Sovereign container

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1880 - 1915

Subcollections

Overview

A small round container hinged at the bottom, similar in size and shape to a pocket watch.
The top has a ring and at the base of this ring is a button; which when pressed opens the lid of the container.
Inside the lower half is hollow with a loose lining of blue cloth.
The upper half can be depressed and has a half circle lip which holds the coins in place.

Historical information

Based on its historical context and design, this British sovereign case can be reliably estimated to have been made between 1880 and 1915. The plain, polished interior finish, the specific curved shape of the coin retention bracket, and the engine-turned lining on the inside lid are text-book representations of mass-produced English sovereign cases from that era.
The production and everyday use of these cases came to an abrupt halt during World War I (1914–1918). By 1915, the British government heavily discouraged the use of gold coins to preserve bullion for the war effort, replacing circulating gold sovereigns with paper banknotes. Because gold sovereigns permanently stopped circulating as everyday pocket money after this period, the production of sovereign cases then ceased entirely.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-37-2000.20

Item type

Personal Effects

Material

Metal

Width

7 cm

Inscriptions and markings

The words 'Best nickel plated' is stamped along the edge of the lip.

Keywords