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4a. GREAT BRITAIN, GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN, TYPE SET, 1817-DATE

Category:  World Coins
Owner:  TMS Coins
Last Modified:  10/6/2023
Set Description
GT.BRITAIN, GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGNS TYPE SET 1817-2017, Circulation Issue, ( GEORGE III - ELIZABETH II).

The GOLD SOVEREIGN is one of Britain's famous coins. A coin full of history and emotional attachment which has become an icon of Britain itself. Synonymous with wealth and reliability the sovereign has played an important part in the nation's, and the world's history. The sovereign flourished alongside Britain's growing empire to become a coin of international status. Its fineness and accuracy is amongst the highest standards of any coins throughout the world.
Highly prized for its numismatic value, the sovereign is the favourite of coin collectors the world over.

BRIEF HISTORY

On 28 October 1489 King Henry VII of England gave authority for the production of a new gold coin of one pound or twenty shillings in value,15.55 grams (240 grains) in weight and made from the traditional fine-gold standard established under Edward III. This coin became known as a " SOVEREIGN " because the obverse design depicted the King enthroned in regal splendor. It was the largest coin yet issued in England and also the most beautiful.

The ORIGINAL GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN, a coin of half-pound or ten shillings in value and 96 grains in weight, was introduced a few years after the gold sovereign, during the reign of King Henry VIII (1509-1547). This was in the year 1544, nearly 300 years before the modern coinage period. The original design was basically a smaller version of the full sovereign. The obverse features the crowned King facing and seated in his chair of state holding his sceptre and orb, and with a large rose at his feet. The legend reads HENRIC 8 GRA AGL FRANCIE HIBER REX. The reverse displays a royal shield quartered and containing the arms of France and England, and this is supported on either side by a lion and a dragon. The letters HR are placed at the bottom. The legend reads IHS AUTEM TRANSIES PERIM EDIUM ILLORUM IBAT. The mint mark Lis appears within the legend centrally placed at the top on both obverse and reverse of the coin.
The gold half-sovereign continued to be issued in similar form for the reign of Edward VI (1547-1553), the young boy who succeeded his father at only nine years of age. In his short reign of just over six years four distinct series of gold coins were produced and all but one of these carried the bust and name of his father Henry VIII. It is interesting to note that the exception was the gold half-sovereign, and this features the much more youthful head of Edward himself.
The gold half-sovereign was next struck in the reign of James I (1603-1625) during his first coinage up to and including 1604 and then discontinued.
With the introduction of regular machine made "milled" coinage under Charles II (1660-1685) the half guinea was introduced, with a value originally of ten shillings, but later of ten shillings and sixpence. So the gold half-sovereign would not appear again until the reign of George III (1760-1820).
In 1816 there was a major change in British coinage powered by the industrial revolution. The Royal Mint moved from the Tower of London to new premises on nearby Tower Hill and acquired powerful new steam-powered coining presses designed by Mathew Boulton and James Watt. In 1817 the "modern" sovereign and half-sovereign were born.

The "modern" SOVEREIGN, smaller and featuring on the reverse the classic St. George and the dragon design by Benedetto Pistrucci and the "modern" HALF-SOVEREIGN featuring the Royal Arms were introduced in 1817, during the reign of King George III (1760-1820), taking the form in which we know them today.

SPECIFICATIONS OF THE "MODERN" GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN

DIAMETER: 19.3-19.4mm
WEIGHT: 3.994g
ALLOY: Gold.
FINENESS: 22 Carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 0.916
EDGE: Milled.

Currency gold half-sovereigns continued to be issued by the Royal Mint in London for the reigns of King George IV (1821-1830), King William IV (1831-1837), Queen Victoria (1838-1901), King Edward VII (1902-1910), and King George V (1911-1915). Proof versions of HALF-SOVEREIGNS were also issued in every reign since 1817.

In 1914 mintage of gold still continued to be high even though World War I commenced during this year. Following the outbreak the Government issued Treasury banknotes to the value of Sovereigns and Half-Sovereigns, which were convertible to gold on demand at the Bank of England. However the public were encouraged not to do this, as the gold was no doubt needed elsewhere for purchases of vital supplies from overseas. Within a few years, sovereigns and half sovereigns ceased to be used in everyday transactions.
Production of half sovereigns at the Royal Mint stopped in 1915, and also at the Melbourne mint.
The other branch mints continued to produce half sovereigns, Sydney Australia until 1916, Perth Australia until 1920, and Pretoria South Africa until 1926.
No further half sovereigns were then issued for circulation until 1982, although half sovereigns were included in the George VI proof set of 1937 which was available for collectors, and half sovereigns were also minted but not issued for Edward VIII in 1937, and for Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
In 1980 and 1982, a proof version was issued, and this continues to the present.
In 1989, a special 500th anniversary commemorative design was struck in proof, inspired by the very first gold sovereign of 1489, showing H.M. Queen Elizabeth II seated facing on a throne.

The year 2000 was of particular interest to half-sovereign enthusiasts, because for the first time since 1982 a bullion type half-sovereign was struck and continued to be struck yearly ever since.

The half sovereign is a "protected coin" for the purposes of Part II of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981.

THE REIGNS

The Reign of KING GEORGE III (1760-1820) House of Hanover.
Born: 4 June 1738.
Accession: 25 October 1760.
Married: Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 8 September 1761 the day they met for the first time.
Coronation: Tuesday, 22 September 1761.
Children: nine sons, six daughters.
Died: 29 January 1820, aged 81.

KING GEORGE III, CURRENCY GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGNS 1817-1820.

On 25 October 1760 King George II died and his grandson succeeded to the throne as George III. It was during this reign that the introduction of the new modern coinage began.
Currency half-sovereigns during this reign were only issued for the years 1817,1818 and 1820, none being issued for 1819. These half-sovereigns featured on the obverse the King's head facing right and the date at the bottom of the coin; on the reverse an angular shield surmounted by the royal crown, bearing the Ensigns Armorial of the United Kingdom.
A good example of the first two dates should not prove too difficult for the collector to obtain, however, the half-sovereign for 1820 (R2 M.Marsh) will not be easy to acquire especially in high grade, and this is without doubt because a low mintage of only 35,043 of this date were struck. The 1818/7 variety (401A M.Marsh) must be exceedingly rare, as not a single example appeared for many years.

The Reign of KING GEORGE IV (1820-1830) House of Hanover.
Born: 12 August 1762.
Accession: 29 January. 1820
Married: Caroline of Brunswick 8 April 1795 later separated and banned from attending the Coronation.
Coronation: Thursday, 19 July 1821.
Child: one daughter Charlotte who predeceased her Father 6 November 1817.
Died: 26 June 1830, aged 67.

KING GEORGE IV, CURRENCY GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGNS 1821-1828.

