Gold Sovereign 1909 « EDWARDVS VII D:G:BRITT » 1909.

Minted in 1909 in London, and at the Canadian and Australian branch mints in Melbourne, Perth and Sydney under the reign of Edward VII, almost 25 million gold sovereign coins were minted (originally a circulating coin, now a bullion coin). The 1909 Edward VII Sovereigns (1902-1910) are now 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).

Mintmark	Mint	Mintage
L	London, United Kingdom	12,157,099
M	Melbourne, Australia	3,029,538
P	Perth, Australia	4,972,289
S	Sydney, Australia	4,526,270
C	Ottawa, Canada	16,273
	Total sovereign minted in 1909	24.701.469

1909 Sovereigns Mintage

All Canadian gold sovereigns were manufactured in small numbers, they are highly collected. The 1909-C sovereign have a low mintage of only 16,273 pieces.

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 and Australia and Canadian mints.	Type: bullion coin. Production Years: 1817–present. Legal tender in the United Kingdom, value £1 = 20 shillings.	1909 with 24.701.469 bullion coins.

Specifications for the Gold Sovereign 1909.

1909 London Mint Gold Sovereign.

Value of the 1909 Edward VII Gold Sovereign: Tied to Bullion, Not Rarity

In terms of value, the london mint 1909 Edward VII gold sovereign is essentially worth its weight in gold. Sovereigns were highly popular in the Middle East, and when the Royal Mint ceased production, local jewellers began minting their own versions due to the coin’s recognition as a reliable form of gold exchange. As a result, the value of these coins is closely tied to the price of gold bullion. Although well-preserved examples exist, the 1909 sovereigns minted in London are not rare enough to command much more than their bullion value, even in excellent condition. Their worth fluctuates with the precious metals market.

Reverse 1909 London Mint Gold Sovereign

The 1909 sovereign features a right-facing effigy of Edward VII, designed by George William De Saulles. The portrait is accompanied by the inscription “EDWARDVS VII D:G:BRITT:OMN:REX:F:D:IND:IMP,” signifying Edward VII as “By the Grace of God, King of all the Britons, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.”

Obverse 1909 London Mint Gold Sovereign.

The reverse of the 1909 Edward VII gold sovereign displays an engraving by Italian artist Benedetto Pistrucci, depicting St. George slaying a dragon. The lack of a mintmark in the exergue beneath the fallen dragon signifies that this 22-carat gold coin was minted in London.

1909 Perth Mint Gold Sovereign.

The 1909-P Sovereign, with a mintage of 4,972,289, is considered an underrated coin, similar to the 1910-P Sovereign. Although not commonly found in Mint State condition, this coin is especially desirable at MS62. In Uncirculated (Unc) condition, it is valued around $1,250 according to the latest Renniks coin values guide. However, for coins in lesser conditions, the value is more closely tied to the current price of gold bullion. A premium of around 5- 14% may apply in shops.

1909-C King Edward VII Gold Sovereign (Ottawa / Canada) – VERY RARE.

The 1909-C King Edward VII Gold Sovereign is one of the most sought-after Canadian sovereigns due to its rarity and historical significance. Minted at the Ottawa Mint, this sovereign bears the distinctive “C” mintmark above the date on the reverse, indicating its Canadian origin. It was part of a very limited mintage, making it highly desirable among collectors. Canadian sovereign collectors may envy their Australian counterparts, who have a broader range of coins to collect, with dates spanning three mints, three monarchs, and eight distinct designs, including one unique to Australia. In contrast, Canada offers just ten different sovereign dates. However, what Canadian sovereigns lack in variety, they make up for in rarity. All Canadian sovereigns were produced in small numbers, making them highly sought after, regardless of grade. A high-grade Canadian sovereign offers the collecting trifecta of rarity, quality, and demand, as exemplified by the 1909-C sovereign.

This sovereign features the bust of King Edward VII on the obverse, designed by George W. de Saulles, with the king depicted in a right-facing profile wearing a crown and robes. The reverse showcases Benedetto Pistrucci’s iconic St. George slaying the dragon, a design used on most sovereigns of the era.

Canada 1909 Ottawa Sovereign value

Despite its low mintage, the survival rate of the 1909-C sovereign remains relatively high, largely due to the Bank of Canada Hoard, which surfaced in recent years. This has increased the availability of these coins in the marketplace, yet demand remains robust. High-grade examples of the 1909-C, particularly in MS62 or MS64, have commanded impressive prices at auction. For instance, an MS62 sold for £3,750 at Heritage Auctions in May 2022, while an MS64 fetched £11,000 at the same event. As part of the Canadian sovereign series, the 1909-C is especially prized for its trifecta of rarity, quality, and demand, making it a true gem in any serious numismatic collection.

Reverse 1909 Ottawa Mint Gold Sovereign

Obverse 1909 Ottawa Mint Gold Sovereign

Reverse :	Benedetto Pistrucci. Matte background with matte relief of bust of Edward VII. Legend EDWARDVS VII D:G: BRITT: OMN: REX F:D: IND: IMP:
Obverse :	George William De Saulles– Matte background with relief of Saint George killing the dragon. 1909 BP.

Gold Sovereign 1909-M minted at Melbourne Mint. we have here is a 1909 Melbourne Mint Gold Sovereign this one in quite good condition as you can see there’s a lot of luster on this coin

How to buy a Gold Sovereign 1909.

When collectors examine the Edward VII obverse, there are a certain number of points which are examined closely for strike & wear.

The forehead, eyebrow and upper cheek;
The jaw line running from below the ear to the tip of the chin;
The vertical line running from 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock;
The area on Edward’s head just below his bald patch, running from the back of his head to the top of his forehead;
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 EDWARD VII GOLD SOVEREIGNS, 1902-1910.

Gold coins 1909 King Edward VII Gold Sovereigns per years