British gold coins first emerged in 1257 when King Henry III minted gold pennies modeled after Florentine coins. These coins were equivalent to 20 silver pennies but were withdrawn from circulation soon after. In 1957, the UK resumed minting gold sovereigns for international trade purposes until 1982. Nowadays, gold sovereigns are only minted as collector's versions.
2. British gold coins
The emergence of gold coins in England
In 1257, the English King Henry III (1216-1272)
coined some time "gold penny" in imitation of the
Florentine gold coin ("Florina"). "Gold pennies" was
equivalent to 20 silver pennies, but soon the coin
was withdrawn from circulation. Currently known
only 7 copies of this coin, of which three are in the
British Museum.
3. Modern gold coins UK
In 1957 he resumed chasing sovereigns for the
purposes of international trade, and lasted until
1982. Currently, gold sovereigns were minted in the
Collector's version.