King George IV (1763-1830) succeeded to the throne upon the death of his father George III on 29 January 1820. Three types of half-sovereigns were issued during his reign.
The first half-sovereign (Type 1) was issued by the Royal Mint only for the year 1821 and it was a splendid example of both engraving and design by Pistrucci. It carried a magnificent laureate head bust of the King, and its reverse featured the Ensigns Armorial of the United Kingdom garnished and surmounted by a large crown. The half-sovereign for 1821 (R5 M.Marsh) is an elusive coin, very difficult to obtain, especially in high grade.
The half-sovereign (Type 2) was next issued in 1823 (R2 M.Marsh) with the same obverse as in 1821, but with a plain square shield surmounted by a crown on the reverse. This second issue was further struck for the years 1824 and 1825.
The (Type 3) half-sovereign featured the bust of the King bare headed on the obverse. The reverse carried a beautifully garnished shield surmounted by the royal crown. Type 3 half-sovereigns were first issued bearing the date 1826 and were also struck for 1827 and 1828.
In general half-sovereigns have become a great deal more difficult to find these days, and without doubt those of George IV are very hard for the collector to acquire.

The Reign of KING WILLIAM IV (1830-1837) House of Hanover.
Born: 21 August 1765.
Accession: 26 June 1830.
Married: Adelaide of Saxe-Coburg and Meiningen, 11 July 1818 after first meeting a week before, a double wedding with his brother, Prince Edward the Duke of Kent.
Coronation: Thursday, 8 September 1831.
Children: two daughters who both died in childhood, ten illegitimate children previously.
Died: 20 June 1837.

KING WILLIAM IV, CURRENCY GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGNS 1834-1837.

King William IV (1765-1837) succeeded to the throne upon the death of his elder brother in June 1830. No currency gold coins were issued for that year. Although proofs were issued of both the sovereign and half-sovereign bearing the date of 1831, and also a currency sovereign for the same year, the half-sovereign was not issued as a currency piece for this reign until 1834. The 1834 half sovereign had a diameter of only 17.9mm. This was considerably smaller than any other half-sovereign previously struck during the modern era, and they in fact measured 19.4mm; it was though the same weight and fineness as previous issues. Four more currency issues of half-sovereigns (1835, 1836, 1837) were made during this short reign, two of these bear the same date of 1836.
All these half-sovereigns featured on the obverse the bare head of the King facing right, engraved by William Wyon(1795-1851), and on the reverse a garnished shield modelled and engraved by Jean Baptiste Merlen (1769-1850).
The half-sovereigns of William IV very seldom appear. 1834 (R2 M.Marsh), 1835 (S M.Marsh), 1836 (R2 M.Marsh), 1837 (R M.Marsh). However, the key coin of this small group is the 1836 half-sovereign with its obverse struck from a sixpence die (R5 M.Marsh).

The Reign of QUEEN VICTORIA (1837-1901) House of Hanover.
Born: 24 May 1819.
Accession: 20 June 1837.
Married: Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, 10 February 1840.
Coronation: Thursday 28 June 1838.
Children: four sons, five daughters.
Died: 22 January 1901, aged 81.

QUEEN VICTORIA, CURRENCY GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGNS 1838-1901.

Queen Victoria (1819-1901), began her reign upon the death of her uncle on 20 June 1837. Many fine types and varieties of gold coinage were produced during Victoria's reign. Regarding the half-sovereign, three main types or designs were recognized during the period 1838-1901: The "Young Head", the "Jubilee Head" and the "Old Head" (Veiled Head).
The first gold currency half-sovereign for this reign was issued in 1838, bearing the " Young Head " design on the obverse 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 with this design until 1885. From 1863 until 1880 inclusive the Royal Mint in London individually numbered the shield type reverse dies used to strike the currency half-sovereigns as a means of " quality control " in assessing the efficiency of use of the dies, and in tracing any weakness in the production process. Some of the dates in this period number over 100 individual dies alone. All these "Young Head" half-sovereigns are difficult to find in Mint state, especially the earliest dates.
The year of 1887 brought about the fiftieth anniversary of the Queen's accession and it was marked by the introduction of a special Jubilee coinage. The new bust of the Queen by J.E.Boehm replaced the Wyon effigy currently being used. The "Golden Jubilee" gold half-sovereign was struck in 1887, bearing on the obverse the bust of the Queen facing left, wearing a small crown, veiled and with ribbon and star. The reverse once more displays the Ensigns Armorial of the United Kingdom within a garnished shield and surmounted by a royal crown. Four more currency issues of half-sovereigns (1890, 1891, 1892, 1893) were struck with the same " Jubilee Head " design, but no coins of this kind were struck for the years of 1888 or 1889. Mintage figures relating to the Royal Mint Jubilee gold half-sovereigns are very high as one would expect, and they do in fact reveal that well over twenty two million were struck for the period of issue.
In 1893 the final design of coinage known as the " Old Head " or " Veiled 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 half-sovereigns were struck by the Royal Mint with this design (1893-1901).

The Reign of KING EDWARD VII (1901-1910) House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
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.

KING EDWARD VII, CURRENCY GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGNS 1902-1910.

King Edward VII (1841-1910) began his reign upon the death of Queen Victoria in January 1901, but no new coinage was struck during that year.
The first half-sovereign for Edward VII was struck in 1902, featuring the bust of the monarch on the obverse, and on the reverse the design of Saint George slaying the Dragon.
The Royal Mint continued to issue currency half-sovereigns during Edward's reign yearly until 1910.
Half-sovereigns for this reign were also struck at the Australian branch mints of Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

The Reign of KING GEORGE V (1910-1936) House of Windsor.
Born: 3 June 1865.
Accession: 6 May 1910.
Married: Mary of Teck, 6 July 1893.
Coronation: Thursday, 22 June 1911, second Coronation as Emperor of India at the Delhi Durbar, Tuesday, 12 December 1911.
Children: five sons, one daughter.
Died: 20 January 1936, aged 70.

KING GEORGE V, CURRENCY GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGNS 1911-1915.

King George V (1865-1936) succeeded to the throne upon the death of his father King Edward VII in May 1910. Several million gold coins were struck during his reign but few would be used for currency. The main reason for this was the Great War of 1914-1918, and the outbreak of this in August 1914 quickly saw the Government issue Treasury notes for one pound and ten shillings. The public were urged not to use gold and by 1915 gold had all but dissappeared from circulation in London. The Royal Mint struck currency half-sovereigns during George V reign for the years 1911 to 1915, all featuring on the obverse the bust of the King facing left and on the reverse the design of St.George slaying the Dragon.
Half-sovereigns continued to be issued for King George V reign and after 1915 by the Australian branch mints of Melbourne (1915), Perth (1911,1915,1918), Sydney (1911,1912,1914,1915,1916) and at the branch mint of Pretoria in South Africa (1925,1926).

