However, gold coins are still a fantastic investment and if you have the cash to buy some then go for it.

I have been taking a look at some prices that gold sovereigns have been selling for recently on eBay.

Recent Prices for Gold Sovereign Coins

• 1892 Victorian Sovereign sold for £180
• 1902 Unusual Double Sovereign sold for £550
• 1910 Edward VII Sovereign sold for £182
• 1914 Half Sovereign sold for £89.00
• 1982 Half Sovereign sold for £89.50
• 1982 Half Sovereign sold for £87.40
• 1999 Proof Gold Sovereign (boxed) sold for £340
• 1915 Gold Sovereign sold for £190
• 1978 Gold Sovereign sold for £175
• 1904 Half Sovereign sold for £90
• 1876 Victorian Sovereign sold for £192.12
• 1892 Victorian Sovereign sold for £185
• 1887 Victorian Sovereign sold for £205
• 1966 Gold Sovereign sold for £175
• 1886 Victorian Sovereign sold for £171.20
• 1841 Victorian Half Sovereign (described as very rare) sold for £470.00
• 1984 Boxed Sovereign sold for £191.78
• 1984 Boxed Sovereign (mint) sold for £285.63
• 1906 Edward VII Sovereign sold for £180.10
• 2009 New Proof Quarter Sovereign sold for £72.50
• 1900 Victorian Sovereign sold for £169.54
• 1908 Edward VII Sovereign sold for £173.22
• 1843 Victorian Sovereign (described as very rare) sold for £5,750!

So the average selling price of a full gold sovereign at the moment is around £180 although you can get more for one that is older, boxed, and in great condition. Plus of course if you are lucky enough to find a rare one you can obviously get over £5,000!

Half sovereigns are fetching almost £90 each.

The new 2010 prices for sovereigns from the Royal Mint are
£199 full sovereign
£112.50 half sovereign
£65.00 for the new gold bullion quarter sovereign

So you can still get some bargains on eBay although if you are buying as a gift or if condition is important to you it could be best to go for the brand new, boxed, mint condition option.

The modern gold sovereign coin was first minted in 1817 during the reign of George III.  The iconic Saint George and The Dragon reverse as we recognise it today first appeared in this format in 1821 for the reign of George IV.

At times during its history, the shield back has replaced St. George, notably during the Georgian era and also in the reign of Queen Victoria.

The modern sovereign and half sovereign are made of 22 carat gold.  The full sovereign weighs just under 8 grammes making its scrap value today around £140 with the scrap value of the half gold sovereign being half of that.  Of course, other than some very poor examples of the more common George V gold sovereign they are in general worth far above their scrap value.

For collectors and investors a general rule is that the older the sovereign the more valuable it is, although there are exceptions to this.  Some investors do prefer to buy new mint condition encapsulated gold sovereigns so that they remain in newly minted condition.

If you are collecting, it is worthwhile investing in a case or box which are readily available to house your collection.  This will retain the condition and value of your gold coins and is especially a good idea for the small half sovereigns, only about the size of 1p, to prevent loss or damage.

Recently on eBay 20^th century gold half sovereigns are selling for between £75 and £100 depending on condition.  Some of the more modern full sovereigns are selling for as little as £150 to over £200.  A George III 1817 sovereign sold for £500.

According to Spink (the bible for coin collectors) 2008 issue, the book value for an 1817 full sovereign is between £275 and £1650 depending on condition.  If you are lucky enough to find the much rarer 1819 issue, you could expect it to be worth a minimum of £22,500!

For those collectors who prefer a shiny new gold coin, the Royal Mint is currently selling the 2010 issue of the full gold sovereign, bullion quality in a presentation case for £199.  Imagine what a fabulous gift this would make for a birth, wedding, special birthday or graduation during the year.

Over the years, many people have had their gold sovereigns mounted in pendants or rings to show them off.  This can affect the value, either in a good or a negative way depending on the quality of the mount and whether it has caused any damage to the coin.  Buying these can sometimes result in a mistake, however, as there have been times when gold rings and pendants have been made with fake sovereigns that are of lower quality 9 carat gold and are of much lower value.  If in doubt, don’t buy.