1917 King George V Perth Mint Gold Sovereign – 22ct Gold

The 1917 King George V Gold Sovereign is a historic British Empire gold coin struck at the Perth branch of the Royal Mint in Western Australia during the First World War. Produced in 22 carat (.9167 fine) gold, this sovereign weighs 7.98 grams and contains approximately 7.322 grams (0.2354 troy ounces) of pure gold. It forms part of the wartime George V sovereign series (1911–1932), which remains one of the most widely collected gold coin programs globally.

The obverse features the left-facing portrait of King George V, designed by Sir Bertram Mackennal. The reverse displays Benedetto Pistrucci’s iconic St. George and the Dragon design, a motif used continuously on sovereigns since 1817. The small “P” mintmark beneath the ground line identifies this coin as a Perth Mint issue, linking it directly to Australia’s gold production during the wartime period.

The 1917 Perth Mint Sovereign is a notable World War I–era issue. With a recorded mintage of approximately 4.11 million coins, it is relatively available in circulated grades but becomes more desirable in higher preservation levels due to heavy wartime circulation and later melting of gold coinage.