The British sovereigns were originally struck at 95% purity (23 carat). King Henry the eight had intentionally reduced the purity of this beloved coin to 22 carats. This has become the gold standard which is still used by the United States and United Kingdom to this day.
There were half sovereigns struck which are 10 shilling coins and are also a very popular fractional gold coin for collectors. The British sovereigns are not as popular as the Canadian maple leaf or the Krugerrand but certainly a worthy addition to any serious investors portfolio.
