consists of:
- 1937 Gold Five-Pound (Quintuple Sovereign)
- 1937 Gold Double Sovereign (Gold Two-Pound)
- 1937 Gold Sovereign
- 1937 Gold Half-Sovereign
This set is important as the only year Gold coins were released during the reign of King George VI was in 1937, making these coins - especially the sovereign - rare and much sought after by collectors.
King George VI ascended the throne on 11th December 1936 after the abdication of his brother Edward VIII. He had married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923 and the King and Queen were very popular in the era of World War II.
George was a heavy smoker and died in 1952 aged only 56. He was succeeded by his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II. George's wife then became known as 'Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother', who maintained her popularity until her death in 2002 aged 101.
During and immediately after the war years, Britain needed gold (and silver) to pay off its debts to other countries, so George VI gold coins were only minted in 1937, and then only 5,001 of each of a gold five pounds piece (£5), two pound piece (£2), sovereign and half sovereign.
The original sets came in Royal Mint burgundy leatherette presentation case.
All the coins had a similar design: King George VI's head (designed by Thomas Humphrey Paget) and the reverse showing George and the Dragon (by Benedetto Pistrucci, who actually lived 1784-1855).
Over the years most sets have been broken up so as to supply Sovereign collectors with one of the harder-to-find sovereigns. Needless to say, all of these coins (individually or as a set) have a high value and the price has increased considerably over the last few years.
Images by permission of M J Hughes Coins.
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Mintage: 5,001 (may include coins in sets)
Minted at The Royal Mint.
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George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death on 6 February 1952. He was the last Emperor of India and the first Head of the Commonwealth. His parents were George V and Mary of Teck. George did not think he would be King, but took the throne after the abdication of his brother Edward VIII. George VI married Elizabeth (known as the Queen Mother) and the couple were very popular during the war years. George was a heavy smoker and died in 1952 from lung cancer. His wife became knows as "Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother" and lived until 30th March 2002 when she was 101.
George VI is the father of Queen Elizabeth II.
Formed in the reign of Alfred the Great about the year 886, during the period 1279-1812 it was generally referred to as The Tower Mint as it was housed at the Tower of London. The Master of The Royal Mint has included famous figures such as Sir Isaac Newton.
Since 2010 it has operated as Royal Mint Ltd, a company owned by HM Treasury, under an exclusive contract to supply all coinage for the UK although it also produces medals and coins for other countries. It is currently located at Llantrisant, Wales.
The orignal coinage was Pounds, Shillings and Pence but since decimalisation on 15 February 1971, it is £1 = 100p, that is One Pound = 100 pence. The coinage of the UK is also a long history, the Royal Mint being established as long ago as 886AD when coins were hammered. Today there is perhaps 30 billion coins in circulation, and many (numismatic) collectors coins and sets are issued frequently in gold, silver and other metals.
As an eBay Partner, We may be compensated if you make a purchase.
| 1937 Royal Mint George VI Coronation Sovereign Gold Proof 4 Coin Set Box Only £ 249.95 |
| 1937 Great Britain George VI Sovereign Gold Proof 4-Coin Set NGC PF 65~67 £ 41,526.65 |