Five British coins to collect without having to break the bank

1. Got your groat

Dating from medieval times, this Edward IV groat, London Mint, shown top, is estimated at £40-60 as part of the Stroud Auctions December 4-6 sale of Antiques to include sections of jewellery, silver, watches, clocks, coins, fine wine and spirits.

Edward IV reigned from 1460-70 and then after a brief break to see off Warwick ‘the Kingmaker’ again from 1471-83.

The groat was a now defunct English and Irish coin originally worth four pence. These large coins were first introduced by Edward I in 1280. It was the largest silver coin in circulation in England for the next 220 years until the last one – considerably reduced in size, however - was struck as late as 1855.

View this Edward IV groat at Stroud Auctions at thesaleroom.com.

2. The joy of six

Elizabeth I milled sixpence estimated at £220-280 in the Coins, Tokens and Banknotes taking place at Tennants on December 4.

Elizabeth I was four years into her reign when this milled sixpence was struck. Four hundred and fifty-seven years later it has found its way to the Coins, Tokens and Banknotes taking place at Tennants of Leyburn, North Yorkshire, on December 4, estimated at £220-280.

View this Elizabeth I sixpence at Tennants auction via thesaleroom.com.

3. For the common good

This Commonwealth 1653 hammered silver half-crown is estimated at £280-320 in Richard Winterton’s Fine Art & Specialist Sale in Lichfield on November 11.

On most British coins you will find an image of the reigning monarch on one side, but not on this lot on offer at Richard Winterton’s Fine Art & Specialist Sale in Lichfield on November 11.

The reason? It dates from 1653 when the Commonwealth replaced the monarchy under Cromwell for a relatively short period. This hammered silver half-crown is estimated at £280-320.

View this Commonwealth 1653 silver half-crown at Richard Winterton via thesaleroom.com.

4. Gold award

This George V gold, milled-edge sovereign from 1912 is estimated at £200-250 in the Coins, Tokens & Banknotes auction at the Peter Wilson auction on December 5.

King George V reigned from 1910-36 after succeeding his father, King Edward VII. As a second son of the monarch he was destined for a career in the Royal Navy until the sudden death of his brother, Prince Albert Victor, propelled him into pole position.

This gold, milled-edge sovereign dates from two years into his reign. It displays the king bare headed on one side with St George and the Dragon on the other. It is estimated at £200-250 in the Coins, Tokens & Banknotes auction taking place at the Peter Wilson saleroom in Nantwich, Cheshire, on December 5.

Older gold sovereigns have a collectable appeal but all ages are popular investment choices due to their enduring intrinsic value. The first gold sovereign, named to honour the king, was struck in Henry VII’s reign, in 1489. Benedetto Pistrucci’s classic Saint George and the dragon design appeared on the coin in 1817.

View this George V gold sovereign at the Peter Wilson auction on thesaleroom.com.

5. Crowning glories

This Queen Elizabeth II 1966 full gold sovereign is estimated at £190-220 on December 5 at Sheffield Auction Gallery.

With Prince Andrew busy creating a modern-day crisis for the royal family, Netflix TV hit The Crown has been concentrating on the earlier period of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, showing Anne and Charles coming to the fore in the late Sixties.

Andrew turned six in the year this full gold sovereign was struck, 1966. It is estimated at £190-220 at the December 5 Sheffield Auction Gallery Silver, Jewellery & Watches plus Gold Coins Auction.

View this Elizabeth II gold sovereign at Sheffield Auction Gallery on thesaleroom.com.