Set Description
KING GEORGE V, CURRENCY GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGNS 1911-1915.
The Royal Mint struck its first gold sovereign in 1489 during the reign of Henry VII. This coin became known as "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 half-sovereign was introduced a few years after, during the reign of King Henry VIII (1509-1547), in the year 1544, nearly 300 years before the modern coinage period. The modern sovereign, smaller and featuring on the reverse the classic St. George and the dragon design by Benedetto Pistrucci and the 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.
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).
After 1915 currency half -sovereigns were not issued by the Royal Mint until 1982 when the first bullion half-sovereign issued only for that year.
The year 2000 was of particular interest to half-sovereign enthusiasts, because for the first time since1982 a bullion type half-sovereign was struck and continued to be struck yearly ever since.
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.
This complete set contains seven mint state coins and is highlighted by the 1912 example in MS66 (Finest known of the date) and the 1914 example in MS66 (Finest known of the date). Both are the two finest of all George V certified currency gold half-sovereigns. ( Total mintage: 27,716,583 ).
Set Goals
To assemble a King George V set of gold half-sovereigns in GEM condition.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70
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1/2SOV 1911 G.britain
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NGC MS 66
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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.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70
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1/2SOV 1911 G.britain Ex THOS. H. LAW COLLECTION
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NGC MS 65
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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 65
NGC 3636836-012
Superb GEM with full strike and clear surfaces.
NGC: Pop 3 with none grading higher.
Ex Thos.H. Law Collection.
Ebay : December 2018.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70
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1/2SOV 1912 G.britain GEORGE V, Ex TED REAMS COLLECTION (M.Marsh 527)
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NGC MS 66
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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.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70
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1/2SOV 1913 G.britain
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NGC MS 65
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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
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GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70
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1/2SOV 1914 G.britain Ex HADES COLLECTION
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NGC MS 67
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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 and 1834 (both MS 64), 1844 (MS 66) and 1893 Veiled Head (MS 65). 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).
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 ).
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GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70
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1/2SOV 1914 G.britain
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NGC MS 66
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GT. BRITAIN, GEORGE V GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1914
(Marsh 529; 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: 7,251,124
RATING: C (M.Marsh).
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.
PHOTO*
A large queue of people formed at the Bank of England on the eve of the First World War in the summer of 1914 to change their banknotes into gold coins.
* From the book " A HISTORY OF THE SOVEREIGN " by Kevin Clancy.
1914 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 66
NGC 3349825-005
Glorious example of this common coin.
Fully struck and fully lustrus with perfect surfaces and bright gold colour, making for outstanding eye appeal.
ex Northeast Numismatics, Concord MA, USA, purchased 10 August 2010.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70
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1/2SOV 1915 G.britain
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NGC MS 65
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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.
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