In 1901 Edward VII became king following the death of Queen Victoria. The king only reigned for nine years, in contrast to his mother who held the title of Britain's longest reigning monarch until Her Majesty The Queen surpassed the record in September 2015. Although Edward became king in 1901, his first coins weren't struck until 1902.

This original half Sovereign struck in and dated 1902, the year of Edward VII's coronation, features Benedetto Pistrucci's St George and the dragon on the reverse. The obverse features the first portrait of the king, known as the 'bare head' portrait, created by George William de Saulles.