The Reign of KING GEORGE VI (1936-1952) House of Windsor.
Born: 14 December 1895.
Accession: 11 December 1936. Married: Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, 26 April 1923.
Coronation: Wednesday, 12 May 1937.
Children: two daughters.
Died: 6 February 1952, aged 56.

KING GEORGE VI (1937-1952)

During this reign only proof half-sovereigns were struck by the Royal Mint as part of the four coin Coronation Proof Set (Mintage:5001).

The Reign of QUEEN ELIZABETH II (1952- ) House of Windsor.
Born: 21 April 1926.
Accession: 6 February 1952.
Married: Philip of Greece and Denmark, 20 November 1947.
Coronation: Tuesday, 2 June 1953.
Children: three sons, one daughter.
Golden Jubilee Year 2002.
Diamond Jubilee Year 2012.
Saphire Jubilee Year 2017.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II, CURRENCY GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGNS 1982-DATE.

Queen Elizabeth II was born on 21 April 1926 and succeeded her father George VI after his death in 1952. She enjoys the longest reign of any monarch so far. Many fine types and varieties of gold coinage were issued during her reign and three different types of currency half-sovereigns were issued.
The first was issued only for the year 1982 as a bullion coin featuring on the obverse the young head of the Queen facing right and on the reverse the design of St.George slaying the Dragon.
The second type was struck in the year 2000 when the Royal Mint re-issued a bullion type gold half-sovereign and continued the issue yearly ever since. This second type carries the Rank-Broadley bust of the Queen and the reverse Pistrucci's St.George slaying the Dragon. In 2005 a special reverse issue was struck with a depiction of St.George, carrying a shield and a sword, slaying the dragon (Design by Timothy Noad).
The third type was introduced in 2015 and carries the Jody Clark bust of the Queen on the obverse and again the Pistrucci's St.George slaying the Dragon on the reverse.
During her reign four Anniversary issues were struck: The 2002 "Golden Jubilee", the 2012 "Diamond Jubilee", the "Saphire Jubilee" and the 2017 "200th anniversary of the modern gold sovereign and half-sovereign". Also, to mark the exact date of this historic coinage anniversary, a strike on the Day Sovereign minted by the Royal Mint on 1July 2017, exactly 200 years from the proclamation that revived The Sovereign in 1817. This edition, finished to Brilliant Uncirculated standard, is the only coin in the range featuring the garter reverse with a plain, not milled, edge. These coins have a Maximum Coin Mintage of 1,817, representing the date of proclamation.
In 2017 The Queen reached an unprecedented milestone of 65 years as Britain’s monarch, becoming the first and only British king or queen to celebrate a Sapphire Jubilee.

REFERENCES:

THE GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN, 2nd Edition 2004, by MICHAEL A. MARSH.
A HISTORY OF THE SOVEREIGN, by Kevin Clancy. A Royal Mint Museum publication. 2nd Edition 2017.
THE SOVEREIGN, The world's most famous coin, by Daniel Fearon, 2001.
COINS OF ENGLAND & THE UNITED KINGDOM, 52nd Edition 2017, by SPINK.
THE COIN YEAR BOOK 2012, Edited by John W. Mussell.

" A TYPE SET OF THREE CENTURIES ".

2017: The 200th Anniversary of the modern sovereign and half-sovereign.

This complete type set consists of fifteen beautiful gold half-sovereigns, all in mint state condition, and nearly all of them in the highest certified grade.

2012 NGC " Best World Set " Award, Grades

1st Slot MS64
2nd Slot MS64
3rd Slot MS64
4th Slot MS62
5th Slot MS61
6th Slot MS62
7th Slot MS65
8th Slot MS64
9th Slot MS62
10th Slot MS65
11th Slot MS65
12th Slot MS66
13th Slot MS65
14th Slot MS69.

LATEST UPGRADES since 2012:

1st Slot MS64 ^ MS64+ (2017)
2nd Slot MS64 ^ MS64* (2020)
3rd Slot MS64 ^ MS65 (2014)
4th Slot MS62 ^ MS64 (2017)
5th Slot MS64 ^ MS65+ (2022)
6th Slot MS64+ ^ MS65 (2018)
7th Slot MS65 ^ MS66 (2017)
8th Slot MS64 ^ MS65 (2023)
9th Slot MS62 ^ MS66 (2013)
10th Slot MS65 ^ MS66 (2018)
11th Slot MS65 ^ MS66 (2019)
12th Slot MS66 ^ MS67 (2022)
13th Slot MS66 ^ MS67 (2021)
14th Slot MS69DPL ^ MS70DPL (2021)
15th Slot MS69DPL ^ MS70DPL (2022)

NGC Census, June 2023

1820 MS64+, Single finest.
1821 MS64*, Single finest.
1823 NS65, Pop 3, with one finer.
1828 MS64, Pop 1, with two finer.
1834 MS65+, Single finest.
1837 MS65, Single finest.
1844 MS66, Single finest.
1869 MS65, Single finest.
1887 MS66, Pop 9, Equal finest.
1893 MS66, Single finest.
1907 MS66, Single finest.
1914 MS67, Single finest.
1982 MS67, Pop 1, with one finer (68).
2015 MS70DPL, Single finest.
2022 MS70DPL, Equal finest.

Denoted by a + symbol appearing after the grade, the plus designation indicates that a coin is of superior quality for the grade and that it approaches the next technical grade level. In numismatics, in addition to plus, several terms are used interchangeably to indicate this, including premium quality, PQ and high-end.
Denoted by a * symbol appearing after the grade, the star Designation identifies coins with exceptional eye appeal, including vibrant, colorful toning or intense luster.



Set Goals
Build up a type set of Half-sovereigns with the highest possible grade.

Slot Name
Origin/Country
Item Description
Full Grade
Owner Comments
Pics
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901 1/2SOV 1820 G.britain GEORGE III, Ex TERNER COLLECTION (M.Marsh 402) NGC MS 64 GT. BRITAIN, GEORGE III GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1820
(Marsh 402; S 3786).

OBVERSE: Laureated head of King George III facing right. Date below.
REVERSE: An angular shield surmounted by the royal crown, bearing the Ensigns Armorial of the United Kingdom. The Hanoverian arms within an escutcheon surmounted by the royal crown in the centre of the shield.
ENGRAVER: William Wyon.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 35,043
RATING: R2 (M.Marsh).

1820 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS64+
NGC 2814835-001

A beautiful and very choice UNC coin having unending luster that cartwheels the surfaces in a GEM fashion and giving more than a little eye appeal. The King's portrait is as bold as can be and the reverse shield retains an as-struck appearance.

Pedigree : Jacob Y. Terner

Dr Jacob Y. Terner (1934-2017) born in NY City. A collector with an instinct for value and trained his discerning eye at various times on fine art, coins, stamps rare books, hunting shotguns e.t.c. He owned one of the most comprehensive and valuable collections of sovereigns and half-sovereigns. Auctioned in May 2003.

