Obverse: identify the front

Elizabeth II faces right wearing the tiara of Arnold Machin’s second definitive portrait. The illustration is an undated obverse photographed by Ceibos; its Commons file is categorized1974, which is retained as source metadata rather than an invented engraved year. The complete portrait and legend represent the full-sovereign family. The photograph is an independent representative and is not asserted to be the obverse of the1976 reverse shown beside it.

Reverse: identify the back

St George rides above the dragon on Benedetto Pistrucci’s sovereign reverse. The independent Ceibos reference photograph carries the actual date1976. The complete rider, legend and date represent the full-sovereign family. Its matching normal issue belongs to the Royal Mint at Llantrisant; that attribution comes from issue history, not a visible mint mark. Read the actual year and confirm the visitor’s own full denomination and dimensions before using a nominal gold calculation.

History and purpose

The Royal Mint identifies 1974 as the first sovereign bearing Machin’s portrait, although the same portrait had been introduced on other British coinage in 1968. Production returned after a gap in the early decimal era. The issuer describes a 1974-dated sovereign as the last coin struck at Tower Hill before the move to Llantrisant. The face date therefore should not be treated as a precise manufacturing timestamp for an individual coin. The final normal Machin proof issues were dated 1984.

How to identify this variant

Match Machin’s tiara portrait, St George reverse and one of the actual dates, then compare 22.05 mm diameter with the full-sovereign reference standard. A half sovereign is smaller and contains approximately half as much nominal gold. This full sovereign does not show a large one-pound numeral on the reverse. Keep original proof certificates or set labels when available, but do not authenticate a coin from a box alone. Measurements are evidence for attribution rather than proof of genuineness.

Understanding its metal content

The retained calculation multiplies 7.98805 nominal gross grams by 11/12 and divides by 31.1034768 grams per troy ounce. This gives approximately 0.235420 fine gold troy ounce per matching full sovereign. Three matching coins total 23.96415 gross grams and approximately 0.706260 fine troy ounce. The database’s rounded decimal fineness does not replace the rational 22/24 fraction. These are nominal quantities, not an assay of a worn or mounted specimen.

Dates, varieties and composition changes

Actual years are 1974, 1976,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983 and 1984. Normal bullion dates are 1974, 1976 and 1978–1982; ordinary collector proof references cover 1979–1984. PCGS separately catalogues 1974 and 1976 special proof entries. No 1975 or 1977 face date is added from the broad period; production during 1975 can retain 1974. Early 1974-dated production belongs to Tower Hill, and 1976-dated normal sovereigns to Llantrisant. The actual year and finish must remain attributed together.

Melt value versus collector value

Retain proof boxes, certificates and grading holders with their actual coins. Finish, condition and documented special strikes may matter beyond the shared sovereign gold standard. A normal bullion example and a reflective proof share denomination without sharing an assumed market premium. The guide does not assign a condition grade, rarity rating or current value to a visitor’s coin. Keep mounts and surface damage visible in appraisal images rather than cleaning the coin to resemble a reference photograph.

Authenticity and condition

Inspect the queen’s full portrait, royal legend, rider, complete year, edge and physical measurements together. Similar portrait stamps, medal designs and smaller gold pieces cannot establish a full-sovereign identity. A correct mass or diameter by itself is insufficient to prove authenticity. Do not polish, acid-test or scratch a coin when trying to distinguish a proof or remove mount marks. Leave uncertain pieces outside a nominal collection total until an individual assessment resolves their identity.

Selling this coin

Separate full sovereigns from halves, earlier Gillick portraits and later Maklouf coins. Record actual years and any proof or special finish evidence. Clear both-side and edge photographs plus original documentation help the existing CashForCoins appraisal workflow assess the real lot. The calculator organizes nominal gold content; an actual offer can also depend on condition, authentication and collector demand. Missing live market prices remain unavailable rather than appearing as zero or a guaranteed buying amount.

Sources and calculation methodology

The original 1971 Coinage Act Schedule 1 specifies 7.98805 g and eleven-twelfths gold. The issuer gives 22.05 mm and a rounded 7.98 g display; the historical nominal mass and rational 11/12 calculation are retained consistently with the other normal sovereign references. This portrait has no matching row in the designated reference world-gold melt table. Actual PCGS bullion/proof annual entries and Royal Mint history establish the nine included face years. Ceibos independently photographed the undated Machin obverse (Commons category1974) and the 1976 reverse and released both photographs under CC BY-SA3.0. They illustrate the same full-sovereign family; the evidence does not establish one physical specimen.

Common questions

References

• Original1971 Coinage Act: sovereign specification — weight7.98805g; fineness11/12finegold; nominalsovereignstandard PDFpage10 (checked 2026-10-12)
• Royal Mint: first decimal sovereign and Machin portrait — identity; dates firstMachin sovereign1974 versusothercoinage1968; design tiaraportrait; TowerHillmove (checked 2026-10-12)
• Royal Mint:1984 Machin proof sovereign — identity; dates1984proof; diameter22.05mm; roundedweight7.98g; fineness22carat; designMachin/Pistrucci (checked 2026-10-12)
• PCGS actual sovereign bullionannual rows — identity; dates actual1974,1976,1978–1982normalMS; separateclassificationlaterissues (checked 2026-10-12)
• PCGS actual sovereign proofannual rows — identity; dates1979–1984Machinproof; separatelylisted1974 and1976specialproof; designclassSC1 (checked 2026-10-12)

Issue-year references

• Original1971 Coinage Act: sovereign specification
• Royal Mint: first decimal sovereign and Machin portrait
• Royal Mint:1984 Machin proof sovereign
• PCGS actual sovereign bullionannual rows
• PCGS actual sovereign proofannual rows

Content maintained by CashForCoins. Last substantive record update: 2026-10-12. Report a specification or attribution issue through our contact page.

Related coins

George V Gold Sovereign

Photo credits and rights on the linked coin profile.

United Kingdom • 22-carat gold: eleven-twelfths gold and one-twelfth alloy metal

Issue years: 1911–1932

Fine gold: 0.235420 troy oz

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