King Edward VII Sovereign

Edward VII Sovereign coin

The King Edward VII Sovereign gold coin forms part of the Royal Mint’s flagship issue, the Sovereign, which has a history dating back to 1489.

All our pre-owned coins undergo strict quality checks by our team of experts to ensure their condition is excellent. Coins will be carefully packed loose, but If you’d like to further protect your coins, we offer Sovereign coin capsules

The obverse features Edward VII, while the reverse displays the classic St.George and Dragon design by Benedetto Pistucci.

The coins will date between 1902-1910 and were designed by George William De Saulles.Georliam de SaullGeorge William de Saulles

The picture illustrates the type of coin you’ll receive, not the exact item.

Mintage and History

As the oldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Edward succeeded his mother as monarch upon her eventual death in 1901. Due to Victoria‘s record-breaking term as Queen, he was kept waiting until the age of 60 to eventually ascend to the throne. In a remarkable parallel to today’s Prince Charles, Edward held the post of Prince of Wales for longer than any of his ancestors due to his mother’s longevity. With his European connections and keenness for travelling, he personified the privileged elite.

Limited period

Due to his long wait, he died only 9 years after taking the throne, and was succeeded by his son George V. This short period at the helm, coupled with his mother’s hugely significant reign, meant his impact on the British people is far less noteworthy than his predecessor. His main achievements were to foster good relations with European countries and modernise the British army. The Edwardian era is better known for marking a new century and with it, advancements in technology and the growth of socialism.

Variable annual mintage

Annual Sovereign mintages ranged between sixteen and thirty million pieces, with a total issuance throughout the period of around 200 million. With the growth of the British Empire, coins were produced not only in London and Australia but also now in Canada too. Due to the short time on the throne, the coin design was never updated during Edward’s reign.

Our Expert Opinion

Along with the George V Sovereign coin, we consider the Edward VII Sovereign a mid-range choice, striking a balance between premium value and numismatic value. These coins bridge the gap between the older Victorian coins which trade at higher premiums and the more recent Elizabeth coins which have less historical value.  As such these Sovereigns are a great selection to form a significant part of a mixed portfolio of tax-free coins, or indeed to purchase on their own. More often than not, the Edwards do command a slightly higher premium than the George Sovereigns as expected for an older coin.

Additionally, this higher premium is supported by a far lower overall mintage than its younger George counterpart. Despite a high average annual mintage of over 21 million, Edward’s short reign means that far fewer are in circulation overall than the George (Edward’s were only minted for 9 years). From time to time, the two coins trade at the same premium and this would be the time to snap some up and take advantage of this added value.