Numismatic

1928 South Africa Gold Sovereign George V BU

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In 1928, the South African branch of the British Commonwealth mint produced a remarkable run of gold sovereigns. Striking over eighteen million of these pieces, the Pretoria facility marked each with a distinct SA mint mark, signifying its origin in South Africa. This issue contains 0.2354 troy ounces of actual gold content, refined to a purity of 0.9167, representing a fascinating era of global coinage before 1933. The obverse of the coin displays a detailed portrait of King George V, facing left, surrounded by his royal titles. The reverse features the legendary scene of St. George on horseback, brandishing a sword to slay a mythical dragon. This iconic reverse artwork, originally created by the master engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, has long been a hallmark of the sovereign series. This specific issue is cataloged as KM#21 and remains a brilliant example of early twentieth-century commonwealth minting.