SOVEREIGN STORIES

 

While the birth of the sovereign dates back to 1489 and NGSA presents a very nice summary of it for the piece they are offering, I thought I would provide some additional information about the sovereign in general. The sovereign's history and longevity is significant. Known as the chief coin of the world, especially during the height of the British empire, it is amazing that they are still being minted today. The modern, milled version, sovereign began in 1817 under the rule of King George III.

The sovereign was circulated throughout the world having mints in England, Australia, Canada, India and South Africa. London stopped issuing the sovereign for circulation in 1916/1917 to pay for their war debts and the sovereign became more or less bullion in England at that time. The sovereign however, continued to be minted for circulation and used in every day commerce through the early 1930s in Australia and South Africa.

Did you know that there would not be a Smithsonian Institution without the sovereign? James Smithson, an Englishman, who never visited the United States gifted 105 bags of sovereigns containing 104,960 freshly minted 1838 sovereigns to the United States to"increase and diffusion of knowledge". The United States insisted on new and not worn sovereigns that may have experienced gold loss from wear. Queen Victoria became the British monarch in 1837 and the 1838 sovereign was the first year coinage bearing her portrait.

Because the sovereign was not legal tender in the United States, the sovereigns were melted down and recoined into America $10 gold pieces. It is almost certain that any 1838 gold eagle that you may find, began its life as a sovereign.

Sovereigns were found in very limited quantities in and around the USS Central America shipwreck. A sovereign was found in the purser's safe and a few more were found in one of the coin piles which included a recently minted 1855 and 1856 Australian sovereign.

Jefferson Davis, the President of the southern states during the civil war allegedly fled from Richmond south with a considerable amount of gold and silver. Included was $25,000 worth of sovereigns. Micajah Clark, Captain in the Confederate army, may have used the sovereigns to pay his men with sovereigns after transporting the gold and silver to Florida.

Sovereigns were issued to the Army Air Corps crews during World War II in case they were shot down behind enemy lines. The sovereigns were much more recognized throughout the world than any American coin at that time. These emergency escape kits were assembled by the Naval Air Command in Norfolk Virginia.

These are only a few examples of the interesting sovereign stories that can be found. I chose them because they are associated with events throughout the history of the United States. There are so many other significant and historic facts/stories about the sovereign and many books have been published about them. There are also many different ways that you can create a collection of them. The sovereign really deserves the name chief coin of the world.

 

To read the complete article, see:
THE BIRTH OF THE SOVEREIGN (https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n46a23.html

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