Gold Sovereigns
1923 Pretoria Mint Proof Gold Sovereign
22 Carat Gold
Australian designer Bertram Mackennal obviously held these values in mind when casting his portrait.
1923 is the first year that Pretoria Mint produced sovereigns. Estimates vary from 24 to 713 struck for circulation with just 655 proofs being produced and used in the sets.
655
The King George V "Large Head" obverse appeared on sovereigns during an era of change and turmoil. The effects of events as momentous as World War I and the Great Depression were felt for many decades to follow, influencing the rarity of many sovereigns.
There is much variation in the depth to which this portrait is struck. The points to examine when grading this obverse are:
- 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;
Specifications
Sources
| Composition: | 91.67% Gold 8.33% Copper |
| Gold Content: | 0.2354 oz |
| Edge: | Reeded |
| Weight: | 7.9881 grams |
| Size: | 21.5 mm |
| Reverse: | Benedetto Pistrucci |
| Obverse: | Edgar Bertram Mackennal |
| Chard Gold Sovereigns | Andrew Crellin of Sterling & Currency. |
The Sovereign Daniel Fearon & Brian Reeds 2001 Hilden Publications 17 Windmill Drive Croxley Green, Hertfordshire United Kingdom Token Publishing |
The Gold Sovereign Golden Jubilee Edition Michael A Marsh 2002 25A St Neots Rd Hardwick Cambrigeshire CB3 7QH United Kingdom |