Ex Heritage Auction # 3014, Rosemont, April 2011, lot 24149.

Crossed over from PCGS. ( 21474761 )
Single finest NGC and PCGS.


EVENTS IN HISTORY
www.onthisday.com/events/date/1820

January 27, 1820 : Russian Antarctic expedition led by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev discover the continent of Antarctica.

February 6, 1820 : US population announced at 9,638,453, African Americans 1,771,656 (18.4%).

April 8, 1820 : The famous ancient Greek statue, Venus de Milo is discovered on the Aegean island of Milos.
One of the star attractions, along with the Mona Lisa, of the Louvre Museum in Paris. The Venus de Milo, named after the island where she was rediscovered in 1820, is thought to have been made by the sculptor Alexandros of Antioch in the 2nd century BC.
Although most often held to be a depiction of Aphrodite, the ancient goddess of Love, she may also be Amphitrite, the Greek goddess of the sea. Carved in two main sections in the Hellenistic style, the statue is famous for its missing arms in addition to its beauty.

June 28, 1820 : Tomato is proven to be non-poisonous by Colonel Robert Gibbon eating a tomato on steps of courthouse in Salem, New Jersey.

August 1, 1820 : London's Regent's Canal opens.

November 7, 1820 : James Monroe re-elected 5th US president.

December 15, 1820 : 1st General pharmacopoeia in US published, Boston.
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901 1/2SOV 1821 G.britain GEORGE IV, Ex HEYLEIGH COLLECTION (M.Marsh 403) NGC MS 64 GT.BRITAIN, GEORGE IV Laureate Head (Type I), GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1821
(Marsh 403; S 3802).

The first half-sovereign for the reign of George IV was issued in 1821. It carried a magnificent laureate head bust of the King, and its reverse featured an equally impressive design that displayed the Ensigns Armorial of the United Kingdom beautifully garnished and surmounted by a crown.This coin is a splendid example of both engraving and design by Pistrucci. It was quickly withdrawn because of its likeness to the current sixpence, and possibly melted down. That explains the high rarity of the coin (R5 M.Marsh).

OBVERSE: The King's bust facing left, laureate, tie with loop and two ends, hair short and bare neck. B.P. in small letters below truncation standing for Benedetto Pistrucci.
REVERSE: A heavily garnished shield surmounted by the royal crown. The shield surrounded by roses thistles and shamrocks.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 231.238.
RARITY: R5 (M.Marsh).

1821 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 64*
NGC 5879380-004

Description by SPINK at sale, 15/09/2020 : Proof Half-Sovereign, 1821, by Pistrucci [EXCEPTIONAL EYE APPEAL] .
George IV (1820-1830), Proof Half-Sovereign, 1821, by Pistrucci, laureate head left, rev. crowned floral-garnished shield, edge milled, 4.01g, 7h (Murdoch III, 384[a]; Douglas-Morris 147; King - [cf. 203]; W&R 244 [R3]; Schneider II, - [cf. 633]; cf. Marsh 403; cf. MCE 482; Spink 3802), brilliant, much as struck, rare.
Conditionally rare and finest known. Star-designated with an overall amazing eye-appeal.
Ex Spink Auction # 20005 - The Stratos Sale of Spectacular English Gold Coins, Lot 53, 15 September 2020.

Provenance : Hayleigh Collection
NGC : Single finest.


EVENTS IN HISTORY
www.onthisday.com/events/date/1821

February 12, 1821 : Mercantile Library of City of NY opens.

February 21,1821 : Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire begins.
March 25, 1821 : The Greek revolution against the Ottoman Turks is officially declared,
with hostilities having started two months earlier.
April 10, 1821 : Patriarch Gregory V of Constantinople is hanged by the Turks from the main gate of the Patriarchate, his body thrown into the Bosphorus
May 8, 1821 : Greek War of Independence: Greeks defeat the Turks in Gravia.
May 12, 1821 : The first major battle of the Greek War of Independence against the Turks occurs in Valtetsi.
September 23, 1821 : Fall of Tripolitsa, Greek forces massacre 30,000 Turks during Greek War of Independence.

July 28, 1821 : Peru declares independence from Spain (National Day).

August 4, 1821 : 1st edition of American magazine "The Saturday Evening Post"

September 15, 1821 : Act of Independence of Central America: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras & Nicaragua declare their independence from the Spanish Empire.

November 28, 1821 : Panama declares independence from Spain.

December 1, 1821: Santo Domingo (Dominican Rep) proclaims independence from Spain.
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901 1/2SOV 1823 G.britain NGC MS 65 GT. BRITAIN, GEORGE IV Laureated head (Type II) GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1823 (Marsh 404; S 3803).

OBVERSE: The King's bust facing left, laurate, tie with loop and two ends, hair short and bare neck. B.P. in small letters below truncation standing for Benedetto Pistrucci.
REVERSE: Garnished shield, surmounted by the royal crown, bearing the Ensigns Armorial of the United Kingdom. The Hanoverian arms within an escutcheon surmounted by the royal crown in the centre of the shield. The shield surrounded by roses thistles and shamrocks.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 224,280
RARITY: R2 (M.Marsh).

1823 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 65
NGC 1910001-005

A stunning example of this rare date with the detail throughout the King's portrait as bold as can be, and the reverse shield retaining an as-struck appearance. The unending luster cartwheels the surfaces in a GEM fashion.
ex Baldwin Auction # 87, lot No. 1343, 7 May 2014.
NGC: Pop 3 with none grading higher.
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901 1/2SOV 1828 G.britain Ex Thos. H. Law COLLECTION NGC MS 64 GT. BRITAIN, GEORGE IV, Bare head (Type III), 1828 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN
(Marsh 409; S 3804)

OBVERSE: The King's head facing left bare. Date below truncation.
REVERSE: Garnished shield, surmounted by the royal crown, bearing the Ensigns Armorial of the United Kingdom. The Hanoverian arms within an escutcheon sur mounted by the royal crown in the centre of the shield.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled,
MINTAGE: 1.224.754,
RARITY: N (M.Marsh).

1828 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 64
NGC 4238677-006

A well struck, gleaming example, with full bright luster. Three-year type and conditionally rare.
NGC Pop 1 with only two pieces certified finer by NGC and PCGS combined.
ex Heritage Auction # 3054, Lot number 30841, Chicago, 8 April 2017.
ex T. H. Law Collection.
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901 1/2SOV 1834 G.britain Ex ERWIN WARTH COLLECTION NGC MS 65 GT. BRITAIN, WILLIAM IV, GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1834
(Marsh 410, S-3830).

OBVERSE: Bare head of King facing right, engraved by William Wyon (1795-1851).
REVERSE: A garnished shield modeled and engraved by Jean Baptiste Merlen (1769-1850).
DIAMETER: 17.9 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994g
EDGE: Milled.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MINTAGE: 133.899.
RATING: R2 (M.Marsh).

