Full Gold Sovereign : Best Value Pre-Owned
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1957 Gold Sovereign Coin - Queen Elizabeth II
SKU: SOV1957 | Pre-Owned | Out of Stock
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About this product
The 1957 Gold Sovereign is the first Sovereign of Queen Elizabeth II's reign made in large numbers. Struck by The Royal Mint in 22 carat gold, it shows Mary Gillick's young portrait of the Queen and Benedetto Pistrucci's famous St George and the dragon.
Each coin holds 7.32 grams of pure gold. It's UK legal tender, so it's free from VAT and Capital Gains Tax for UK residents. Every coin we sell is tested and checked in-house before it leaves us.
Read more1957 Sovereign Specification
-
MaterialGold -
BrandThe Royal Mint -
SeriesGold Sovereign -
MonarchQueen Elizabeth II -
Denomination / SizeSovereign -
CountryUnited Kingdom -
VAT StatusExempt -
CGT StatusExempt
Product Description
The 1957 Sovereign marks the return of the gold Sovereign under Queen Elizabeth II. Sovereigns stopped circulating in Britain after the First World War began in 1914. For decades, very few were made.
That changed in 1957. The Royal Mint began striking Sovereigns again to meet world demand for gold bullion coins. The Treasury also wanted to protect the coin's good name, as fake Sovereigns had become a growing problem. Putting new, genuine coins with a current date on the market was part of the answer.
A small number of Sovereigns were struck in 1953, the Queen's coronation year. Almost all of them went to major museums, so 1957 is the first year collectors and investors could realistically own one.
How many 1957 Sovereigns were made?
The Royal Mint struck 2,072,000 Sovereigns dated 1957. That sounds like a lot, but it's less than a quarter of the 8.7 million struck in 1958. No proof Sovereigns or Half Sovereigns were issued that year.
Design of the 1957 Gold Sovereign
Both sides of this coin carry designs by famous engravers.
- Obverse (front): Mary Gillick's portrait of a young Queen Elizabeth II, wearing a laurel wreath tied with ribbons. This was the first portrait of the Queen used on UK coins.
- Obverse inscription: ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F:D: which means "Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith".
- Reverse (back): Benedetto Pistrucci's St George slaying the dragon, first used on the Sovereign in 1817. His initials "B.P." sit beside the date.
The 1957 Sovereign's unique milled edge
The 1957 Sovereign has one feature no other year shares. Its edge is more finely milled, with around 168 grains (small ridges). Later Elizabeth II Sovereigns have 108.
This finer edge was used for one year only. It's a handy way to spot a 1957 coin, although it should never be the only check. That's why we test the gold content of every coin we sell.
1957 Gold Sovereign specifications
- Weight: 7.98 grams
- Pure gold content: 7.32 grams (0.2354 troy oz)
- Purity: 22 carat (91.67% gold)
- Diameter: 22.05 mm
- Face value: £1
- Mintage: 2,072,000
What condition will my coin be in?
Every 1957 Sovereign we sell is pre-owned and graded Very Fine (VF) or better. VF means the coin shows only light wear, with the main details of the portrait and St George still clear. The photos show the type of coin you'll get, so your coin may differ slightly.
Your coin arrives in a clear coin flip, which protects it and lets you see both sides without handling it.
Why buy a 1957 Sovereign?
The 1957 Sovereign gives you a trusted amount of gold in a small, easy-to-sell coin. It also has a story. As the first year of the Queen's bullion Sovereigns, with an edge used in no other year, it appeals to both investors and collectors.
Looking for the lowest premium instead? See our Best Value Pre-Owned Full Gold Sovereigns.
Delivery Information
We send every order by Royal Mail Special Delivery. Your parcel is fully insured and tracked from our door to yours.
Order before 1pm on a weekday (Monday to Friday) and we'll aim to dispatch the same day, subject to stock. Pre-owned stock levels change often, and each coin is tested and checked before it's sent.
You can also choose Click & Collect at checkout and save on postage. We'll hold your order at our Royal Wootton Bassett branch and email you when it's ready. Please bring official photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence, when you collect.
We accept payment by UK debit card or bank transfer only. Credit cards aren't accepted. For larger orders, we may contact you to arrange a bank transfer before dispatch.
Please note, we only supply customers in the UK.
Investing Information
No VAT on the 1957 Sovereign
You won't pay VAT on this coin. In the UK, gold coins that meet the investment gold rules are exempt from VAT, and the Sovereign qualifies. This is true whether the coin is new or pre-owned.
Capital Gains Tax exempt
The Sovereign is legal tender in the UK. That means UK residents don't pay Capital Gains Tax on any profit when they sell. This is one reason Sovereigns are popular with people building up their gold over time.
Easy to sell
The Sovereign is one of the best-known gold coins in the world. Dealers across the UK and beyond buy them every day, which makes the 1957 coin easy to sell when you choose to. Its first-year status can also appeal to collectors.
