1918 Gold Sovereign Coin George V Bombay - NGC Graded

These 1918 Bombay Mint George V Sovereign coins are independently graded by the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) in the United States.

We are able to offer several grades ranging from AU-58 to MS-64+. You can scroll through the photographs to see each respective grade.

Each coin is struck from 22 carat gold (0.9167 fineness) and features Benedetto Pistrucci's iconic St George and the Dragon design on the reverse. 

A distingushing feature of the Bombay Mint sovereigns is the "I" mintmark for India, which is visible underneath the dragon in the ground.

Bombay Mint, India

In December 1917,  The Royal Mint established its fifth branch mint in Bombay as part of the wartime effort, but only struck gold sovereigns with one year date - 1918. The First World War had seen British shipping being the target of German attacks, which put Britain's gold in South Africa at risk during transit. The Mint opened an Indian branch in order to circumvent this danger.

With the war coming to an end in late 1918, The Royal Mint no longer had a need for an Indian branch, so closed its operations in Bombay in April 1919.

Rarity

1918 sovereigns are a favourite with coin collectors and are highly sought after.

Mintage figures are not quite in proportion to the rarity of a particular sovereign. Many coins are believed to have been melted down or discarded, with some dates being affected more than others.

With there only being a single year of Bombay Mint sovereigns, it has created a sense of demand for it as a type coin in addition to demand for it because of its year date.

Mintage Figures

The obverse features the coinage portrait of George V. He is shown with a bare head, facing left.

The design was created by renowned Australian designer, Bertram Mackennal.

The reverse bears the engraving of St George and the Dragon by Italian sculptor, Benedetto Pistrucci.

The "I" mint mark is shown on the ground above the date.