The 1932 Gold Sovereign. South Africa MintKing George V Gold Sovereign minted at the Pretoria Mint in South Africa. 1932 was the last of the minting of sovereigns at branch mints.
The Reverse of the coin depicts Benedetto Pistrucci’s famous portrayal of St George slaying the dragon on the reverse of the coin.
The small letters 'SA' above the date indicates the sovereign was produced in South Africa.
The Obverse, designed by Bertram Mackennal, shows a portrait of King George V (on the legend Latin spelling as GEORGIVS V). These coins are available (subject to stock) from the Royal Mint Shop
(product code HIS932SA). Image credit: The Royal Mint
Mintage: 1,066,680 (may include coins in sets)
Minted at The South African Mint
More information (monarch, year, mint, country, category) can be found below coin listings.
Below are some coins currently being offered on eBay. As an eBay Partner, We may be compensated if you make a purchase.
List items on:
 | 1KG MIXED WORLD COINS FREE POST UK UP TO 1500KG FORSALE £ 13.99 |
 | JOB LOT BULK BRITISH PRE-DECIMAL COINS CHOOSE DENOMINATION AND QUANTITY £ 84.99 |
 | Bulk SIXPENCE Coins, POLISHED, Best Quality, Birthday Gift, JOB LOT, Wedding £ 215.00 |
 | 2023 King Charles III Atlantic Salmon 50p £ 135.92 |
 | Rare £2 coins two pound coin Commonwealth Olympic Bible Navy RAF Captain Cook £ 56.99 |
 | £1 Coins for Sale - Older Round Style - Used Condition £ 1.00 |
 | London Olympic 2012 50p Coins - Triathlon Football Judo Wrestling - FREE POSTAGE £ 2.99 |
 | Rare UK London Olympic 2012 50p Coins Fifty Pence Circulated Set Sports Judo £ 2.69 |
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Remember 1932 ?
Monarch is King George V. Prime Minister is Ramsay MacDonald (Coalition). US President is Herbert Hoover (R-California). Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York and the 1932 Summer Olympics are in Los Angeles. First experimental television broadcast by the BBC. Forrest Mars makes the first Mars bar in Slough. English cricket team in Australia and it's the bodyline series.
George V (1910-1936)
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936 and was King during World War 1. George was the second son of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII), and grandson of Queen Victoria. After his death he was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward VIII. In 1919-20, the Silver price rose dramatically so .925 silver coins began to made in 0.500 siver. Gold Sovereigns were produced in large quantities early in George's reign - over 30 million in 1911 and again in 1912, although there was no bullion sovereigns issued 1918-1924 (Commonwealth mints did continue mintage).
Category: Sovereigns
The 1932 Gold Sovereign South Africa is an example of the Gold Sovereign and is one of the most ubiquitous of all coins and much sought after by both coin collectors and bullion investors. Sovereigns have been minted since 1817 (in Britain 1817-1917, 1925 and 1957 on). At coins fairs you often hear the dealers refer to these coins as Sovs.Besides being minted in Britain, Sovereigns have been made in Australia (Melbourne, Sydney, Perth), India (then Bombay, now Mumbai), Canada (Ottawa) and South Africa (Pretoria) although these regional mints have not made sovereigns since 1932 (although India has produced some recently in a private mint partnership with the Royal Mint). The non-British coins carry a small mintmark ('S','M','P','I','C' or 'SA') just above the date. This 1932 Gold Sovereign South Africa was minted at The South African Mint.
The Obverse is the Monarch's head (George V) and the Reverse is most often St George and the Dragon, although other backs have been used and are of interest to collectors. The Reverse often gives the Sovs a new term, like "ShieldBacks".
Specifications for the Gold Sovereign
- Weight: 7.9881g
- Diameter: 22.05 mm
- Thickness: 1.52 mm
- Purity: 22 carat = 91.67% (11/12ths gold, 1/12th copper. Adding copper makes the coin more scratch and dent resistant)
- Gold Content: 113 grains = 7.3224 g = 0.2354 troy ounce
- Face value: £1 = 20 shillings
- Monarch: George V
History
Up until 1604 there was a coin called the English gold sovereign and in 1816 when there was the "Great Recoinage" the name was revived. At that time standard gold (22 carat) was valued at £46 14s 6d per troy pound; this meant a £1 coin needed to weigh 123.2744783 grains or 7.988030269 g. The weight is still the same today.
As a historical note: to maintain the Gold Standard, in 1816 the value of silver was set at 66 shillings for one troy pound and silver coins were only legal for denominations up to £2.
The first sovereigns carried the head of King George III and the famous George and the Dragon design by Benedetto Pistrucci (29 May 1783 – 16 September 1855), an Italian engraver who became chief medallist at the Royal Mint.
With high value coins such as the 1932 Gold Sovereign South Africa, collectors and bullion investors often worry about forgeries but actually gold coins are very difficult to forge due to gold's unique properties of density and colour. Gold is extremely dense and to use another metal and gold-plate it would result in a coin that is under-weight, over-diameter or half as thick, something that would be spotted very easily. More difficult to spot would be a bullion coin melted down and re-cast as a highly collectable date, but an expert can usually tell these too. You should always use reputable dealers.
Which Mint: The South African Mint
The South African Mint Company Limited is the official mint of the Republic of South Africa. Headquarters are in Centurion, Gauteng Province near Pretoria. The mint manufactures coins on behalf of the South African Reserve BankCountry of Origin: South Africa
South Africa is officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA) It is the southernmost country in Africa.The coins of the South African rand are part of the physical form of South Africa's currency, the South African rand. In 1961, South Africa replaced the pound with a decimal currency: 100 cents (100c) = 1 rand (R1), 1 rand being valued at 10 shillings and 1 cent at 1.2 pence.
The Krugerrand is one of the World's most famous gold coins, being 1oz of fine gold.
On eBay UK:
 | 1872 victoria 22ct Gold Shield Back Sovereign machine doubling £ 679.92 |
 | Gold Sovereign King Charles III 2024 Royal Mint £ 598.32 |
 | 1989 RM 500th Anniversary Half Sovereign Gold Proof Coin AGW 3.66 g BOX COA £ 567.72 |
 | 1989 Gold Proof Half Sovereign with box and COA £ 542.22 |
 | 1887 Queen Victoria Double Sovereign £2 Gold Coin £ 1,434.72 |
 | 1868 Gold Victoria Full Sovereign shieldback £ 669.72 |
 | 2023 King Charles III Coronation Full Sovereign Gold Proof Coin PF70 Graded £ 750.00 |
 | 1905 Gold Half Sovereign Edward VII George & Dragon back - London (no mint mark) £ 333.12 |
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On eBay USA:
| 1872 victoria 22ct Gold Shield Back Sovereign machine doubling £ 679.92 |
| Gold Sovereign King Charles III 2024 Royal Mint £ 598.32 |
| 1989 Gold Proof Half Sovereign with box and COA £ 542.22 |
| 1989 RM 500th Anniversary Half Sovereign Gold Proof Coin AGW 3.66 g BOX COA £ 567.72 |
| 1887 Queen Victoria Double Sovereign £2 Gold Coin £ 1,434.72 |
| 1868 Gold Victoria Full Sovereign shieldback £ 669.72 |
| 2023 King Charles III Coronation Full Sovereign Gold Proof Coin PF70 Graded £ 750.00 |
| 1905 Gold Half Sovereign Edward VII George & Dragon back - London (no mint mark) £ 333.12 |
View Coins on eBay UK
View Coins on eBay USA