Copyright reserved by the author, Tony Clayton
v55 16th February 2020 \
8s and 8s4d << : >> 15s
History of the Half Guinea and Half Sovereign
Pictures of Half Sovereigns
Pictures of Half Guineas
Half Guineas
Charles II, James II, William & Mary, William III, Anne, George I, George II, George III
Half Sovereigns
George III, George IV, William IV, Victoria, Edward VII, George V, George VI, Elizabeth II
It is stressed that the following prices are a guide to retail prices only,
and are in UK pounds. They represent what you might have to pay a dealer,
rather than what you might be able to sell them for.
I can take no personal responsibility for their accuracy, although every effort
has been made to ensure that they have been copied correctly. In addition it
should be noted that the price of gold coins is very dependent on the bullion
value of gold.
As indicated in the note below, despite lower quotes in these dated prices the bullion value of a half sovereign is about £85 ($141) or more. Current bullion values of half sovereigns can be found here.
The information has generally been taken from the UK monthly magazine Coin News, and is reproduced by the kind permission of
Token Publishing Ltd, 40 Southernhay East, Exeter, EX1 1PE
The headings F, VF, EF and Unc refer to the condition grades of the coins. A guide to
evaluating grades is found on my UK Coin Values Index page.
Proof coins relatively often found are listed, but the absence of a mention does not mean that
a proof of that year does not exist.
Values of these hammered coins are not available.
Year F VF EF 1669 450 1500 5500 1670 450 1500 4750 1671 550 1700 6000 1672b1 500 1500 5250 b1: first bust
Year F VF EF 1672b2 500 1450 4750 1673 500 1600 5250 1674 550 1800 5000 1675 550 1800 5000 1676 475 1500 4750 1676/4 2000 3750 1676ec 725 3000 1677 475 1600 4600 1677ec 650 2000 1678 500 1500 4800 1678/7 500 1500 4800 1678ec 650 1900 7500 1679 450 1600 4400 1680 450 2000 1680ec 700 2200 7800 1681 500 1600 1682 450 1600 4250 1682ec 650 2000 8000 1683 450 1500 4500 1683ec ex rare 1684 450 1450 4500 1684ec 650 2100 8000 b2: second bust ec: elephant and castle below bust
Year F VF EF 1686 550 1600 5000 1686ec 900 3750 9000 1687 550 1700 5500 1688 525 1700 5500 ec: elephant and castle below bust
Year F VF EF 1689 600 1850 5000
Year F VF EF 1690 575 2000 5000 1691 600 1700 5250 1691ec 625 2000 6000 1692 600 1800 6000 1692el ex rare 1692ec 650 2200 6250 1693 ex rare 1694 600 1700 5000 ec: elephant and castle below bust el: elephant below bust
Year F VF EFEarly harp
1695 400 1200 4000 1695ec 600 2000 6000 1696ec 500 1500 5000
Year F VF EF 1697 600 1800 6000 1698 500 1300 4200 1698ec 600 1700 5250 1699 ex rare 1700 400 1100 4000 1701 375 1000 3800 ec: elephant and castle below bust
Year F VF EF 1702 850 2800 9000 1703V 8000 22000 60000 1705 800 2600 8500 V: VIGO below bust
Year F VF EF 1707 325 1000 3500 1708 350 1000 3500 1709 350 1100 3500 1710 325 850 3300 1711 325 850 3300 1712 350 900 3500 1713 300 850 3200 1714 300 850 3200
Year F VF EF 1715 750 1500 4500 1717 400 750 3250 1718 400 750 3250 1718/7 400 750 3250 1719 375 750 3250 1720 400 750 3000 1721 ex rare 1721ec ex rare 1722 400 800 3350 1723 450 850 3400 1724 400 850 4000 ec: elephant and castle below bust
Year F VF EF 1725 400 750 3000 1726 400 750 3200 1727 400 800 3400
Year F VF EF 1728 550 1350 4000 1729 550 1400 3900 1729E 650 1500 5000 1730 450 1000 3600 1730E 750 2000 1731 350 1000 3250 1731E ex rare 1732 350 1000 3250 1732E ex rare 1733 unknown? 1734 350 850 3200 1735 unknown? 1736 350 850 3250 1737 400 900 3500 1738 350 800 3000 1739 350 800 2800 1739E ex rare E: EIC below bust
Year F VF EF 1740 400 1000 3250 1743 ex rare 1745 350 1000 3300 1745L 1250 3750 10000 1746 325 750 2250 L: LIMA below bust
Year F VF EF 1747 375 750 2600 1748 325 750 2500 1749 375 850 2500 1750 350 750 2700 1751 325 750 2400 1752 325 750 2400 1753 325 750 2400 1755 325 650 2400 1756 350 600 2300 1758 300 750 2600 1759 275 700 2200 1759/8 280 600 2500 1760 280 700 2200
Year F VF EF 1762 700 1900 5200 1763 750 2500 6500
Year F VF EF 1764 275 525 1400 1765 500 1500 4000 1766 275 500 1700 1768 275 550 1700 1769 325 600 1750 1772 ex rare 1773 325 700 1900 1774b2 350 750 2200
Year F VF EF 1774b3 ex rare 1775b3 1400 4000 10000
Year F VF EF 1775b4 250 425 1050 1776 275 550 1400 1777 275 550 1100 1778 2758 550 1200 1779 275 550 1300 1781 275 550 1200 1783 500 1800 1784 225 500 1000 1785 225 500 950 1786 225 500 950
Year F VF EF 1787 225 375 900 1788 225 375 900 1789 225 375 900 1790 225 375 875 1791 225 375 875 1792 1500 4000 1793 225 475 900 1794 225 475 850 1795 225 525 1000 1796 225 475 900 1797 225 475 900 1798 225 475 900 1800 325 900 2500
Year F VF EF 1801 225 350 800 1802 225 350 800 1803 225 350 800
Year F VF EF 1804 225 350 800 1805 ex rare 1806 225 375 800 1808 225 375 800 1809 225 375 800 1810 225 400 800 1811 325 600 1500 1813 325 600 1200
Extracted from Coin News December 2019
Note that bullion values have a marked effect on the value of half sovereigns, and changes, both up and down, rapidly render the listings below obsolete.
