One excellent way to collect gold sovereigns is to ignore dates, and collect type coins. For example, there are only three obverse and four reverse types of Elizabeth II sovereigns issued in uncirculated versions, although sovereigns were issued in 40 out of 53 years. It's not necessary to collect every one of the years issued from 1953 to 2012, six coins will suffice to illustrate almost every type issued.
Some type collectors may wish to acquire two specimens, so that they can display the obverse and reverse (head and tail) side simultaneously.

Elizabeth II There are six main types of Elizabeth II sovereigns which were issued in normal circulation finish.

1. Second Issue
   Issued from 1957 to 1968, except for 1960 and 1961.
   Shows the young laureate, first, portrait which was used on all Elizabeth II pre-decimal coins.
2. Decimal Issue - Second Portrait
   Issued from 1974 to 1984, except for 1975 and 1977. Out of nine years issued, three were issued in ordinary uncirculated version only, two in proof version only, and four years in both versions.
3. Fourth Portrait St George & Dragon
   Issued from 1998 onwards, but the 1998 and 1999 versions were issued as proofs only. The millennium 2000 dated issue is available in both uncirculated and proof versions.
4. Fourth Portrait - Shield Reverse
   Only issued for the Golden Jubilee in 2002.
5. Fourth Portrait - New Single Year St. George & Dragon
   Only issued in 2005.
6. Fourth Portrait - Diamond Jubilee St. George & Dragon
   Only issued in 2012.

Uncirculated

Postage and Packing
Starting From...

UK Fully Insured £9, plus £1 per £1,000. (Usually by Royal Mail Special Delivery)
Airmail to USA $10
Insured to USA $20

See our Postage & Packing Information Page for more details.

Other Types

First Type
The first type of Elizabeth II was only issued for the year 1953. Although a very small number of proof sovereigns were minted, none have been released. We presume the Queen has one in the Royal Collection, but we don't think we could induce her to part with it!
It uses the same, first, portrait as the second issue.

Second Issue 1957 With Finer Graining
This is identical to the normal second issue sovereigns, except that the edge graining is finer than on the sovereigns issued from 1958 to 1968.

Third Portrait
This is a major obverse type, but we have omitted it from our type set offer because it was only available in proof finish. Collectors of proof sovereigns may wish to add this to their collection separately.

500th Anniversary Sovereign
Issued in 1989 only, and only as a proof. This sovereign was issued to mark the 500th anniversary of the introduction of the gold sovereign in 1489. We have not included it in our type set offer, but collectors of proof sovereigns may wish to add it separately to their collections.

Guarantee
All our coins are guaranteed genuine, and we try to grade reasonably conservatively. For customers ordering by post, we want you to be delighted when you receive your coins. We thrive on repeat business and recommendation.

Proof - FDC
Proof coins are specimens specially produced for sale to collectors. They are struck to very high standards, from specially prepared sandblasted and polished dies, and polished blanks.

Victoria Type Collection

Kings Type Collection - Edward VII and George V

Complete Sovereign Type Collection

Elizabeth II Pre-Decimal Date Collection
Set of all 10 different dates of first portrait sovereigns.

Elizabeth II Second Portrait Decimal Date Collection
Set of all 7 different dates of second portrait sovereigns.

Elizabeth II - Complete Date Collection
Set of all 21 different dates of uncirculated sovereigns from 1957 to 2003.