1834 HALF-SOVEREIGN

William's first currency half sovereign was not issued until 1834. There are important facts that should be mentioned regarding this superb half-sovereign.
First the obverse was engraved by William Wyon (1795-1851) from a superb bust of William IV by Sir Francis Chantrey (1781-1841). The reverse features a beautifully garnished shield modeled and engraved by Jean Baptise Merlen (1769-1850).
It should be noted that this particular half-sovereign has a diameter of only 17.9mm ; this was considerably smaller than any other half-sovereign previously struck during the modern era, and they in fact measured 19.4mm. It was though the same weight and fineness as previous issues (3.994 g and 22 carats).
Finally, though a Treasury order dated 14 April 1835 requested that the half-sovereign should be struck at a reduced size, the only half-sovereigns of this kind are those dated 1834, but they were though the same weight and fineness as previous issues ( 61.637 grains and 916.66 fineness ). Mint Ledgers record that half-sovereigns with a value of 60,000 pounds or 120,000 coins dated 1834 had been recalled and melted, and this was probably as a result of complaints relating to their being very similar to the seven shilling pieces. This is also another reason why 1834 dated half-sovereigns are rated R2 and therefore very sought after.

1834 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 65+
NGC 6384516-040

A conditionally very rare and unbeatable example for its quality and eye appeal.
Visually stunning, this superb GEM lacks any significant signs of contact and with surfaces produced by a firm strike. Slightly proof-like with gleaming luster and lovely gold color.
The reverse design is truly enviable in its boldness and intense luster, retaining an as-struck appearance.

NGC: Pop 1 with none grading higher.
Positioned in the top of NGC's certified population, a premium gem is a unity of natural and manmade virtuosity owing to the plus designation.

Ex Sonntag Auction # 37, Stuttgart, Lot 210, 28 November 2022.

Provenance :

Glendining and Co. Ltd, London.
Erwin Warth Collection. July 1970.

Erwin Warth (1912-1996) was a German Collector, founder of the Erwin Warth Organization of "Flora and Fauna" in Stuttgart Germany. In 1995, Erwin received the EURONATUR award "Partner of the European Natural Heritage" for safeguarding large landscapes for people and nature.


EVENTS IN HISTORY
www.onthisday.com/events/date/1834

Feb. 18 1834 : 1st US labor newspaper, "The Man", published, NYC.

Mar. 18 1834 : 1st railroad tunnel in US completed, in Pennsylvania (275 m long).

Apr. 3 1834 : The generals in the Greek War of Independence stand trial for treason.

May 26 1834 : Portuguese Civil war ends, Dom Miguel capitulates.

June 14, 1834 : Sandpaper patented by Isaac Fischer Jr, Springfield, Vermont.

June 21, 1834 : Historic invention; American inventor and businessman Cyrus McCormick patents the reaping machine.

July 5 1834 : Provisional government forms in Oregon Country.

August 1 1834 : Slavery Abolition Act 1833 comes into effect, abolishes slavery throughout the British Empire.
Slavery Abolition Act, (1833), in British history, act of Parliament that abolished slavery in most British colonies, freeing more than 800,000 enslaved Africans in the Caribbean and South Africa as well as a small number in Canada. It received Royal Assent on August 28, 1833, and took effect on August 1, 1834.

Oct 16 1834 : Much of the ancient structures of the Palace of Westminster (parliament) in London is burnt down.

Nov 14 1834 : Mathematical Physicist and Engineer William Thomson enters Glasgow University at 10 yrs 4 months.

Dec 3 1834 : First US dental society organized (NY).Positioned in the top 4% of NGC's certified population, a premium gem bathed in a tasteful phoenix orange tone that animates that superbly rendered devices, a unity of natural and manmade virtuosity owing to the plus designation.
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901 1/2SOV 1837 G.britain NGC MS 65 GT.BRITAIN, WILLIAM IV, GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1837 (Marsh 413, S-3831).

OBVERSE: Bare head of King William IV facing right, engraved by William Wyon (1795-1851).
REVERSE: Garnished shield modeled and engraved by Jean Baptiste Merlen (1769-1850).
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
EDGE: Milled.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MINTAGE: 160.207.
RATING: R (M.Marsh).

1837 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 65
NGC 2829223-001

Superb GEM example of this extremely rare date, with brilliant satin luster cloaking the entire planchet, and with every detail sharply rendered.
Fully deserving of its premium gem designation, an unbeatable example for its quality and eye appeal.
DNW Auction, November 2018. Self-submitted, December 2018.

NGC : Price Guide Plate Coin.


Events in history 1837 : www.onthisday.com/events/date/1837

Jan. 22 1837 : Earthquake in southern Syria kills thousands.

Feb 13 1837 : Riot in New York due to a combination of poverty and increase in the cost of flour.

Feb. 25 1837 : 1st US electric printing press patented by Thomas Davenport.

Mar 3 1837 : US President Andrew Jackson and Congress recognize the Republic of Texas.

Mar 4 1837 : Martin Van Buren inaugurated as the 8th President of the United States.

Mar 24 1837 : Canada gives its black citizens the right to vote.

May 3 1837 : The University of Athens is founded.

May 6 1837 : US blacksmith John Deere creates the first steel plough in Grand Detour, Illinois.

May 10 1837 : Panic of 1837: New York City banks fail, and unemployment reaches record levels.

May 31 1837 : Astor Hotel opens in NYC, it later becomes the Waldorf-Astoria.

June 17 1837 : Charles Goodyear obtains his 1st rubber patent.

June 20 1837 : Queen Victoria at 18 ascends British throne following death of uncle King William IV.
She rules for 63 years till 1901.

Historical Context : Opening of Euston Station

July 20 1837 : Euston railway station opens in London as the terminus of the London and Birmingham Railway (L&BR), the city's 1st intercity railway station.
The original Euston railway Station was London's first mainline station and the first station to connect London with another city. Planned by George and Robert Stephenson, it was designed by Philip Hardwick and opened in 1837.
When the station was first proposed its land was still farmland but it quickly became one of London's busiest stations. It was controversially redeveloped in the 1960s and its original entrance portico, the Doric Euston Arch, dismantled.

July 27 1837 : US Mint opens in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Sep. 1837 : Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young co-found a "stationery and fancy goods emporium" in New York City, later renamed in 1853 as "Tiffany & Co."

Nov. 15 1837 : Isaac Pitman introduces his shorthand system of writing, Pitman shorthand.

