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The 1911 George V Gold Sovereign: Historical Significance and Modern Tax Benefits
The sovereign 1911 is a British gold coin minted in London, also struck at the colonial Australian branch mints in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney and Ottawa in Canadian Branch. Almost 39 million gold sovereign coins were struck this year. Minted under the reign of Goerges V, the 1911 King George V Large Head Gold Sovereigns, (originally a circulating coin, now a bullion coin) are VAT free in UK and provided they were minted after 1817 and a legal tender coin, free from Capital Gains Tax for UK residents. They also are VAT free in European Union, the sovereigns meeting the criteria established in Article 344(1), point (2) of Council Directive 2006/112/EC of 28 November 2006 (special scheme for investment gold).
Value.
Fortunately, 1911 was a plentiful year for sovereigns, with coins minted at The Royal Mint in London, as well as in Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney in Australia, and Ottawa in Canada. It’s a common enough date, making it primarily a bullion coin rather than a collectible. Most bullion dealers typically buy such coins below their intrinsic value, and in this case, we could expect to go about 10% off the spot price.
1911 Gold Sovereign – King George V – London Mint
1911 Gold Sovereign – King George V – Perth Mint
1911 Gold Sovereign – King George V – MELBOURNE Mint
1911 Gold Sovereign – King George V – SYDNEY Mint.
This King George V 1911 Sovereign, struck at The Royal Mint’s Sydney branch, features an ‘S’ mint mark and contains 7.98g of 22ct gold. It is exempt from Capital Gains Tax (CGT).
| Mintmark | Mint | Mintage |
| L | London, United Kingdom | 30,044,105 |
| C | Ottawa, Canada | 257,048 |
| M | Melbourne, Australia | 2,851,451 |
| P | Perth, Australia | 3,413,474 |
| S | Sydney, Australia | 2,519,000 |
| Total | 39.085.078 |
| Diameter (mm) | Weight (gr) | Thickness (mm) |
| 22,05 mm | Gross weight: 7,99 Gr Fine Gold: 7,32 Gr – 0.2354 troy ounce. | 1,52 mm |
| Edge and Orientation. | Millesimal fineness. | Composition. |
| ➣ Reeded / Milled ➣ Medal alignment ↑↑ | 22 carats; 917 ‰ | 91.67% gold and 8.33% Copper. |
| Mint and Mintmark | Financial Features | Mintage. |
| « The Royal Mint » London, South Africa,m Canada and Australia mints. | Type: bullion coin. Production Years: 1817–present. Legal tender in the United Kingdom, value £1 = 20 shillings. | 1911 with 39.085.078 bullion coins. |
How to grade a Sovereign 1911.
Discerning collectors examining a large Head Georges V sovereign will check various main points when grading this obverse:
- 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;
When collectors examine a sovereign with the St George reverse, there are a certain number of points which are examined closely for strike & wear. From top to bottom, they are:
- The crest of St George’s helmet;
- St George’s chest, together with the strap & pin fastening his cloak;
- The bridle as it crosses the horse’s neck;
- The muscle separation in St George’s upper thigh;
- The horse’s forequarters & rump;
- The “bloodline” in the sword;
- The upper band across St George’s boot;
- The dragon’s torso below its neck.
Coin Analysis Summary: A fake Sovereign 1911.
This 1911 George V gold Sovereign is most likely a contemporary counterfeit from the Middle East, known for its reputable jewellers who created imitations. Though a fake, it is still made of 22k gold. Here are the details:
- Weight: 8.08 grams (Real version: 7.9 grams, worn slightly less)
- Material: 22k gold
- Origins of Counterfeits: Predominantly Italy, India, and the Middle East (1950s-1960s)
- Quality: Middle Eastern counterfeits often used low-quality alloys, but some imitations were made with genuine gold.
Despite being a counterfeit, this 1911 George V gold Sovereign, made in the Middle East from 22k gold and weighing 8.08 grams, could be more valuable than a common date sovereign due to its gold content. These counterfeits, often produced in Italy, India, and the Middle East during the 1950s and 1960s, were typically made thicker to match the correct weight and sometimes used low-quality alloys. To confirm its authenticity and ensure it is not gold-plated base metal, an XRF analysis is recommended.