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.
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.
![1937 George VI £5 pounds [reverse]. Image: M J Hughes Coins.](https://coinparade.co.uk.robotcody.com/wp-content/uploads/1937-George-VI-5-pounds-Reverse.jpg)
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.
My thanks to Max Hughes (M J Hughes Coins) for the photographs of the set he has for sale.
 | RARE 1937 George VI Gold Proof Half Sovereign NGC PF63- Hugely Undergraded IMO £ 1,995.72 |
 | KING GEORGE VI 1937 £2 GOLD SOVEREIGN PROOF 63 CAMEO... £ 4,150.00 |
 | 1937 GEORGE VI GOLD PROOF SOVEREIGN RARE EXAMPLE £ 4,850.00 |
 | 1937 Edward VIII 'The Abdicated' Gold SOVEREIGN Coin - Gap Filler £ 3.99 |
 | Rare 1937 - Proof Gold Half ( 1/2 ) Sovereign - Grade by NGC as PF65 £ 1,817.22 |
 | 1887 Victoria Great Britain London Gold Double Sovereign Two Pounds 22ct Gold £ 2,200.00 |
 | 1937 BRITISH SOVEREIGN 22CT GOLD PLATED LARGE COIN KING GEORGE VI £ 14.23 |
 | The Coronation of King Charles III 2023 Gold Proof Sovereign Coin Graded PF 70 £ 750.00 |