Dec. 29 1837 : Steam-powered threshing machine patented in Winthrop, Maine.
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901 1/2SOV 1844 G.britain VICTORIA YOUNG HEAD (Small), Ex D.MOORE COLLECTION (M.Marsh 418) NGC MS 66 2015 NGC AWARD : Best Presented Set

Competitive Set : GREAT BRITAIN, GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1838-1901, Circulation Issue, (VICTORIA)

NGC Expert Comments:

This collection features the gold half sovereign (ten shillings) series of Queen Victoria, who still holds the record as longest-reigning British monarch. The owner presents a history of the sovereign and its half unit as coins of the realm, as well as a biography of Victoria herself. Each coin is illustrated and described fully, including it aesthetic qualities and provenance, when known. While the collection is still a work in progress, some of its current highlights include 1847 (NGC MS 64), 1852 (NGC MS 65), 1863 without die number (NGC MS 64) and 1883 (NGC MS 64).


GT. BRITAIN, VICTORIA Young (small) Head, Type A1 (without die number) GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1844
(Marsh 418; S 3859).

OBVERSE: Young head bust of the Queen to the left engraved by William Wyon.
REVERSE: Ornate garnished shield containing the Ensigns Armorial of the United Kingdom, engraved by J.B.Merlen.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINT: Royal Mint
MINTAGE: 1,127,007
RATING: R (M.Marsh).

1844 GOLD 1/2 SOVEREIGN MS 66
NGC 2062769-007

A tremendously alluring example of this Victoria's Type A1 half-sovereign. This superb GEM reveals impeccable detail up to the highest point, with the whole of the surfaces sheathed in silk and a layer of anticked patination that delicately covers both sides. The portrait of Victoria is outstanding, with each wave of her hair fully rendered and crisp, and a quick rotation reveals ample reflectivity that shimmers throughout the fields. The reverse design is truly enviable in its boldness and intense luster, retaining an as-struck appearance. Choice so fine, and in a certified realm of its own making.
Definitely this coin is the crown jewel of this collection, for its pedigree, its quality and condition rarity.

Pedigree : D. Moore Collection. Assembled over four decades, the collector relied on atypical but precise criteria. To be considered for the collection, each coin needed to be the very best quality available for the issue and possess exceptional eye appeal. The results of his connoisseurship are remarkable in that each coin in the collection can be appreciated individually for its beauty and rarity.
Pedigreed to this world class collection adds to allure of this high grade piece.

NGC: One of the most significant condition rarity half-sovereigns; the sole finest example certified by full two grades higher than the runner-up examples.
NGC : Price Guide Plate Coin.

Ex. Heritage Auction # 3051, New York, 9 January 2017, lot 32195.


EVENTS IN HISTORY
www.onthisday.com/events/date/1844

February 27, 1844: Dominican Republic gains independence from Haiti (National Day).

June 6, 1844 : Event of Interest; Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) formed by George Williams in London.

June 15, 1844 : Historic Invention; Charles Goodyear patents the vulcanization of rubber.

September 28, 1844 : Oscar I of Sweden-Norway is crowned king of Sweden.

November 6, 1844 : Spain grants Dominican Republic independence.

December 4, 1844 : Election of Interest; James Knox Polk elected 11th US President.
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901 1/2SOV 1869 G.britain NGC MS 65 GT. BRITAIN, VICTORIA Young Head Type A2, with die number, GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1869
(Marsh 444); S 3860).

OBVERSE: Young head of Victoria facing left.
REVERSE: The Ensigns Armorial within a garnished shield surmounted by a crown. Die number below shield.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 1,861,764
RATING: N (M.Marsh).

1869 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 65, Die # 13.
NGC 6276723-010

A tremendous Gem specimen which displays classically toned golden surfaces and full luster that easily gleams from across the fields. Rather bold in strike with sharp details throughout and visually engaging at every turn, with undeniable eye appeal. Limitedly marked and on the whole quite attractive.

NGC: Single finest.

Ex Stacks and Bowers Auction - Section E -.
World Coins Part 3, Lot # 23219. Jan 14, 2023.
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901 1/2SOV 1887 G.britain JUBILEE HEAD NGC MS 66 GT. BRITAIN, VICTORIA Jubilee Head, GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1887 with JEB.
(Marsh 478; S 3869).

OBVERSE: The bust of the Queen facing left wearing a small crown, veiled and with ribbon and Star of the Garter and the Victoria and Albert order. Boehm's initials J.E.B. are shown in relief at the bottom rear of the bust.
REVERSE: The Ensigns Armorial of the United Kingdom within a garnished shield surmounted by an imperial crown.
DESIGNER: Joseph Edwar Boehm (1834-1890).
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 841,200
RATING: S (M.Marsh).

1887 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 66
NGC 2601713-002

A grand example of this iconic issue with Victoria's new bust design commemorating her 50 years of reign, boasting lovely golden honey coloration and pristinely preserved surfaces.
Common in AU and baggy UNC, but this piece is amazing.
Fully struck with gorgeous luster over satiny surfaces, and best of all deep iridescent gold color, creating elegant eye appeal.

NGC: Pop 9 with none grading higher.
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901 1/2SOV 1893 G.britain VEILED HEAD NGC MS 66 GT. BRITAIN, VICTORIA Veiled Head, GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1893
(Marsh 488; S-3878).

OBVERSE: Old veiled head of the Queen facing left.
REVERSE: St. George slaying the Dragon. Date in ex.
ENGRAVER: Obverse: Thomas Brock. Reverse: Benedetto Pistrucci.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.uu
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 4,932,418
RATING: C (M.Marsh).

1893 VICTORIA Veiled head GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 66
NGC # 2824199-002

Stunning coin with exceptional eye appeal. Both sides retain, full, vivid color and display a remarkably full strike. While the conditional assignment is certainly advanced, it's the piece's visual character that truly carries this piece, boasting a saturated tangerine tone throughout peppered with cornflower blue that makes for a highly unusual and desirable patination.
One of the most significant condition rarity half-sovereigns.
NGC : Single finest. Also single finest veiled head half-sovereign graded by NGC.
Crossed over from PCGS # 21806416. ( One of the two MS66 in PCGS pop.)
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70 1/2SOV 1907 G.britain EDWARD VII (M.Marsh 510) NGC MS 66 MY NGC AWARDS, 2011 - 2022

Best World (2011, 2012) , Best Presented (2015,2017,2022) , Best Classic (2021,2022).

GT. BRITAIN, KING EDWARD VII GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1907
(Marsh 510; S 3974B).

OBVERSE: Bare head of king facing right. The small letters De S (for De Saules) below the trancation in relief.
REVERSE: St. George mounted with streamer flowing from helmet, slaying the dragon with sword. Date is shown below the exergue line.
ENGRAVERS and DESIGNERS: WHJ Blakemore, George William De Saules (1862-1903). Benedetto Pistruchi (1784-1855).
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 4.233.421.
RATING: C (M.Marsh).

