I, M, P, S, SA. Found on reverse on exergue between design and date for Saint George and the Dragon coins, and under the shield for shield back coins.
Obverse
Design
Portrait of reigning monarch. This coin shows Elizabeth II.
Reverse
Design
Saint George and the Dragon
Designer
Benedetto Pistrucci
Design date
1817 (first used on half sovereign in 1893)
The half sovereign is a British gold coin denominated at one-half of a pound sterling. First issued in its present form in 1817, it has been struck by the Royal Mint in most years since 1980 as a collector's and bullion piece.
The half sovereign was originally introduced in 1544 during the reign of Henry VIII but the issue was discontinued after 1604. In 1817, as part of the Great Recoinage, half sovereigns and sovereigns were reintroduced. Until it was discontinued as a currency coin in 1926, the half sovereign was struck in most years and circulated widely. In addition to being coined in London, it was struck at the colonial mints in Australia and South Africa. Exacting standards made it difficult to strike, and it was considered for elimination in the 1880s despite its popularity.
Production of half sovereigns continued until 1926 and, apart from special issues for coronation years, was suspended until 1980. Since then it has been struck for sale by the Royal Mint, although it does not circulate. In addition to the portrait of the reigning monarch, the coin features in most years an image of Saint George and the dragon, designed by Benedetto Pistrucci, first used on the sovereign in 1817 and the half-sovereign in 1893.
The halfsovereign is a British gold coin denominated at one-half of a pound sterling. First issued in its present form in 1817, it has been struck by...
darkened; this was to avoid confusion of bright new farthings with the halfsovereign; the bronze farthing and the gold piece were the same size. The farthing...
angel of 40d; and the half crown (2/6d or 30d), replacing the 1⁄4 angel of 20d And in gold: the new halfsovereign (10/–) and sovereign (£1 or 20/–) The silver...
double sovereign is a gold coin of the United Kingdom with a nominal value of two pounds sterling (£2). Rarely issued in the first century and a half after...
be either genuine or replica tender, and may be either a sovereign or halfsovereign. Sovereign rings are associated with chav culture in the UK, or more...
for their face value and thus were unacceptable to merchants. 1915 halfsovereign 1560–61 halfpound, one of the first English milled coins 1740 Two guineas...
sell sovereigns to those wishing to own gold coins, by the following year selling four different denominations, ranging from the halfsovereign to the...
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Mint officials and politicians also sought to reduce dependence on the halfsovereign, a gold coin worth ten shillings which was expensive to strike, by issuing...
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reverse designs, with Benedetto Pistrucci's design for the sovereign extended to the halfsovereign. New designs for some of the silver coinage were inaugurated...
The half farthing was a British coin worth 1⁄1920 of a pound, 1⁄96 of a shilling, or 1⁄8 of a penny. The coins were minted in copper for use in British...
value of the coin. The sixpence was gilded by fraudsters to pass as a halfsovereign, and it was quickly withdrawn by the Royal Mint, which resumed its old...
and the garter. In the Great Recoinage of 1816, the half-guinea was replaced by the halfsovereign, worth 10 shillings. Money portal Numismatics portal...
ordinary money is also given in lieu of gifts of clothing and food that the sovereign once bestowed on Maundy recipients. The name "Maundy" and the ceremony...
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