The 1908-C Sovereign is one of the great key-date rarities of the entire British Sovereign series, struck during the inaugural year of the Canadian branch mint at Ottawa. Mint records indicate that just 678 sovereigns were struck, of which only 633 were officially issued, with ten examples reserved for the Trial of the Pyx.

Traditionally regarded as a Satin Proof issue, the 1908-C has been the subject of some debate, with Michael Marsh suggesting that both Proof and currency strikes exist. The Bentley Collection catalogue, however, considered the entire issue to be of Proof manufacture.

With such a remarkably small issue, the 1908-C is exceptionally difficult to acquire, with surviving examples rarely appearing on the open market. Once occasionally encountered at auction, these coins have become increasingly elusive, with many remaining in established collections.

An important and highly sought-after Canadian Sovereign, representing the very beginning of gold sovereign production at the Ottawa Mint.