1907 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 66
4883672-004

An excellent example of King Edward half-sovereigns and conditionally rare at the GEM grade level.
Incredibly fresh, showcasing crisp highpoint detail and lustrus surfaces throughout.
The whole of the surfaces exhibits a high degree of quality that positions this gem as the finest certified across both NGC and PCGS to date.

NGC : A conditional rarity, the sole finest example certified by full two grades higher than the runner-up examples.

Ex Heritage Auction # 231914, Lot 61270, 4 April 2019.


EVENTS IN HISTORY
www.onthisday.com/events/date/1907

January 15, 1907 : Gold dental inlays first described by William Taggart, who invented them.

February 22, 1907 : 1st cabs with taxi meters begin operating in London.

February 26: 1907 : Royal Oil & Shell merge to form British Petroleum (BP)

March 15, 1907 : Finland is 1st European country to give women the right to vote.

May 31, 1907 : Taxis 1st began running in NYC.

July 25, 1907 : Korea becomes a protectorate of Japan.

July 29, 1907 : Event of Interest; Sir Robert Baden-Powell forms Boy Scouts in England.

August 1, 1907 : Event of Interest; Bank of Italy (later Bank of America) opens 1st branch at 3433 Mission Street, San Francisco.

August 13, 1907 : 1st taxicabs operate in New York City, imported by Harry N. Allen.

September 5, 1907 : Meeting of Interest; King Edward VII of Great Britain meets Russia's Foreign Minister Alexander Izvolski in an attempt to strengthen Russia's relationship with Britain.

October 1, 1907 : Plaza Hotel (5th Av & 59th Str, NY) opens.

October 17, 1907 : Event of Interest; Guglielmo Marconi's company begins the first commercial transatlantic wireless service between Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada and Clifden, Ireland.

November 9, 1907 : Historic Discovery; The Cullinan Diamond, the largest ever discovered, is presented to King Edward VII on his birthday.

November 16, 1907 : Oklahoma becomes the United States 46th state.

December 16, 1907 : As a gesture of the US's new presence as a world power, President Theodore Roosevelt sends the 'Great White Fleet' on a round-the-world cruise, visiting ports internationally.
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70 1/2SOV 1914 G.britain GEORGE V Ex HADES COLLECTION NGC MS 67 2017 NGC AWARD : Best Presented Set

Competitive Set : GREAT BRITAIN, GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1817-DATE, COMPLETE CIRCULATION ISSUES.

NGC Expert Comments:

This impressive collection holds first place in its category and features two centuries of Britain's gold half sovereign coins. Lacking just a few pieces for completion, this is a splendid array of dates, all of them NGC certified. An extremely informative introduction lays out the series in detail, and each entry is presented with photos and commentary. Standout coins include 1821 (MS64*) and 1834 (MS65+),1844 (MS 66) and 1893 Veiled Head (MS 66). Among the modern issues is a significant grade rarity, 2012 (MS 69 DPL).


GREAT BRITAIN, GEORGE V, GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1914

OBVERSE: The bare head of the King facing left. The small letters B.M. for Bertram Mackennal are shown in relief on the lower truncation towards the rear.
REVERSE: St. George mounted with streamer flowing from helmet, slaying the dragon with a sword. Date is shown below the exergue line with the small letters B.P. for Benedetto Pistrucci.
ENGRAVERS: Bertram Mackennal and Benedetto Pistrucci.
DIAMETER: 19.4mm.
WEIGHT: 3.9940g
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 7,251,124
RATING: C (M.Marsh).

George V’s reign witnessed the end of the sovereign’s life as a circulating coin. Gold in daily use had always been an expensive luxury but the demands of wartime finance during the First World War made a circulating gold coinage completely unfeasible. Within hours of the declaration of war in August 1914, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, David Lloyd George, made it clear that anyone who was hoarding gold was helping the enemy more effectively than if they were taking up arms to fight against Britain. Instead of sovereigns and half-sovereigns, banknotes with a value of £1 and 10 shillings were issued for use and the public were encouraged to hand over their gold to aid the war effort.

1914 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 67
NGC 6321758-001

A superb and flashy example of this common coin.
The fields are pristine with strong and unimpaired luster.
The exceptional strike is complete and full and the eye appeal is elegant.
Represents a unique conditional rarity of this date, as being the single and highest example graded by NGC and PCGS.
It is also the highest graded of all the certified examples of King George V London half-sovereigns.
Total mintage of all London minted King George V half-sovereigns 1911-1915 : 27,716,583.

Preserved beyond what should be possible for a coin of this age and beauty.
To find an example as beautiful as this, as pristine, and perfect, is beyond rare. Surfaces alive with intense satiny luster, obverse field flashy and reflective. Even the edge is beautiful; each letter is remarkably crisp and high-relief, the space between them brilliant. It should go without saying that MS67 is the highest certification awarded to any coin of this type. Quite extraordinary, a piece whose near-unparalleled quality and visual appeal destines it for an elite collection of British gold.

Purchased July 2022.
Managed to upgrade my first 1914 half-sovereign MS66 after twelve years. ( bought in August 2010 ).
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL 1/2SOV 1982 G.britain NGC MS 67 GT. BRITAIN, QUEEN ELIZABETH II GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1982
(Marsh 544; S 4205).

OBVERSE: Bust of the Queen facing right and wearing a coronet.
REVERSE: St. George with streamer flowing from helmet, mounted and slaying Dragon with sword. Date below exergue line with small letters B.P. to right.
DESIGN: Obverse by Arnold Machin. Reverse by Benedetto Pistrucci.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 2.500.000.
RATING: C (M.Marsh).

1982 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 67
NGC 6318575-017

Excellent example of this first bullion half-sovereign.
GEM conditon with strong strike, perfect surfaces and full original luster.
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL 1/2SOV 2002 G.britain GOLDEN JUBILEE NGC MS 69 DPL GT. BRITAIN, QUEEN ELIZABETH II, GOLDEN JUBILEE GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 2002
(Marsh 549; S 4441).

OBVERSE: Bust of the Queen facing right and wearing a tiara, the letters I R B below the truncation.
REVERSE: A beautifully adapted design of the Victorian shield reverse sovereign, (The shield of Arms of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland within an open wreath of laurel and ensigned by the Royal Crown), with the date 2002 below the design.
DESIGN: Obverse by Ian Rank-Broadley. Reverse by Timothy Martin Noad.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 61,347
RATING: N (M.Marsh).

GR.BRITAIN, QUEEN ELIZABETH II, GOLDEN JUBILEE HALF-SOVEREIGN 2002 MS69DPL

A stunning FDC example of Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee.
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL 1/2SOV 2005 G.britain NGC MS 69 DPL GT. BRITAIN, QUEEN ELIZABETH II GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 2005
(S 4442).

OBVERSE: Bust of the Queen facing right and wearing a tiara, the letters I R B below the truncation.
REVERSE: St.George slaying the Dragon, with the date 2005 below the design.
DESIGN: Obverse by Ian Rank-Broadley. Reverse by Timothy Martin Noad.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 30.299.
RATING: N (M.Marsh).

