Owner Comments:
GT. BRITAIN, EDWARD VII GOLD SOVEREIGN 1904
(Marsh 176; S 3969).
OBVERSE: Bare head of king facing right.
REVERSE: St. George and the dragon.
ENGRAVERS and DESIGNERS: WHJ Blakemore, George William De Saules (1862-1903), Benedetto Pistruchi (1784-1855).
DIAMETER: 22.05mm.
WEIGHT: 7.988 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 10,041,369
RATING: C (M.Marsh).
EDWARD VII, SOVEREIGN, 1904.
The coinage of the reign of King Edward VII features a bare head portrait of the King facing to the right by George William De Saulles (4 February 1862 - 21 July 1903), who had been Chief Engraver since the death of Leonard Charles Wyon in 1892. De Saulles was authorised to execute new designs on 10 December 1901. His initials appear under the bust of the King and the titles now read EDWARDVS VII D: G: BRITT: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP: For the Sovereign the classic St George and dragon design continued, engraved after Pistrucci, still featuring the tiny wwp under the lance for William Wellesley Pole from his days of the Master-ship of the Mint about 1820. The reverse design still carries the inner linear circle and fine square teeth as used from the Jubilee head issue of Victoria through to the last issues of her reign. The coins have a milled edge. De Saulles died suddenly in the Summer of 1903 after a short illness, at Chiswick whilst working upon and preparing models for the Great Seal of Edward VII which had to be executed by Frank Bowcher.
KING EDWARD VII
The Reign of King Edward VII (House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) : 1901-1910.
Born: 9 November 1841.
Accession: 22 January 1901.
Married: Alexandra of Denmark 10 March 1863.
Coronation: Saturday, 9 August 1902.
Children: three sons, three daughters.
Died: 6 May 1910, aged 68.
1904 GOLD SOVEREIGN MS 64
Superb grade for this low relief issue, with full luster and hardly any marks.
NGC Pop 1 with none grading higher. The single finest NGC and PCGS.
Purchased from GK Coins Ltd, Mayfair, London, 25 October 2012. Self submitted.