A note on advice
We're happy to explain the facts about VAT and tax. What we can't do is give you personal financial advice. Please do your own research, and speak to a qualified adviser if you need to, before you decide to invest.
Product Specification
Attribute
Detail
Coin
Full Gold Sovereign
Year
1957
Type
Pre-Owned / Secondary Market
Weight
7.98 grams
Gold Content
7.32 grams (0.2354 troy oz)
Fineness
22 carat (91.67% pure)
Diameter
22.05 mm
Thickness
1.52 mm (approx)
Edge
Finely milled (approx. 168 grains)
Face Value
£1 GBP
Mintage
2,072,000
Obverse Designer
Mary Gillick
Reverse Designer
Benedetto Pistrucci
Monarch
Queen Elizabeth II
VAT Status
Exempt
CGT Status
Exempt
Mint
The Royal Mint
Condition
Pre-owned, Very Fine (VF) or better
Reference
Spink 4124, Marsh 297
Denomination Information
A short history of the gold Sovereign
The modern gold Sovereign was born out of the Great Recoinage of 1816. The first coins were struck in 1817, with a face value of one pound (20 shillings). It soon became one of the most trusted coins in the world.
St George and the dragon
The Sovereign's best-known design is Benedetto Pistrucci's St George slaying the dragon. It first appeared on the coin in 1817 and is still used today. Few coin designs have lasted so long.
How the Sovereign has changed
The Sovereign's size and gold content have stayed the same for over 200 years. Each full coin weighs 7.98 grams and holds 7.32 grams of pure gold. What has changed is the monarch's portrait, which is updated for each reign.
Sovereigns stopped circulating in Britain during the First World War. Production restarted in 1957 as a bullion coin. Under Queen Elizabeth II, Mary Gillick's portrait was used on Sovereigns from 1957 to 1959, and again from 1962 to 1968.
The Sovereign today
The Royal Mint still makes Sovereigns today. Investors around the world recognise the coin, and it's still UK legal tender. For UK buyers, its VAT-free and Capital Gains Tax-free status makes it one of the most popular ways to own gold.
Selling a Sovereign? See how much a gold Sovereign is worth today.
About Us
Every pre-owned coin we sell is graded, tested and checked by our own team before it goes on sale. If we can't verify an item, we don't sell it.
Gold Traders has been dealing in precious metals since 2008. Our experience and testing equipment mean the coin you get is exactly the coin you ordered.
Customers choose us for:
- Clear, competitive pricing
- Fast Royal Mail delivery across the UK, fully insured
- The choice to collect in person from our Royal Wootton Bassett office (please bring photo ID and proof of address)
Our reviews on Trustpilot, Google and FreeIndex show how much we care about good service. We can't give personal financial advice, but our team is always glad to help with questions about our products or how to order.
Your questions answered
We've compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions. If there's something we haven't covered, please call us & we'll be happy to help. Read all FAQs.
Place your order before 1pm, Monday to Friday, and we'll send it the same day, as long as it's in stock. Every parcel goes by Royal Mail Special Delivery, fully insured and tracked.
Each 1957 Sovereign is sent in a clear protective coin flip. You can see both sides of the coin without touching the gold, which helps keep it in the same condition.
Yes, for UK residents. The Sovereign is UK legal tender, and UK legal tender coins are free from Capital Gains Tax. Any profit you make when you sell is not taxed as a capital gain. We can't give personal tax advice, so please check with an adviser if you're unsure.
Yes. Gold Sovereigns count as investment gold in the UK, so you pay no VAT when you buy one. This applies to both new and pre-owned coins.
A 1957 Sovereign weighs 7.98 grams and is made from 22 carat gold. It contains 7.32 grams of pure gold, which is 0.2354 of a troy ounce. As of 25th September 2026, the gold in one coin is worth £759.32 at the live market price. The selling price includes a premium over this gold value.
Look at the edge. The 1957 coin has a finer milled edge, with around 168 grains (small ridges), compared with 108 on later Elizabeth II Sovereigns. No other year has this edge. Edge grains alone don't prove a coin is genuine, so we test every Sovereign before we sell it.
The Royal Mint struck 2,072,000 full Sovereigns dated 1957. That's far fewer than the 8.7 million made the following year. No proof Sovereigns or Half Sovereigns were issued in 1957, which makes the full bullion coin the only version of that year.
You can pay by UK debit card or bank transfer. We're not able to take credit cards, Amex, or business payment cards.
Walk-in purchases aren't possible, as all orders need to go through our website first for security and stock reasons. When ordering online, you can choose 'Click & Collect' at checkout to save on postage and pick your order up from our Royal Wootton Bassett branch. We'll email you as soon as it's ready, and you'll just need to bring photo ID with you. Payment is by UK debit card or bank transfer. We don't accept credit cards.
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