Year F VF EF Unc 1817 200 370 1000 1750 1818 220 400 1000 1750 1820 220 400 800 1500
Note that bullion values have a marked effect on the value of half sovereigns, and changes, both up and down, rapidly render the listings below obsolete.
Year F VF EF Unc 1821 600 1600 3750 5000 1821 proof 8000 1823 200 280 1000 1750 1824 200 280 850 1500 1825 200 280 750 1200 1826 200 320 1000 1500 1826 proof 5000 1827 200 340 1000 1600 1828 200 350 800 1450
Note that bullion values have a marked effect on the value of half sovereigns, and changes, both up and down, rapidly render the listings below obsolete.
Year F VF EF Unc 1831p proof 6000 1831m proof 6000 1834 300 600 1500 2400 1835 300 600 1000 2000 1836 250 500 1250 2100 1836sd 2500 5000 10000 1837 275 500 1400 2000
Note that bullion values have a marked effect on the value of half sovereigns, and changes, both up and down, rapidly render the listings below obsolete.
Year F VF EF Unc 1838 150 225 1000 1800 1839 proof 6500 1841 160 240 1250 2000 1842 140 210 1000 1600 1843 140 210 1000 1600 1844 140 210 850 1150 1845 300 700 3000 5000 1846 140 180 850 1200 1847 140 180 750 1100 1848 140 180 850 1200 1849 140 180 750 1100 1850 220 600 2500 3500 1851 140 200 700 1100 1852 140 200 700 1100 1853 140 200 700 1100 1853 proof 12500 1854 ex rare 1855 140 180 700 1100 1856 140 180 700 1100 1857 140 180 700 1100 1858 140 180 700 1100 1859 140 180 700 1100 1860 140 180 700 1100 1861 140 180 700 1100 1862 750 2000 10000 1863 140 180 700 1000 1863dn 140 180 800 1000 1864 140 180 650 1000 1865 140 180 650 1000 1866 140 180 650 1000 1867 140 180 650 1000 1869 140 180 650 1000 1870 140 180 650 1000 1871 140 180 650 1000 1872 140 180 650 1000 1873 140 180 650 1000 1874 140 180 650 1000 1875 140 180 650 1000 1876 140 180 650 1000 1877 140 180 650 1000 1878 140 180 650 1000 1879 140 180 650 1000 1880dn 140 180 650 1000 1880ndn 140 180 900 1200 1883 140 180 600 950 1884 140 180 650 1000 1885 140 180 600 1000 dn: die number (all from 1864 to 1879 have a die number) nd: no die numberMelbourne Mint
Note that bullion values have a marked effect on the value of half sovereigns, and changes, both up and down, rapidly render the listings below obsolete.
1873M 120 200 1000 1877M 120 250 2000 1881M 120 300 2000 1882M 120 195 700 1884M 120 195 1750 1885M 120 300 3750 1886M 120 250 6000 1887M 140 60 10000 16000Sydney Mint
1871S 120 180 750 1872S 120 180 750 1875S 120 180 750 1879S 120 180 650 1880S 120 200 850 1881S 120 250 1000 1882S ex rare 1883S 120 180 900 1886S 120 150 600 1887S 125 200 700 4000 M: Melbourne S: Sydney
Note that bullion values have a marked effect on the value of half sovereigns, and changes, both up and down, rapidly render the listings below obsolete.
