- Article published at:
- Article author: Admin
- Article comments count: Comments 0
See how CAD design for custom jewellery turns your ideas into a wearable, buildable piece, with clear choices on stones, metals, fit and finish well made.
Learn More
Quick answer: check design detail, weight (7.988 grams), diameter (22.05mm), and whether the coin responds to a magnet (genuine gold doesn't), then confirm with XRF testing for anything beyond a casual check. Skip the classic "drop it and listen" test — it's not reliable, and it risks damaging a coin that might be genuinely valuable.
Thinking of selling your gold? We are a jewellery manufacturer with our own refinery, so we buy gold directly instead of reselling it to a refiner. That is why we can pay up to 100% of live gold value, and up to 20% above our standard rates for specific designer and luxury brands.
As a guide, at a 24ct spot price of NZD $280 per gram we pay around $105/g for 9ct, $164/g for 14ct, $210/g for 18ct and $256/g for 22ct. Your gold is XRF tested and weighed in front of you, and you are paid on the spot. Free valuation, no obligation.
New Zealand — Auckland gold buyers, 588 Chapel Road, Botany. Open 7 days, free parking.
United States — Houston gold buyers, 10311 North Eldridge Pkwy, B2.
What Is a Gold Sovereign?
The sovereign is a British gold coin first produced under King Henry VII in 1489 and reintroduced in its modern form in 1817. It's 22 karat gold, weighing 7.988 grams in total. Because sovereigns are so widely collected and traded, they're also a common target for counterfeiting, which makes knowing how to verify one genuinely worthwhile. For the full history and symbolism behind the coin's design, see our guide on what a sovereign pendant means, and for a full breakdown of value, melt price versus collector value, and tax treatment, see is it worth keeping gold sovereigns.
How to Verify a Gold Sovereign Is Real
1. Visual Inspection
-
Design details: compare engraving sharpness and finish against known genuine examples; poorly made fakes often show blurred or uneven detailing.
-
Date and mint marks: confirm the date matches the design style actually used that year, since sovereign designs changed over the coin's long production history.
-
Wear patterns: unusual or inconsistent wear that doesn't match the coin's claimed age is a warning sign.
2. Weight and Size
A genuine sovereign weighs 7.988 grams, measures 22.05mm in diameter, and is 1.52mm thick. Check all three using a digital scale and calipers; any meaningful deviation is a warning sign, though a well-made fake can be produced close to these figures using a different metal, so this check works best combined with others.
3. Magnet Test
Gold is non-magnetic. A coin that's strongly attracted to a magnet is very likely not genuine. This test has a real limitation, though: a fake made from a non-magnetic base metal (such as brass) and gold-plated would still pass a magnet test despite not being real gold, so treat this as one signal among several rather than a standalone verdict.
4. The Sound (Drop) Test — Not Recommended
This is a well-known folk test: drop the coin on a hard surface and listen to the sound it makes. It's worth knowing about since people search for it, but it isn't a test professional numismatists rely on, for two reasons. First, different fake alloys can produce misleading results, so it isn't reliable on its own. Second, and more importantly, dropping a coin risks chipping or denting it, and that physical damage can reduce a coin's numismatic value even if it turns out to be completely genuine, particularly for a rare or historically significant sovereign. If you're checking authenticity, weight, dimension checks, and XRF testing are safer options that carry no risk to the coin itself.
5. Acid Test
An acid test can indicate gold purity, but it leaves a small mark on the coin's surface, making it a semi-destructive method best reserved for lower-value pieces, or left to a professional who can apply it carefully and minimally. For a valuable or potentially rare coin, this isn't the first test to reach for.
6. X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)
XRF testing is the most reliable non-destructive method available. An XRF instrument identifies a coin's exact metal composition without any physical contact or damage, using X-rays to excite and measure the atoms in the coin's surface. This requires professional equipment and expertise, but it's fast, accurate, and leaves the coin completely unaffected.
7. Consult a Professional
For anything beyond a casual sanity check, particularly a coin that might be rare or historically significant, a professional jeweller or numismatist can combine several of these methods and has access to reference material and expertise a home check can't replicate.
