What is a quintuple sovereign?

A quintuple sovereign (also called a "five sovereign coin" or "£5 gold") is the largest standard UK gold sovereign denomination. It contains five times the gold content of a standard sovereign: 39.94 g gross weight, 36.61 g pure 22-carat gold (1.177 troy ounces). Face value is £5 (legal tender). Diameter 36.02 mm, thickness 2.30 mm. The denomination has been struck intermittently since 1820 (under George IV) for high-end collector and presentation purposes; it has never been a circulating coin in modern Britain.

How much is a quintuple sovereign worth?

At a gold spot price of £1,750/troy oz, the pure-gold value of a quintuple sovereign is £2,059 (1.177 oz × £1,750). Numismatic premium varies: modern Elizabeth II proof £5 (1980-2022): £3,000-5,500 depending on year and condition. Victorian quintuple sovereigns (1887, 1893, 1902, 1911 jubilees): £5,000-25,000+ depending on date and grade. 1989 500th anniversary £5 (limited mintage 750): £5,500-8,500+. Charles III 2023 Coronation £5 (limited mintage 1,250): £4,500-6,500. The premium over melt is significantly higher than for standard sovereigns because production is much more limited.

Why is a quintuple sovereign also called £5 gold?

Because the face value is £5. Just as a standard sovereign has £1 face value, a half sovereign 50p, a quarter sovereign 25p, and a double sovereign £2, the quintuple sovereign has a face value of £5. The "quintuple" prefix describes the gold content (five times a standard sovereign); the "£5" describes the legal-tender denomination. Both terms refer to the same coin. The quintuple sovereign is NOT the same as the £5 commemorative crown — the crown is cupronickel/silver/gold proof at 28.28 g while the quintuple sovereign is 39.94 g of 22-carat gold.

When were quintuple sovereigns first struck?

Quintuple sovereigns have been struck intermittently since 1820 under George IV for presentation and collector purposes. Notable issues: George IV 1820 quintuple sovereign (mintage tiny, prototype piece — auction record £100,000+); Victoria Jubilee 1887 quintuple sovereign (mintage 797 in proof, regularly £5,000-15,000); Edward VII 1902 Coronation quintuple sovereign (mintage 8,066, £3,500-7,500); George V 1911 quintuple sovereign (mintage 2,812, £6,000-12,000); Modern Elizabeth II / Charles III (annual issues from 1980 with mintages 250-1,500). The denomination is intentionally rare to maintain its prestige value.

Is a quintuple sovereign CGT-exempt?

Yes — like all UK sovereign-family coins, the quintuple sovereign is UK legal tender at £5 face value, which means it is capital-gains-tax exempt for UK residents on any future profit. The CGT exemption applies regardless of the substantial premium over gold spot. Combined with its larger gold content per coin (1.177 oz pure gold), the quintuple sovereign is a tax-efficient way to hold a meaningful gold amount in a single piece. See our CGT-exempt UK coins guide.

How does a quintuple sovereign compare to a 1 oz Britannia?

Two competing UK 1-oz-equivalent gold options. Quintuple sovereign: 39.94 g gross, 36.61 g pure 22-carat gold, 36.02 mm. Face value £5. Limited mintage. Numismatic premium 50-200%+ over melt. 1 oz gold Britannia: 31.10 g gross, 31.10 g pure 24-carat gold, 38.61 mm. Face value £100. Mass-produced bullion. Premium 3-6% over melt. The Britannia is more cost-effective for pure gold exposure (3.66 g less gold than quintuple sovereign at less than half the price). The quintuple sovereign offers numismatic upside and limited-issue collectability that the Britannia doesn't. UK collectors who hold both achieve diversification across bullion vs numismatic-grade gold.

How do I authenticate a quintuple sovereign?

