy is defeated by the Royal Hellenic Navy at the Battle of Eli.
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70 1/2SOV 1913 G.britain NGC MS 65 GT, BRITAIN, GEORGE V GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1913
(Marsh 528; S 4006).

OBVERSE: The bare head of the King facing left. The small letters B.M. for Bertram Mackennal are shown in relief on the lower truncation towards the rear.
REVERSE: St. George mounted with streamer flowing from helmet, slaying the dragon with a sword. Date is shown below the exergue line with the small letters B.P. for Benedetto Pistrucci.
ENGRAVERS: Bertram Mackennal and Benedetto Pistrucci.
DIAMETER: 19.4mm.
WEIGHT: 3.9940g .
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 6.094.290.
RATING: C (M.Marsh).

1913 GOLD 1/2 SOVEREIGN MS 65
1287245-003

A true GEM with beautiful gold color, detailed strike and flushy luster.
ex Heritage Auction # 3019, lot 27388, Chicago, 1 May 2012.

PHOTO

KING GEORGE V
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70 1/2SOV 1914 G.britain GEORGE V Ex HADES COLLECTION NGC MS 67 2017 NGC AWARD : Best Presented Set

Competitive Set : GREAT BRITAIN, GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1817-DATE, COMPLETE CIRCULATION ISSUES.

NGC Expert Comments:

This impressive collection holds first place in its category and features two centuries of Britain's gold half sovereign coins. Lacking just a few pieces for completion, this is a splendid array of dates, all of them NGC certified. An extremely informative introduction lays out the series in detail, and each entry is presented with photos and commentary. Standout coins include 1821 (MS64*) and 1834 (MS65+),1844 (MS 66) and 1893 Veiled Head (MS 66). Among the modern issues is a significant grade rarity, 2012 (MS 69 DPL).


GREAT BRITAIN, GEORGE V, GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1914

OBVERSE: The bare head of the King facing left. The small letters B.M. for Bertram Mackennal are shown in relief on the lower truncation towards the rear.
REVERSE: St. George mounted with streamer flowing from helmet, slaying the dragon with a sword. Date is shown below the exergue line with the small letters B.P. for Benedetto Pistrucci.
ENGRAVERS: Bertram Mackennal and Benedetto Pistrucci.
DIAMETER: 19.4mm.
WEIGHT: 3.9940g
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 7,251,124
RATING: C (M.Marsh).

George V’s reign witnessed the end of the sovereign’s life as a circulating coin. Gold in daily use had always been an expensive luxury but the demands of wartime finance during the First World War made a circulating gold coinage completely unfeasible. Within hours of the declaration of war in August 1914, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, David Lloyd George, made it clear that anyone who was hoarding gold was helping the enemy more effectively than if they were taking up arms to fight against Britain. Instead of sovereigns and half-sovereigns, banknotes with a value of £1 and 10 shillings were issued for use and the public were encouraged to hand over their gold to aid the war effort.

1914 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 67
NGC 6321758-001

A superb and flashy example of this common coin.
The fields are pristine with strong and unimpaired luster.
The exceptional strike is complete and full and the eye appeal is elegant.
Represents a unique conditional rarity of this date, as being the single and highest example graded by NGC and PCGS.
It is also the highest graded of all the certified examples of King George V London half-sovereigns.
Total mintage of all London minted King George V half-sovereigns 1911-1915 : 27,716,583.

Preserved beyond what should be possible for a coin of this age and beauty.
To find an example as beautiful as this, as pristine, and perfect, is beyond rare. Surfaces alive with intense satiny luster, obverse field flashy and reflective. Even the edge is beautiful; each letter is remarkably crisp and high-relief, the space between them brilliant. It should go without saying that MS67 is the highest certification awarded to any coin of this type. Quite extraordinary, a piece whose near-unparalleled quality and visual appeal destines it for an elite collection of British gold.

Purchased July 2022.
Managed to upgrade my first 1914 half-sovereign MS66 after twelve years. ( bought in August 2010 ).
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70 1/2SOV 1915 G.britain NGC MS 65 GT. BRITAIN, GEORGE V GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1915
(Marsh 530; S 4006).

OBVERSE: The bare head of the King facing left. The small letters B.M. for Bertram Mackennal are shown in relief on the lower truncation towards the rear.
REVERSE: St. George mounted with streamer flowing from helmet, slaying the dragon with a sword. Date is shown below the exergue line with the small letters B.P. for Benedetto Pistrucci.
ENGRAVERS: Bertram Mackennal and Benedetto Pistrucci.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 2.042.747
RATING: N (M.Marsh).

1915 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 65
NGC 3153569-009

GEM UNC example of this last of the "old half-sovereigns", issued by the Royal Mint.
Brilliant, with sharp strike, clear surfaces and full satiny luster.
ex Heritage Auction #3031, lot 28634, Dallas, 21 January 2014.
View Coin   AUSTRALIA - CIRCULATION 1/2SOV 1911S ex RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA NGC MS 64 SYDNEY MINT, AUSTRALIA, GEORGE V GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1911
(Marsh 537; S 4009).

OBVERSE: Bare head of King facing left.
REVERSE: St.George slaying the Dragon with sword.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 252,000.
RATING: N (M.Marsh)

1911 SYDNEY MINT GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 64

PROVENANCE: RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA
ex Heritage Auction # 3017, lot 27219,
10 January 2012.
A conditional rarity, Pop 1 with one grading higher.
View Coin   AUSTRALIA - CIRCULATION 1/2SOV 1912S Ex CARANETT COLLECTION NGC MS 64 SYDNEY MINT, AUSTRALIA, GEORGE V GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1912
(Marsh 538, S4009).