The Bottom Line
Verifying a gold sovereign is genuine comes down to combining several safe, non-destructive checks: visual inspection, weight and dimensions, a magnet test, and ideally XRF testing, rather than relying on any single method, and definitely not the drop test. If you're unsure about a coin you own, or are considering buying or selling one, TJ Diamond offers free, no-obligation XRF testing and valuation in both Auckland and Houston.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How can you tell if a gold sovereign is real? |
|
Check several things together rather than relying on any single test: the design detail and mint marks against known genuine examples, the exact weight (7.988 grams) and diameter (22.05mm), and whether the coin is attracted to a magnet (genuine gold is non-magnetic; a magnetic pull suggests a fake, though non-magnetic base-metal fakes exist too). For anything beyond a quick sanity check, XRF testing by a jeweller or a professional numismatist gives a reliable, non-destructive answer without any risk of damaging the coin. |
Q2: What is the correct weight and size of a genuine gold sovereign? |
|
A genuine full gold sovereign weighs 7.988 grams, has a diameter of 22.05mm, and is 1.52mm thick. Any meaningful deviation from these figures on a digital scale and calipers is a warning sign, though weight alone isn't conclusive, since a well-made fake can be produced close to the correct weight and size using a different, denser or lighter metal combination. |
Q3: Does the sound a gold coin makes when dropped tell you if it's real? |
|
This is a well-known folk test, but it's not a reliable or recommended method, and it carries a real risk: dropping a coin, especially a rare or valuable one, onto a hard surface can chip, dent, or otherwise damage it, which can reduce its numismatic value even if the coin turns out to be genuine. Genuine and counterfeit coins can both produce misleading results depending on the specific alloy used in a fake, and professional numismatists generally don't rely on this test. If you're checking a coin's authenticity, non-destructive methods like weight, dimension checks, and XRF testing are safer and more reliable. |
Q4: Is a magnet test reliable for checking if a gold sovereign is real? |
|
It's a useful quick check but not conclusive on its own. Gold is non-magnetic, so if a coin is strongly attracted to a magnet, it's very likely not genuine gold. However, this test can't catch a fake made from a non-magnetic base metal (such as brass or tungsten) that's been gold-plated, since those wouldn't respond to a magnet either despite not being genuine gold. Combine a magnet test with a weight check and, ideally, professional verification for anything of meaningful value. |
Q5: What is the most reliable way to verify a gold sovereign's authenticity? |
|
XRF (X-ray fluorescence) testing, performed by a jeweller or professional, is the most reliable non-destructive method available to buyers and sellers. It accurately identifies the metal composition of a coin without damaging it, unlike an acid test, which leaves a small mark on the coin's surface. For a rare or historically significant sovereign specifically, professional numismatic authentication is worth the cost, since it verifies both authenticity and, where relevant, the coin's date and mint-specific details that affect its collector value. |
Q6: Can a gold-plated fake sovereign pass a magnet test? |
|
Yes, if the base metal underneath the plating is itself non-magnetic, such as brass or certain other alloys. This is exactly why a magnet test alone isn't sufficient; a well-made fake can be designed specifically to defeat the most commonly known home tests. Weight and dimension checks catch some of these fakes, since gold-plated base metals are usually lighter or a different size than a genuine sovereign, but XRF testing or professional appraisal remains the most reliable method for anything beyond a casual sanity check. |
Q7: What should you check on the coin's design to spot a fake? |
|
Compare engraving sharpness, detail quality, and overall finish against known genuine examples of the same date and monarch; poorly made fakes often show blurred, uneven, or simplified detailing compared to the original. Check that the date and mint mark are consistent with the design style actually used in that specific year, since design details changed over the sovereign's long production history and a mismatch is a clear warning sign. Unusual or inconsistent wear patterns, wear that doesn't match the coin's stated age or circulation history, are also worth noting. |
Q8: Where can you get a gold sovereign professionally authenticated in NZ? |
|
A jeweller with XRF testing capability, or a specialist numismatist for coins with potential rarity or historical significance, are the two most reliable options. TJ Diamond offers free, no-obligation XRF testing and valuation in both Auckland and Houston, and can advise whether a coin's potential rarity warrants further numismatic authentication beyond a standard purity check. |
- Article published at:
- Article author: Afshan SEO
- Article comments count: Comments 0
Selling gold for the first time can feel uncertain. How do you know you're getting a fair price? Who can you trust? What happens when you walk in?
This guide answers every question. At TJ Diamond, we believe transparency is everything — so here is exactly what to expect when you sell your gold with us.
Step 1 — Gather Your Gold
Collect everything you want to sell. This includes old jewellery you no longer wear, broken or damaged pieces, inherited gold, gold coins, and any scrap gold. You do not need to clean or repair anything — we assess gold as-is.
Step 2 — Visit Our Auckland Studio
No appointment is needed. Walk in any time during business hours. Bring your gold and a form of photo ID (driver's licence or passport). ID is required for all gold purchases above a certain value — this is standard practice across all reputable gold buyers in New Zealand.
Step 3 — Free Testing and Weighing
We weigh your gold on certified precision scales and test its purity using XRF (X-ray fluorescence) technology. This process is fast, non-destructive, and done in front of you. No acid. No scratching. No damage to your items.
Step 4 — Receive Your Offer
Based on the weight, purity, and today's live gold spot price, we calculate your offer and present it to you clearly. We show you exactly how we arrived at the figure. No hidden deductions. No pressure.
Step 5 — Get Paid
If you accept the offer, we pay you immediately — in cash or bank transfer, whichever you prefer. The entire process typically takes 10 to 15 minutes.
Tips for Getting the Best Price
• Sell when the gold spot price is high — check the live price before you visit
• Bring everything — even broken or incomplete pieces have value
• Avoid pawn shops — they typically pay 40–60% of gold's value; we pay significantly more
• Don't clean your gold — it won't change the price and could damage delicate pieces
• Get multiple quotes if you're unsure — then compare them against ours
Learn More
- Article published at:
- Article author: Admin
- Article comments count: Comments 0
See how the custom engagement ring design process moves from your ideas to a finished, handcrafted ring, with clear advice on budget and materials wisely.
Learn More