1918 King George V Melbourne Mint Gold Sovereign – 22ct Gold

The 1918 King George V Gold Sovereign is a historic British Empire gold coin struck at the Melbourne branch of the Royal Mint in Australia during the final year of 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 is part of the widely collected George V sovereign series (1911–1932), which remains one of the most recognised and actively traded gold coin series in global numismatics.

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, which has been used on sovereigns since 1817. The small “M” mintmark beneath the ground line identifies this coin as a Melbourne Mint issue, linking it to Australia’s historic gold production during the wartime economy of the British Empire.

The 1918 Melbourne Mint Sovereign is especially significant as a final-year World War I issue. Although originally struck in large numbers, many were later melted down or removed from circulation, which makes well-preserved examples more desirable today in both bullion and collector markets.