2167 G George V, Gold Sovereigns (3), 1917M, 1918M, 1919M, bare head left, b.m. on truncation, rev St George slaying dragon with sword, M mintmark on ground, date in exergue (Bentley 830, 831, 832; McD 256, 259, 262; QM 193, 194, 195; KM 29; Fr 39; Marsh 235, 236, 237; S 3999). All with light bagmarks, first with scratch over nose and obverse rim nicks, generally about extremely fine. (3) £600-800
Calendar year mintages 934,469; 4,909,493; 514,257 respectively including those that were sent for pyx trial. The pyx figures were 469; 2493; and 257 respectively.
The Very Rare 1920 Melbourne Mint George V Sovereign
2168 G George V, Gold Sovereign, 1920M, bare head left, engraved by Edgar Bertram MacKennal, b.m. on truncation, legend reads georgivs v d: g: britt: omn: rex f: d: ind: imp:, rev St George slaying dragon with sword, engraved after Benedetto Pistrucci, M mintmark on ground, date in exergue, light die flaw from date figures to ground line, tiny b.p. to upper right (Bentley 833; McD 265; QM 197 R; KM 29; Fr 39; Marsh 238 R2; S 3999). With a hint of ghosting, once cleaned, nick in field under chin, otherwise extremely fine, compares well and perhaps less marked than the recent George Collection example, very rare. £3000-3500
Calendar year mintage 530,266 of which 266 went for pyx trial. The 1920 Melbourne Sovereign was struck in a much smaller quantity than the years in the previous decade. This was because the price of gold bullion rose to a price above the face value of the Sovereign, as high as 127/4d an ounce as of 5 February 1920 which meant at that time it cost 30/- to mint a 20/- gold coin. Therefore mintage was sporadic throughout the year.
The Extremely Rare 1921 Melbourne Mint George V Sovereign
2169 G George V, Gold Sovereign, 1921M, bare head left, engraved by Edgar Bertram MacKennal, b.m. on truncation, legend reads georgivs v d: g: britt: omn: rex f: d: ind: imp:, rev St George slaying dragon with sword, engraved after Benedetto Pistrucci, M mintmark on ground, date in exergue, light die flaw from date figures to ground line, tiny b.p. to upper right (Bentley 834; McD 268; QM 200 R3; KM 29; Fr 39; Marsh 239 R3; S 3999). Light surface marks, nicks on neck, otherwise good extremely fine and finer than the recent George Collection example, extremely rare. £10,000-12,000
Calendar year mintage 240,121 of which 121 went for pyx trial. The 1921 Melbourne Sovereign is the key date in the 20th Century currency series for this mint. The calendar year mintage is one of the lowest of the 1920s as are other dates before 1925 because of the prevailing fluctuating gold price at that time.