Set Description:
GT. BRITAIN, QUEEN VICTORIA, CURRENCY GOLD SOVEREIGNS 1838-1901.
Queen Victoria (1819-1901), began her reign upon the death of her uncle on 20 June 1837. She enjoyed the longest reign of any monarch so far. Many fine types and varieties of gold coinage were produced during Victoria's reign. Regarding the sovereign, three main types or designs were recognised during this period: The "Young Head", the "Jubilee Head" and the "Old Head" (Veiled Head).
The first gold currency sovereign for this reign was issued in 1838, bearing the " Young Head " design on the obverse (Young head of the Queen facing left) and the Ensigns Armorial of the United Kingdom within a garnished shield surmounted by a crown on the reverse. Several types and varieties were issued by the Royal Mint with this design until 1885.
The "Golden Jubilee" sovereign was struck in 1887, bearing on the obverse the bust of the Queen facing left and wearing a small crown and the design of St.George and the Dragon on the reverse. Five more currency issues of sovereigns (1888,1889,1890,1891,1892) were struck with the same " Jubilee Head " design.
In 1893 the final design of coinage known as the " Old Head " type was introduced. This type featured on the obverse the bust of the Queen facing left, veiled and draped, and on the reverse the design of St.George mounted with streamer flowing from helmet, slaying the Dragon with sword. Nine issues of gold sovereigns were struck by the Royal Mint with this design (1893-1901).
This present set contains examples of all the above types described. Three coins (1868,1869,1870) come from the "Douro" wreck. "RMS Douro" sanked 1st April 1882 and coins recovered in July 1996.
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