1917 George V Melbourne Mint Gold Sovereign

1917 George V Melbourne Mint Gold Sovereign

This 1917 George V Gold Sovereign was struck at the Melbourne branch of The Royal Mint during the First World War. Produced to the traditional sovereign standard in 22-carat gold, it forms part of Australia’s historic branch-mint sovereign series.

The obverse features Bertram Mackennal’s bare-headed portrait of King George V facing left, surrounded by the Latin royal legend. The reverse carries Benedetto Pistrucci’s iconic depiction of St George slaying the dragon, with the date 1917 below and the distinctive “M” mintmark identifying production at the Melbourne Mint.

A total of 934,469 sovereigns were struck at Melbourne in 1917, the lowest production among the three Australian sovereign mints that year. The date also falls within a significant period of British and Australian history, with sovereign production continuing through the First World War and 1917 marking the establishment of the House of Windsor.