What is the difference between Half-Sovereign and George and Dragon coin?

Answer 1

The Sovereign and Half-Sovereign coins are both made from 91.7% (22 carat) gold, have the reigning monarch on the obverse, and most commonly, Saint George slaying the dragon on the reverse, and the denomination is not inscribed on either.

Prior to the Saint George design, both coins had the "Crowned Shield" design on the reverse.

Along with the rest of the British currency, both coins were standardised in 1817 when they were reintroduced into the British currency and have maintained that standard to present day.

The Half-Sovereign is 19.30 mm in diameter and weighs 3.99g.

The Sovereign is 22.05 mm in diameter, 1.52 mm thick and weighs 7.9881 grams.

The Sovereign has a "face value" of One Pound, or 20 Shillings or 240 Pence under the old currency. Since decimalisation, it is still One Pound, or 100 pence.

A Half-Sovereign has a "face value" of half of that, 10 shillings in the old currency, or 50 pence in the new.

The actual value is aligned with the price of gold which would be significantly greater than "face value".

Sovereigns and Half-Sovereigns minted at mints other than the Royal Mint were mintmarked as follows -

• Melbourne - M
• Ottawa - C
• Perth - P
• Pretoria - SA
• Sydney - S
• Bombay - I

Those coins minted at the Royal Mint have no mintmark. All Sovereign coinage minted since 1937 have been minted at the Royal Mint.

Answer 2

I am not sure what you mean, but since the late 19th Century, all Sovereigns and Half-Sovereigns had St. George and the Dragon on the reverse.