Expert: Brad Swain - 11/3/2009

Question
I have a gold coin and would like to find the value of it. On one side of the coin it has what appears to be a man with a cape and a sword riding a horse and the date below the horse is 1911. On the other side of the coin it says, GEORGIVS VD.G.BRITT:OMN;REX F.D.IND:IMP: which is around a mans head.
Thank You,
Dawn

Answer
Hi Dawn, this is a British gold Sovereign coin (1 Pound) if it is 22 millimeters across or a 1/2 Sovereign if 19 millimeters across, depicting King George V (1910-36) as well as Pistrucci's rendition of St. George slaying a dragon. There may be a mintmark letter below the horse's rear hoof indicating it was minted and used in one of the British colonies. A Sovereign should weigh 7.988 grams and would contain .2354 of an ounce of gold. A half Sovereign would be half of the two above weights. Value is likely a little over the gold value depending on wear and demand (kitco.com).
You might try Ebay.com for similar pieces for comparison.
You might also try a library for a copy of the Standard Catalog of World Coins for pictures, values and lots more interesting info.
Brad