In 1925, the then Chancellor of the Exchequer and Master of the Mint, Winston Churchill, announced that Britain would return to the gold standard. Since the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Sovereign production had declined, with the coin minted mainly by branch mints from 1916. In 1925, Sovereigns were struck in London once more but the restoration of the gold standard was short-lived. Gripped by an economic crisis, Britain abandoned it altogether in 1931. 1925 Sovereigns were struck again in 1949, 1951 and 1952, which are available to purchase from The Royal Mint.