Standard sovereign authentication scaled to the quintuple specifications. Weight: 39.94 g ± 0.05 g. Diameter: 36.02 mm ± 0.05 mm. Thickness: 2.30 mm. Magnetic test: 22-carat gold is non-magnetic. Edge: milled (reeded), seam-free. Specific gravity: 17.7 g/cm³ via water displacement (the definitive test). Surface relief: Pistrucci's St George should show crisp dragon detail and clear sword/horse definition. For high-value Victorian or Edwardian quintuple sovereigns (£5,000+), professional grading by PCGS or NGC is essential. Counterfeits of quintuple sovereigns are uncommon because of the higher gold-content investment required, but tungsten-core fakes do exist for high-value variants.

Where can I buy a quintuple sovereign?

For modern Charles III and recent Elizabeth II variants: direct from The Royal Mint at issue (typically £3,500-5,500). For Victorian, Edwardian and George V quintuple sovereigns: UK numismatic auction houses (Spink, Baldwin's, Noonans). For modern Elizabeth II proof £5 variants 1980-2022: eBay UK and specialist dealers (BullionByPost, Atkinsons Bullion). The quintuple sovereign is not a "starter" gold piece — budget £3,500+ for any reasonable example.

Are quintuple sovereigns also called "double crown"?

Yes, occasionally. The "double crown" is an older British term for a 10-shilling gold coin from the 17th century, but in some modern numismatic contexts collectors use it informally for the £5 quintuple sovereign because of the £5 face value (where 5 shillings = 1 crown). The official Royal Mint and BNTA terminology is "quintuple sovereign" or "£5 sovereign". A separate denomination called "double sovereign" exists at £2 face value (15.976 g, 28.40 mm, 14.64 g pure gold). Don't confuse the two: double sovereign = £2; quintuple sovereign = £5.

What is the rarest quintuple sovereign?

In modern issue: the 1820 George IV pattern quintuple sovereign (mintage estimated at fewer than 5 surviving) trades at £100,000-300,000+ when offered. 1839 Victoria Una and the Lion £5 (technically a different denomination but same face-value tier; mintage 400) at £100,000-300,000+. 1853 Victoria Gothic proof £5: extreme rarity, mintage estimated 5-10. In Edwardian: 1902 Coronation matt proof £5 (mintage 8,066): £5,000-15,000+. In modern: the 1989 500th anniversary 1 oz gold proof £5 (mintage 750): £5,500-8,500. Most modern Royal Mint annual proof £5 sovereigns are not rare in absolute terms but are limited issuance and trade well above bullion floor.

Quintuple Sovereign £5: 1 Ounce of UK Gold

The quintuple sovereign — also called the "£5 sovereign" or "five sovereign coin" — is the largest standard UK gold sovereign denomination. Containing 1.177 troy ounces of pure 22-carat gold in a 36-mm coin, it sits at the top of the sovereign-family pyramid and is one of the most prestigious modern gold collector pieces. This guide covers specifications, historical and modern issues, realised auction prices, and how the quintuple sovereign compares to the 1 oz gold Britannia for UK gold investors.

Last updated: 6 May 2026

In brief. 39.94 g gross, 36.61 g pure 22-carat gold (1.177 troy oz), 36.02 mm diameter, £5 face value. Modern proof: £3,000-5,500. Victorian Jubilee: £5,000-15,000. 1989 anniversary: £5,500-8,500. CGT-exempt as UK legal tender. Significantly higher numismatic premium over gold spot than 1 oz Britannia bullion.

Featured quintuple sovereigns on MyCoinage

5 Sovereigns - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait

1980

5 Sovereigns - Elizabeth II 3rd portrait; modified effigy

1987

5 Sovereigns - Charles III

2024

5 Sovereigns - Charles III

2026

5 Sovereigns - Charles III Hanoverian Royal Arms

2025

5 Sovereigns - Elizabeth II 5th portrait; Queen's 95th Birthday

2021

Buy quintuple sovereigns on eBay UK

Sold listings — what genuine £5 sovereigns actually trade for.

Modern £5 sovereign Royal Mint Victorian £5 sovereign Edward VII 1902 quintuple George V 1911 quintuple 1989 anniversary £5 sovereign Charles III Coronation £5 sovereign

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Reviewed by Connor Jones, Editor. Every MyCoinage guide is fact-checked against realised auction sales before publication.

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