Struck at the Sydney branch of the Royal Mint in the final year of the First World War, this 1918 Gold Sovereign brings together classic design and a historic date from the reign of George V. The presence of the small “S” mint mark above the date clearly shows that the coin was made in Australia rather than London, which is an important detail for collectors who enjoy building sets by mint and year. As a wartime issue, it reflects a period when the sovereign travelled widely across the Empire, used in trade, banking and military payments at a time of great global change.

The obverse shows the left‑facing portrait of George V. Around the edge runs the Latin legend GEORGIVS V D G BRITT OMN REX F D IND IMP, which means “George V, by the grace of God, King of all the Britons, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.” The portrait carries the familiar dignified expression associated with George V, and careful striking at Sydney means the hair and facial features can still be appreciated clearly on well‑preserved examples.

On the reverse, Benedetto Pistrucci’s famous image of St George and the dragon appears in full, dynamic detail. St George rides his horse in mid‑charge, cloak flowing behind, as he strikes the dragon below. Beneath the ground line sits the date 1918, with the all‑important “S” mint mark confirming its Sydney origin. This design has been used on sovereigns since 1817, and collectors often enjoy comparing the small differences in style and strength of strike between mints and years under a magnifying glass.

For the coin collector, a 1918 Sydney sovereign offers several points of interest: it is a branch‑mint piece from the other side of the world, it carries a design that links back to the early nineteenth century, and it comes from a year closely tied to the end of the First World War. Whether placed in a run of George V dates, a set of Australian‑mint sovereigns or a wider collection of twentieth‑century gold, this 1918 George V Gold Sovereign with Sydney mint mark is a characterful and historically rich addition to any numismatic cabinet.

*Image is representative of the coin you will receive