2005 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 69DPL

An exceptional example of this type.
Bright, distruction free GEM with strong strike and glowing luster.
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL 1/2SOV 2012 G.britain QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE NGC MS 69 DPL GT. BRITAIN, QUEEN ELIZABETH II GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 2012 (S-4444).

The year 2012 to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee the Royal Mint released a special Issue St George and the Dragon Gold Half Sovereign Coin struck in solid 22 Carat Gold.
The new reverse design of the 2012 Half Sovereign depicts a Modern St George and the Dragon which has been designed by Paul Day while the obverse has the stunning portrait of Her Majesty The Queen by Ian Rank Broadley.

DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 250,000
RATING: C

2012 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 69 DPL
NGC 2817358-003

Ex Coin Trust Coins ( Pineapple Direct Ltd ) UK.
NGC: Single finest.
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL 1/2SOV 2015 G.britain ELIZABETH II (Spink SB7A) NGC MS 70 DPL GT.BRITAIN, QUEEN ELIZABETH II GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 2015 (Spink SB7A).

OBVERSE: Bust of the Queen facing right and wearing a tiara, the letters I R B below the truncation.
REVERSE: St.George based on the original design of 1893 with reduced ground below design and larger exergue with no BP initials.
DESIGN: Obverse by Ian Rank-Broadley. Reverse by Benedetto Pistrucci.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: BU (Issued 500)
RATING: R

GREAT BRITAIN, GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 2015 MS70DPL.

A perfect example of this Elizabeth II issue with impressive DPL appearance.
Self-submitted, September 2020.


EVENTS IN HISTORY
www.onthisday.com/events/date/2015

January 7, 2015 : Event of Interest; Terrorist attack on the offices of satirical newspaper "Charlie Hebdo" in Paris kills 12 (including Jean Cabut and Stéphane Charbonnier), injures 11.

January 12, 2015 : FIFA Ballon d'Or : Real Madrid & Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo wins for a 2nd consecutive time; his 3rd award overall.

January 29, 2015 : PlaneFlight MH370 Disappears; Malaysia officially declares the disappearance of missing flight MH370 an accident.

March 26, 2015 : Event of Interest; Richard III of England (1452-1485) is reburied at Leicester Cathedral in England, after being discovered under a carpark in Leicester in 2012.

April 24, 2015 : Armenia commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Empire.

April 29, 2015 : German Measles is declared eradicated from North and South America - 1st world region to do so.

May 11, 2015 : Event of Interest; Record price for a work of art at auction: Picasso's The Women of Algiers (Version ‘O’) sells for US$179.3 million at Christies in New York.

May 22, 2015 : Ireland becomes 1st country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote.

June 28, 2015 : Greek Credit Crisis: Greek government says banks closed for a week and ATM withdrawals restricted after European Central Bank refused to supply emergency funds.

July 11, 2015 : Mexican drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán escapes from Altiplano maximum-security prison west of Mexico City via a specially constructed 1.5 km tunnel from his cell to a nearby house. El Chapo Finally Recaptured.

July 18, 2015 : PayPal is spun off from eBay as a separate publicly traded company on the NASDAQ.

July 29, 2015 : Microsoft launches Windows 10.

August 19, 2015 : US Food and Drug administration approves Female Viagra libido pill Addyi.

August 24, 2015 : Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announces that for the 1st time 1 billion people logged into Facebook.

September 2, 2015 : Earth's trees number just over 3 trillion according to study in "Nature" by Thomas Crowther of Yale University.

September 9, 2015 : Event of Interest; Queen Elizabeth II becomes Great Britain's longest-reigning monarch at 63 years and seven months, beating the previous record set by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria.

September 27, 2015 : A "Supermoon" coincides with a lunar eclipse creating a "Blood Moon" over much of the earth.

September 28, 2015 : DNA controllers for the age women go into menopause announced in "Nature Genetics" by research team from Exeter and Cambridge universities.

October 19, 2015 : US scientists from University of California find evidence life on earth may have begun 4.1 billion years ago, 300 million earlier than previously though.

October 26, 2015 : World Health Organization classifies processed meat as carcinogenic.

October 29, 2015 : China announces the end of their one-child policy after 35 years.

November 11, 2015 : Flawless 12 carat Blue Moon Diamond sells for $48.4 million at auction in Geneva.

November 16, 2015 : Largest diamond discovered in more than a century, a 1,111 carat stone found in the Karowe mine, Botswana.

December 11, 2015 : "Playboy" magazine publishes its last nude issue, features Pamela Anderson on the cover.
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL 1/2SOV 2017 G.britain 200th Anniversary Privy NGC MS 69 DPL GT. BRITAIN, GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 2017

OBVERSE: Bust of the Queen facing right and wearing a tiara.
REVERSE: The standard St.George slaying the Dragon with the addition of a small "200" privy mark in the exergue prior to the date to mark the anniversary of 200 years since the introduction of the modern Gold Sovereign and Gold half-sovereign
DESIGN: Obverse by Jody Clark. Reverse by Benedetto Pistrucci.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE:
RATING: C

2017 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS69DPL
NGC 2823314-013

An FDC example with the Queen's new portrait by Jody Clark. The 200th Anniversary of the Half-sovereign.
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL 1/2SOV 2020 G.britain NGC MS 70 DPL GT. BRITAIN, GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 2020

OBVERSE: Bust of the Queen facing right and wearing a tiara.
REVERSE: Benedetto Pistrucci's design.
DESIGN: Obverse by Jody Clark. Reverse by Benedetto Pistrucci.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE:
RATING: C

2020 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS70 DPL
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL 1/2SOV 2022 G.britain QE II Platinum Jubilee NGC MS 70 DPL GT. BRITAIN, GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 2022
Commemorates The Queen’s historic Platinum Jubilee.

OBVERSE: Bust of the Queen facing right and wearing a tiara. Design by Jody Clark.
REVERSE: Design by Timothy Noad.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE:
RATING: C
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL 1/2SOV 2022 G.britain QE II Memorial NGC MS 70 DPL GT. BRITAIN, GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 2022
The Queen’s Memorial.

OBVERSE: Bust of King Charles III facing left,. Designed by Martin Jennings.
REVERSE: The Royal Arms. Designed by by Jody Clark.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE:
RATING: C

Struck to honour the inspiring legacy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Representing regal strength and authority for centuries, the coin features the definitive coinage portrait of His Majesty The King for the first time in its history. The reverse design, which so often features Benedetto Pistrucci’s iconic depiction of St George and the dragon, stands aside for a skillful portrayal of the Royal Arms by Jody Clark.

This Half-Sovereign is dated 2022 as it was struck to memorialize the passing of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

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