According to the CIA Website:
A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 following years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a head in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic intercommunal violence continued forcing most Turkish Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek Government-sponsored attempt to seize control of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," but it is recognised only by Turkey. The latest two-year round of UN-brokered talks - between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to reach an agreement to reunite the divided island - ended when the Greek Cypriots rejected the UN settlement plan in an April 2004 referendum. The entire island entered the EU on 1 May 2004, although the EU acquis - the body of common rights and obligations - applies only to the areas under direct Republic of Cyprus control, and is suspended in the areas administered by Turkish Cypriots. However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship legally enjoy the same rights accorded to other citizens of European Union states. Nicosia continues to oppose EU efforts to establish direct trade and economic links to Northern Cyprus as a way of encouraging the Turkish Cypriot community to continue to support reunification.

Cyprus Sovereigns
We show a photograph of the 1966 sovereign and half sovereign. Although the designs at first sight appear identical, the full sovereign has its mintmark below the portrait on the obverse, while the half sovereign has its mintmark on the reverse, below the eagle, in place of a second pair of tail feathers.
As noted above, these are regarded as medallic issues. They possibly had no legal tender status at the time of issue. We note that in Krause's Unusual World Coins book, that these are described as "Archbishop Makarios Fund Issues".
Krause also describes both coins as proofs, and shows no ordinary non-proof issues, however, the two coins we have shown appear to be non-proof specimens.

Sovereign Base
The British Government retains two British "Sovereign Base Areas" in Cyprus, perhaps the Cyprus gold sovereigns can still be spent there?

Specifications
Technical specifications of the most frequently encountered Cypriot gold coins.

Denomination	Diameter	Weight	Alloy	AGW
Five Pounds	34	40.0000	0.9170	1.1793
Sovereign	21.0	7.9881	0.9170	0.2354
Half Sovereign	19.25	3.9940	0.9170	0.1177
£50		15.98	.9170	0.4711

Key
Diameter = Approximate Diameter in millimetres.
Weight = Weight in grams.
Alloy = Fineness of gold.
AGW = Actual fine gold weight in troy ounces.

Prices & Availability
Please telephone prior to ordering for current prices and availability.

Date	Denomination	Description	Mintage	Grade	Availability	Price £	Price $
1966	Sovereign	Archbishop Makarios	50,000	Unc	Ask	£315	$505
1966	Half Sovereign	Archbishop Makarios	25,000	Unc	Ask	£175	$280
1977	£50	Archbishop Makarios	39,000	Unc	Ask	£435	$1,120

Notes
Other Dates = Either Hejira Date or Compound Date (e.g. 1956 = 1923 + 33).

Postage & Packing
UK Registered Post (Special Delivery) £9 per order
EU Insured Post £10 per order
USA Airmail $10 per order
USA Insured Shipping $20 per order

Cypriot Silver and Base Metal Coins
For silver and base metal coins of Cyprus, please look at our original Chard Coins website.

Coins Wanted
We make an active market in almost all world coins, gold or otherwise, including Cypriot gold coins. If you have any of these coins to sell, please contact us, or post them to us for appraisal and offer.