OBVERSE: Bare head of King facing left
REVERSE: St. George slaying the dragon with sword.
DIAMETER: 19.4 MM
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 278,000
RATING: N (M.Marsh).

1912 SYDNEY MINT GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS64

A choice UNC example with strong strike and full luster.
Ex Caranett Collection
Heritage Auction # 61159, lot # 99120, 12 July 2020.
View Coin   AUSTRALIA - CIRCULATION 1/2SOV 1914S ex RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA NGC MS 66 SYDNEY MINT, AUSTRALIA, GEORGE V GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1914
(Marsh 539; S 4009).

OBVERSE: Bare head of King facing left.
REVERSE: St.George slaying the Dragon with sword.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 322,000.
RATING: N (M.Marsh).

1914 SYDNEY MINT GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 66

Superb example with bold strike, perfect surfaces and full shimmering luster.
NGC: Pop 1. The single finest example of the date. Total graded 46.
PROVENANCE: RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA
ex Heritage Auction # 3017, lot 27220,
10 January 2012.
View Coin   AUSTRALIA - CIRCULATION 1/2SOV 1915M TED REAMS COLLECTION NGC MS 65 MELBOURNE MINT, AUSTRALIA, GEORGE V GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1915 (Marsh 531; S 4007).

OBVERSE: Bare head of King facing left.
REVERSE: St.George slaying the Dragon with sword.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 125,664.
RATING: N (M.Marsh).

1915 MELBOURNE MINT GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 65

A true GEM, with bold strike and strong luster.
ex TED REAMS Collection.
ex Heritage Auction # 3020, lot 26055,
6 September 2012.
View Coin   AUSTRALIA - CIRCULATION 1/2SOV 1915P ex RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA NGC MS 64 PERTH MINT, AUSTRALIA, GEORGE V GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1915
(Marsh 533; S 4008).

OBVERSE: Bare head of King facing left.
REVERSE: St.George slaying the Dragon with sword.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 136,219
RATING: S (M.Marsh).

1915 PERTH MINT GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 64

PROVENANCE: RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA
ex Heritage Auction # 3017, lot 27221,
10 January 2012
View Coin   AUSTRALIA - CIRCULATION 1/2SOV 1915S ex RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA NGC MS 65 SYDNEY MINT, AUSTRALIA, GEORGE V GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1915
(Marsh 540; S 4009).

OBVERSE: Bare head of King facing left.
REVERSE: St.George slaying the Dragon with sword.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.o
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 892,000.
RATING: C (M.Marsh)

1915 SYDNEY MINT GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 65

PROVENANCE: RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA
ex Heritage Auction # 3017, lot 27222,
10 January 2012.
View Coin   AUSTRALIA - CIRCULATION 1/2SOV 1916S ex RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA NGC MS 65 SYDNEY MINT, AUSTRALIA, GEORGE V GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1916
(Marsh 541; S 4009).

OBVERSE: Bare head of King facing left.
REVERSE: St.George slaying the Dragon with sword.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 448,000.
RATING: C (M.Marsh)

1916 SYDNEY MINT GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 65

PROVENANCE: RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA
ex Heritage Auction # 3017, lot 27224,
10 January 2012.
View Coin   SOUTH AFRICA 1/2SOV 1925SA S.africa NGC MS 65 SOUTH AFRICA, GEORGE V GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1925 (S4010).

OBVERSE: Bare head of King facing left.
REVERSE: St. George and the Dragon. The mint mark SA in the centre of the exergue line.
DESIGNERS: Edgar Bertram Mackennal, Benedetto Pistrucci.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 946,615
RARITY: Common.

1925 Half-Sovereign MS65
NGC 6673288-015

Ex Jon Blyth, Ebay 18 February 2024.
View Coin   SOUTH AFRICA 1/2SOV 1926SA S.africa NGC MS 65 SOUTH AFRICA, GEORGE V GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1926 (S4010).

OBVERSE: Bare head of King facing left.
REVERSE: St. George and the Dragon. The mint mark SA in the centre of the exergue line.
DESIGNERS: Edgar Bertram Mackennal, Benedetto Pistrucci.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 806,540
RARITY: Common.

1926 SA Half-Sovereign MS65
NGC 6822051-001

A superb GEM with full strike and mint brilliance.
View Coin   SOUTH AFRICA 1/2SOV 1925SA S.africa NGC MS 64 SOUTH AFRICA, GEORGE V GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1925 (S4010).

OBVERSE: Bare head of King facing left.
REVERSE: St. George and the Dragon. The mint mark SA in the centre of the exergue line.
DESIGNERS: Edgar Bertram Mackennal, Benedetto Pistrucci.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 946,615
RARITY: Common.
View Coin   SOUTH AFRICA 1/2SOV 1926SA S.africa NGC MS 64 SOUTH AFRICA, GEORGE V GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1926 (S4010).

OBVERSE: Bare head of King facing left.
REVERSE: St. George and the Dragon. The mint mark SA in the centre of the exergue line.
DESIGNERS: Edgar Bertram Mackennal, Benedetto Pistrucci.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 806,540
RARITY: Common.

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