Following the death of his father, Edward VII, The Prince of Wales was proclaimed King George V on 6 May 1910. His coronation took place the following year on 22 June 1911 at Westminster Abbey. His reign, which lasted until his death on 20 January 1936, coincided with one of the most tumultuous periods of British history – most notably the First World War.

The king had an active presence during the conflict, making over 450 visits to troops and paying over 300 visits to hospitals to see wounded servicemen. A compassionate monarch, he advocated for merciful treatment of German prisoners-of-war and pushed to treat conscientious objectors with benevolence. As a result of the anti-German sentiment engendered by the war, George V became the first royal of the House of Windsor. He gave up the historic German name of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and adopted the new family name in 1917.

With the conclusion of the war, Britain was left with little relief as the country had acquired significant emotional and financial cost, and the debt owed to the United States provided the catalyst for the end of domestic Sovereign production. Many coins had been melted down and requisitioned to finance the war effort and repay the nation’s outstanding debts. Banknotes had overtaken gold coinage for everyday transactions in Britain but despite The Sovereign ceasing as a circulating coin, it was still struck in limited batches in branch mints around the world – making these Sovereigns coveted collection pieces today.