1887 120 130 250 350 1887 proof 2200 1890 120 130 500 750 1891 120 130 300 475 1892 120 130 300 475 1893 120 130 300 475 Melbourne Mint 1887M 120 130 400 600 1893M 120 130 450 750 Sydney Mint 1887S 120 130 300 600 1889S 120 250 1500 1893S 120 150 1000 M: Melbourne S: Sydney
Note that bullion values have a marked effect on the value of half sovereigns, and changes, both up and down, rapidly render the listings below obsolete.
1893 120 130 185 250 1893 proof 2350 1894 120 130 185 250 1895 120 130 185 250 1896 120 130 185 250 1897 120 130 185 250 1898 120 130 185 250 1899 120 130 185 250 1900 120 130 185 250 1901 120 130 185 250 Melbourne Mint 1893M extremely rare 1896M 120 150 450 1899M 120 150 550 1900M 120 150 600 Perth Mint 1899P unique proof 1900P 120 300 550 Sydney Mint 1893S 120 150 600 1897S 120 150 500 1900S 120 150 400 M: Melbourne P: Perth S: Sydney
Note that bullion values have a marked effect on the value of half sovereigns, and changes, both up and down, rapidly render the listings below obsolete. On 16th February 2020 the minimum value of a half sovereign was about £143.
Year F VF EF Unc 1902 120 125 175 150 1902 proof 600 1903 120 125 175 225 1904 120 125 175 225 1905 120 125 175 225 1906 120 125 175 225 1907 120 125 225 250 1908 120 125 250 250 1909 120 125 275 350 1910 120 125 150 200 Melbourne Mint 1906M 115 150 750 1100 1907M 115 120 250 325 1908M 115 120 250 350 1909M 115 120 600 750 Perth Mint 1904P 115 150 1000 1908P 115 150 950 1909P 115 120 500 Sydney Mint 1902S 115 125 200 325 1902S ex rare proof 1903S 100 120 250 325 1906S 115 125 200 300 1908S 115 120 150 300 1910S 115 120 150 300 M: Melbourne P: Perth S: Sydney
Note that bullion values have a marked effect on the value of half sovereigns, and changes, both up and down, rapidly render the listings below obsolete. On 16th February 2020 the minimum value of a half sovereign was about £143.
Year F VF EF Unc 1911 115 120 150 175 1911 proof 1000 1912 115 120 150 175 1913 115 120 150 175 1914 115 120 150 175 1915 115 120 150 175 Melbourne Mint 1915M 115 120 150 200 Perth Mint 1911P 115 120 250 325 1915P 115 120 250 325 1918P 175 600 2000 3750 1919P rare 1920P rare Sydney Mint 1911S 115 120 150 175 1912S 115 120 150 175 1914S 115 120 150 175 1915S 115 120 150 175 1916S 115 120 150 175 Pretoria Mint 1923SA proof 1400 1925SA 115 120 150 175 1926SA 115 120 150 175 M: Melbourne P: Perth S: Sydney SA: Pretoria, South Africa
Year F VF EF Unc 1937 proof 950
Half sovereign values extracted from Coin News October 2019 (1817-1937)
Note that bullion values have a marked effect on the value of half sovereigns, and changes, both up and down, rapidly render the listings below obsolete. On 16th February 2020 the minimum value of a half sovereign was about £143. Consequently the values below should be increased by about £100
Year F VF EF Unc 1953 extremely rare 1980 proof 45 1982 45 1982 proof 50 1983 proof 50 1984 proof 50 1985 proof 45 1986 proof 45 1987 proof 45 1988 proof 55 1989 proof 100 1990 proof 55 1991 proof 55 1992 proof 65 1993 proof 65 1994 proof 70 1995 proof 70 1996 proof 70 1997 proof 70 1998 proof 70 1999 proof 70 2000 40 2000 proof 70 2001 40 2001 proof 70 2002 40 2002 proof 70 2003 40 2003 proof 70 2004 40 2004 proof 70 2005n 45 2005n proof 80 2006 57 2006 proof 97 2007 57 2007 proof 97 2008 57 2008 proof 97 2009 57 2009 proof 97
Extracted from Coin Yearbook 2007 (1953-date)
The lack of a value for a grade means either that the coin is rarely found in that grade or that it has bullion value only.
Half Guineas
Charles II, James II, William & Mary, William III, Anne, George I, George II, George III
Half Sovereigns
George III, George IV, William IV, Victoria, Edward VII, George V, George VI, Elizabeth II
On 16th February 2020 gold bullion was about $1586 per Troy oz (£1221). The half sovereign contains 0.1177 oz of gold, and this gives a bullion value of about £143 or US$187.
Please note that some values given above were valid when gold prices were very different. Current bullion values may be available on my Bullion Value page.
8s and 8s4d << :
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Values Index
History of the 10s & 10s6d (& 11s)
Main History Index
Pictures of Half Sovereigns
Pictures of Half Guineas
Pictures Index
Values of Coins of UK - 10s & 10s6d (& 11s)
Copyright reserved by the author, Tony Clayton
v55 16th February 2020
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