Gold Sovereigns are the most popular bullion Gold coin in the UK but there are a large group of investors who strive for quality as well as rarity for their collection. These investors will naturally gravitate towards the graded sovereigns which are considered the best of the best

Some investors might frown upon others who collect Gold sovereign coins just for their bullion properties and Gold content. These investors are looking for rare versions of sovereigns and sovereigns in very good condition. There has been more of these investors coming into the market over the last 5-6 years which has seen graded sovereigns increase in popularity

Some collectors are only interested in collecting sovereigns that are as close to their original mint state as possible and are prepared to pay a higher premium to secure an example in a mint state which is captured by the ‘MS’ abbreviation

MS70 graded coins are the highest grade that a coin can receive and confirms that it is perfect under magnification. Elite coin collectors will naturally be attracted to these finest coins but the premiums are only elevated for historic coins rather than modern Sovereigns

Sovereigns graded as ‘AU’ (almost uncirculated) are a good means to collect a high-quality coin without attracting the premium that a Mint State piece commands in the market. The main distinguishing factor between a MS and AU coin is that coins that have wear on the high points cannot be awarded mint state and so will likely receive an AU grade