Great Britain Gold Half Sovereign (Random) BU

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The British Gold Half Sovereign represents a deep numismatic tradition, with its initial production tracing all the way back to the Tudor era in 1544. Following a hiatus, the modern era of these coins resumed in 1817 and ran through 1937, before resuming once again in 1980. Struck at the Royal Mint and various other Commonwealth facilities, each of these specimens contains 0.1177 troy ounces of pure gold content, minted to a purity standard of 0.9167. On the obverse side, the coin displays the portrait of the sitting monarch at the time of minting. The reverse side traditionally showcases the dramatic scene of Saint George on horseback vanquishing a dragon, a masterpiece created by Benedetto Pistrucci. However, certain issues produced during the long rule of Queen Victoria depart from this standard, displaying a crowned shield design instead.