Gold Sovereigns

1927 Perth Mint Gold Sovereign

22 Carat Gold
King George V saw his role as monarch as being to embody those qualities his far-flung subjects saw as their greatest strengths - diligence, dignity & duty. King George V was the only monarch whose effigy appeared on sovereigns from all seven mints. George reigned during the height of the Royal Mint's reach, but the tumultuous events of World War I, the collapse of the international monetary system and the demise of the gold standard meant that he would be the last King to grace the sovereign .


Mintage
1,305,420

The King George V "Large Head" obverse appeared on Australia's sovereigns during an era of national change and turmoil. The effects of events as momentous as World War I and the Great Depression were felt for many decades to follow, also influencing the rarity of many Australian sovereigns. The Large Head King George V portrait is seen on many of the rarest coins ever issued in Australia - it is a complex series, with gold production in Victoria and Western Australia declining steadily; Australia's economic fortunes fluctuating widely, and high volumes of gold being exported to repay debt from WWI.

There is much variation in the depth to which this portrait is struck. The points to examine when grading this obverse are:
  • The peaks of the eyebrow and upper cheek;
  • The fine detail in his moustache;
  • The broad area of hair above the ear & towards the fringe;
  • The neck muscle between his ear and the base of his neck.
  • Weakness will show in a lack of definition of the hair including beard and moustache;
  • The top of the ear which would show a lack of sharpness on a weak strike;
  • As always, the rims and fields;

Specifications

Sources
Composition: 91.67% Gold
8.33% Copper
Gold Content: 0.2354 oz
Edge: Reeded
Weight: 7.9881 grams
Size: 21.5 mm
Reverse: Benedetto Pistrucci
Obverse: Edgar Bertram Mackennal
Chard Gold Sovereigns Andrew Crellin of Sterling & Currency.

The Sovereign
Daniel Fearon & Brian Reeds
2001
Hilden Publications
17 Windmill Drive
Croxley Green, Hertfordshire
United Kingdom
Token Publishing
The Gold Sovereign
Golden Jubilee Edition
Michael A Marsh
2002
25A St Neots Rd
Hardwick
Cambrigeshire CB3 7QH
United Kingdom

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