Ultra-Rare NumismaticYear: 1920Sovereign

Sell 1920 George V Sydney Mint Sovereign

Only ~4 known. 1920 Sydney Sovereign sold for £780k. Expert guide to identification, auction prices, and authentication of the 'King of Australian Sovereigns'.

Circulated Market Guide

£450 – £550

Typical UK collector & dealer range for circulated examples

Uncirculated / Graded

£650,000 – £780,000 (MS64+ NGC/PCGS; realized auction prices: Bentley Collection £780,000 2012/13, Stanley Gibbons Baldwin's £650,000)

Mintage

360,000 (official; virtually entire mintage melted post-WWI, ~4 circulating examples known + 1 specimen)

Weight

7.9881g

Composition

22-carat gold (91.67% Au, 8.33% Cu/Ag)

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Market Valuation & Pricing Notes

No genuine circulated examples exist in the market; all known pieces are Specimen/Uncirculated. The £450–£550 circulated range represents theoretical gold bullion floor only. Actual transactions occur exclusively at major international auctions (Spink, Baldwin's, Heritage, Noonans). Private treaty sales for the few known specimens have exceeded £750,000.

Physical Authentication Checkpoints

Our specialists verify these exact specifications when appraising your 1920 George V Sydney Mint Sovereign:

Weight: 7.9881 g (tolerance ±0.02 g)
Diameter: 22.05 mm
Edge: Standard milled/reeded (119–121 reeds)
Obverse: George V Large Head (Bertram Mackennal), legend 'GEORGIVS V D.G. BRITT: OMN: REX F.D. IND: IMP:'
Reverse: St George slaying dragon (Benedetto Pistrucci), date 1920 in exergue with 'S' mintmark on ground above date
Mintmark 'S' positioned centrally on ground line, slightly above the date, distinct from Melbourne 'M' and Perth 'P'
Die diagnostics: Known specimens show sharp strike with full hair detail on obverse, distinct horse muscle definition on reverse
Surface: Original mint lustre with honey-gold toning typical of Sydney Mint production
No die cracks or clashes recorded on known examples; surfaces typically pristine

Coin Specifications

Catalogue ID: 1920-S-SOV-GV
Denomination: Sovereign
Issue Year: 1920
Rarity Tier: Ultra-Rare Numismatic
Mintage: 360,000 (official; virtually entire mintage melted post-WWI, ~4 circulating examples known + 1 specimen)
Weight: 7.9881 grams
Metal Composition: 22-carat gold (91.67% Au, 8.33% Cu/Ag)

Common Fakes & Variant Confusion

Primary risk: Added 'S' mintmark on 1920 Melbourne or Perth sovereigns, or altered date on common 1910s Sydney issues. Cast counterfeits exist but lack correct weight (7.98g) and reed count. Authentication requires verification of mintmark placement (on ground, not in exergue), correct die pairing (only one reverse die known for 1920-S), and metallurgical analysis. NGC/PCGS certification essential.

Best Ways to Sell Your 1920 George V Sydney Mint Sovereign

Compare liquidation routes in the UK, or sell directly to Finacforce with zero auction commission.

Major International Numismatic Auction (Spink, Baldwin's/Stanley Gibbons, Noonans, Heritage)

Highest realised prices; global bidder pool; specialist marketing; 15–20% seller's commission; 60–90 day consignment cycle; requires NGC/PCGS grading

Private Treaty via Specialist Dealer (e.g., Auronum, Drake Sterling, Sterling & Currency)

Faster settlement (30–45 days); negotiated commission (5–10%); discreet; limited buyer pool vs public auction; dealer must have pre-qualified buyer network