Gold Market Insights

Gold Sovereign 1919 « GEORGIVS V D.G.BRITT».

The sovereign 1919 is a British gold coin minted at the colonial Australian branch mints in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney and Ottawa in Canadian Branch mint. Almost 5.5 million gold sovereign coins were struck this year. Minted under the reign of Goerges V, the 1919 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).

MintmarkMintMintage
COttawa, Canada135,957
MMelbourne, Australia514,257
PPerth, Australia2,995,216
SSydney, Australia1,835,000
 Total5,480,430
1919 Sovereigns Mintage
No sovereigns minted in London in 1919
Diameter (mm)Weight (gr)Thickness (mm)
22,05 mmGross 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 MintmarkFinancial FeaturesMintage.
« The Royal Mint » Australia and Canada mints.Type: bullion coin.
Production Years: 1817–present.
Legal tender in the United Kingdom, value £1 = 20 shillings.		1919 with 5,480,430 bullion coins.
Specifications for the Gold Sovereign 1919.
Reverse: Portrait by Edgar Bertram Mackennal. Matte background with matte bust of King George V facing left. Legend  GEORGIVS V D.G.BRITT:OMN:REX F.D.IND:IMP Translated from Latin: George the Fifth, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.
Obverse:St George on horseback slaying the dragon right; 1919 and B.P. in exergue.

1919 King George V Perth Mint Gold Sovereign.

The 1919 gold sovereign holds special significance as the first coin struck by The Perth Mint following World War I, making it a prized acquisition for collectors. Although nearly 3 million were minted, the coin remains rare and highly desirable today. This scarcity is partly due to the large number of Australian-minted sovereigns sent abroad after the war to help pay down Australia’s substantial wartime debt. Of the sovereigns minted between 1916 and 1924, those from The Perth Mint are the most commonly seen, as it produced coins for every year in the series except 1932.

Obverse of 1919 P Perth Mint Sovereigns.

The obverse of the 1919 Perth Mint sovereign bears the portrait of King George V, designed by Sir Edgar Bertram Mackennal. The image shows George V in a left-facing, bareheaded bust, which was standard for sovereigns of that period. Around the portrait, the inscription reads: “GEORGIVS V D.G. BRITT: OMN: REX F.D. IND: IMP:”, which translates to “George V, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.” This was a common inscription on British and Commonwealth coinage.

Reverse of 1919 P Perth Mint Sovereigns.

A small “P” mintmark, representing the Perth Mint, can be found on the reverse side, just above the date at the bottom of the coin. The reverse side of the 1919 Perth Mint Sovereign features the classic design by Benedetto Pistrucci, depicting Saint George slaying the dragon. This iconic image, which appears on many British gold sovereigns, shows Saint George on horseback wielding a sword as he battles a dragon beneath him. Pistrucci’s design is celebrated for its detailed and dynamic portrayal of Saint George in a heroic pose, symbolizing good triumphing over evil.

1919 King George V Melbourne Mint Gold Sovereign.

One sovereign that stands out is the 1919-M, with a limited mintage of only 514,257. Despite its rarity, it is only rated as “scarce” by Marsh, even though its production numbers are comparable to or lower than some later, much more expensive issues. Priced around £600–£700, this coin represents excellent value, as it is likely to become even harder to find over time—a true bargain for collectors seeking a relatively scarce piece.

How to grade a Sovereign 1919.

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.
KING GEORGE V GOLD SOVEREIGNS.