Rare 1937 Gold Sovereign Surprises Seller With Huge Hammer Price
A local seller has just had a big auction win after the gold Sovereign they thought was nothing special made £3,400.
The gold coin from 1937 was a star lot in our 23rd April 2025 sale of coins, jewellery and silver. This eagerly anticipated auction featured an extensive range of luxury items from sellers in Wiltshire, including watches by Omega, Rolex and Cartier, stunning diamond rings and silver jewellery and tableware by makers like Georg Jensen.
Many sellers who consign their valuables to auction are surprised by the estimates, but the vendors who sold their 1937 Sovereign were particularly shocked.
Savvy collectors will know that real gold Sovereigns are made from just under 8 grams of 22-carat gold. With precious metal prices hitting record levels, these coins are today worth more than £500 for their gold content alone.
However, a rare date can multiply the price of some gold Sovereigns beyond expectations.
Just 5,001 gold Sovereigns were made in 1937 to celebrate the coronation of King George VI.
George VI reluctantly came to the throne following the abdication of his brother, King Edward VIII, in 1936. By this time, gold coins were not part of everyday currency as they had been in Victorian times, but a small number of Sovereigns were made specially for collectors to celebrate this important royal occasion.
These coins feature a portrait of King George VI on the 'heads' side. The 'tails' side shows a design inspired by the legend of Saint George and the dragon, depicting England's patron saint armed with a sword on the back of a rearing horse.
When this rare coin was brought into our offices, the team were quick to identify it as something special, and stunned the owners with an estimate of £1,000 to £1,500.
During the sale on 23rd April, dramatic bidding took the coin to a fantastic hammer price of £3,400.
It feels great to get such a good result for the sellers, and we are looking forward to seeing similar high prices for collectable coins, silver, and jewellery items in our upcoming 18th June 2025 luxury sale.
1937 gold Sovereigns feature a portrait of King George VI on one side and a Saint George and the dragon design on the other.
How To Spot A Valuable Coin
1. Use eBay Like A Pro
Searching for any coin on eBay, even a common one, will turn up sellers asking thousands of Pounds for their coins. These eBay listings are designed to catch our inexperienced collectors. To get a real sense of market value, use eBay's advanced search to look at prices similar coins are actually selling for—that's what serious coin collectors do.
2. Hit The Books
If you have inherited a coin collection and want to learn more about numismatics (the study of coins and medals), then I recommend borrowing some reference books from the library. Our favourite is Token Publishing's The Coin Yearbook, which is updated annually with information about coin history, designs and values.
3. Ask The Experts
Auction houses like RWB Auctions can provide you with a fast, free, expert valuation for your coins. We are used to sorting through large collections to identify rare coins, and we're keen to help you achieve the best possible price, whether you have gold Sovereigns or 50ps.
If you would like to sell your coins, jewellery, silver, watches, and antiques with RWB Auctions, our Coin Department ready to help you get the best price for your valuables. Email us at office@rwbauctions.com or call 01793 840 777 for free advice and valuations.