George III 1817 Gold
​Sovereigns

1817 Sovereigns

There were two varieties of half and three varieties of one Sovereigns minted in 1817 during the Reign of George III. The obverse of the half and one sovereign was designed by Benedetto Pistrucci and the reverse of the half by William Wyon.

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 George III 1817 half Sovereigns

Normal ​

Mintage:  2,080,197

Scarcity:  Common

Die Axis:  ↑↓

Edge:  Milled

Marsh:  400

Proof ​

Mintage:  Very few

Scarcity:  Rare 3

Die Axis:  ↑↓

Edge:  Milled

Marsh:  400A

Obverse:  The king's head facing right, laureate with short hair. Tie with a loop and with two ends trailing onto a bare neck. 
​
Legend: ​ GEORGIUS III  DEI GRATIA 1817
Engraver: Benedetto Pistrucci

​Reverse:  An angular shield surmounted by the royal crown, bearing the Ensigns Armorial of the United Kingdom. The Hanoverian arms with an escutcheon surmounted by the royal crown in the centre of the shield. 

Legend:  BRITANNIARUM REX FID: DEF:
Engraver: William Wyon

1817 Half Sovereign

 The half sovereign was released later than the larger one sovereign on 10th October 1817. Unlike the one Sovereign, the reverse was designed by William Wyon and features an angular shield containing the Ensigns Armorial of the United Kingdom. It featured the new 'milled edge' to minimise clipping of coins and had a face value of 10 shillings. The smallest gold coin in circulation, it weighed 61.637 grains and was made from 22 carat gold. It's a truly beautiful little coin and a key date for half sovereign collectors.

 George III 1817 one Sovereigns

Normal ​

Mintage:  3,235,239

Scarcity:  Normal

Die Axis:  ↑↓

Edge:  Milled

Marsh:  1

Milled edge proof ​

Mintage:  Very few

Scarcity:  Rare 5

Die Axis:  ↑↓

Edge:  Milled

Marsh:  1A

Struck en medaille ​

Mintage:  Very few

Scarcity:  Common

Die Axis:  →←

Edge:  Milled

Marsh:  1B

Obverse:  The kings head facing right, laureate with short hair. Tie with a loop and with two ends trailing onto a bare neck. 
​
Legend: ​ GEORGIUS III  D:G:BRITANNIAR:REX F:D
Engraver: Benedetto Pistrucci

​Reverse:  St George with streamer flowing from helmet, mounted and slaying the dragon with a spear, all within a garter. On the ground under the broken shaft of the spear are the tiny incuse letters B.P. for Benedetto Pistrucci, and below them on the buckle of the garter are the incuse initials W.W.P for William Wellesley Polo.

Legend:  HONI.SOIT.QUI.MAL.Y.PENSE.
Engraver: Benedetto Pistrucci

1817 One Sovereign

 The one sovereign was released on 1st July 1817 as part of the new coinage to replace the Guinea, sovereigns of the same specifications remained in circulation until WWI. Both the Obverse & Reverse are by Benedetto Pistrucci, the Reverse featuring the iconic George & Dragon, a true masterpiece which has featured regularly on the sovereign up and until the present day. The 1817 sovereign is a must have for all modern sovereign collectors, its popularity and iconic status, along with relative scarcity in high grades, has pushed prices high. 

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