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

The 1918 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 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 forms part of the wartime George V sovereign series (1911–1932), which remains one of the most widely recognised and actively collected gold coin programs in the world.

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 classic 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 economy.

The 1918 Perth Mint Sovereign is a significant issue due to its historical context as the final wartime sovereign year. While it had a relatively high original mintage, large quantities were later melted or exported, meaning higher-grade surviving examples are more desirable to collectors today.