Set Description
GREAT BRITAIN, GOLD SOVEREIGNS and HALF-SOVEREIGNS 1817-2009, CIRCULATION ISSUES, TYPE SET
The Royal Mint struck its first gold sovereign in 1489 during the reign of Henry VII. This coin became known as a "sovereign" because the obverse design depicted the King enthroned in regal splendour. It was the first gold coin produced with a value of one pound or twenty shillings, it was the largest coin yet issued in England and also the most beautiful. The half-sovereign was introduced a few years after, during the reign of King Henry VIII (1509-1547), in the year 1544, nearly 300 years before the modern coinage period. The modern sovereign, smaller and featuring on the reverse the classic St. George and the dragon design by Benedetto Pistrucci and the 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.
Currency gold sovereigns and half-sovereigns continued to be issued by the Royal Mint in London for the reigns of King George IV, King William IV, Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, King George V and Queen Elizabeth II.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Celebrating her Diamond Jubilee Year 2012.
Set Goals
HOBBY
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GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1SOV 1817 G.britain
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NGC MS 63
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GT. BRITAIN, GEORGE III 1817 SOVEREIGN
(Marsh 1; S 3784).
OBVERSE: Laureated head of King George III facing right. Date below.
REVERSE: The design of St. George with streamer flowing from helmet, mounted and slaying the Dragon with a spear.
ENGRAVERS: William Wyon and Benedetto Pistrucci.
DIAMETER: 22.05mm.
WEIGHT: 7.998 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE:3,235,239.
RATING: N (M.Marsh). From King George III sovereigns the 1817 is the easiest date for the collector to acquire, but it is difficult for him to find really choice examples.
KING GEORGE III
The Reign of King George III (House of Hanover) 1760-1820.
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
1817 GOLD SOVEREIGN MS 63
NGC 1875725-006
A choice example of the very first date of the New Coinage sovereign.
Bright and beautiful with sharp strike and satiny luster.
ex Clark Smith Numismatists, San Rafael CA, USA, purchased 29 September 2011.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1/2SOV 1817 G.britain GEORGE III
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NGC MS 64
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GT. BRITAIN, GEORGE III GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1817
(Marsh 400; 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: 2.080.197.
RATING: C (M.Marsh).
1817 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 64
NGC 1522424-007
An excellent example of the very first date of the New Coinage half-sovereign.
A beautiful and very choice UNC, sharply struck and with booming luster.
Ex. Heritage Auction # 3014, Rosemont, April 2011, lot 24148.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1SOV 1821 G.britain
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NGC MS 64
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GT. BRITAIN, GEORGE IV (LAUREATE BUST) GOLD SOVEREIGN 1821
(Marsh 5; S 3800).
OBVERSE: The King's bust to the left, laureate, tye with loop at two ends, hair short and bare neck. B.P. in small letters below truncation standing for Benedetto Pistrucci.
REVERSE: St.George slaying the Dragon with sword. Date below the exergue line with the letters B.P. to the right.
ENGRAVER: Benedetto Pistrucci.
DIAMETER: 22.05mm
WEIGHT: 7.998g
FINENESS: 22 Carat.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 9,405,114
RARITY: N (M.Marsh).
GEORGE IV, SOVEREIGN, 1821, FIRST TYPE.
The reign of King George IV marks the highly significant introduction of the classic design of St George slaying the dragon with a sword by Benedetto Pistrucci we are all familiar with today. Pistrucci’s depiction of the first bust of George IV is very Roman in its style with the King wearing a 13 leaf laurel wreath. Pistrucci’s initials are for a gold coin, significantly prominent on each side of the coin, whereas with his previous George III issue they were incuse and quite well hidden under the broken lance. The initials of the Master of the Mint, William Wellesley Pole, who was instrumental in commissioning Pistrucci to the Mint in the first place, has his initials placed under the broken lance. The wwp appears quite squiggle-like and indistinct, and amazingly lasts in this position into the reign of George V over a hundred years later. These initials were on the Garter buckle on the reverse in the previous issue of George III. Other features of the first standard design for the currency Sovereigns of King George IV from 1821-1825 are an unusual style of lettering in the legend which reads georgius iiii d : g : britanniar: rex f: d:, each letter has an incuse central compartment upon its limbs ruled with raised horizontal lines. A new type of outer border is employed with fine raised teeth between an inner and outer concentric linear circle, giving quite a square indent between each tooth. The currency coins are struck with an inverted die axis as usual for this period, the figure of St George now brandishes a sword to slay the dragon, his helmet has a crested plume only, and the horse’s tail terminates in three strands. The broken lance with the initials beneath lies on the ground-line to the left, the date and b.p. initials are in the exergue below and the edge is straight grained milled. Calendar year mintage 9,405,114. Looking at this calendar year total, if we allow for Marsh’s estimate of 1,170,000 of these being 1820 dated coins of George III, then we must reduce this total to 8,235,114. It is interesting to note that the first type Sovereign of King George IV are the only sovereigns ever issued with decorative style lettering with “hatched” compartments.
KING GEORGE IV
The Reign of King George IV (House of Hanover) 1820-1830.
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.
1821 GOLD SOVEREIGN MS 64
NGC 2775472-001
Beautiful and bright with sharp details, booming luster and gorgeous deep gold toning.
ex Stacks Bowers Auction, April 2011, lot 10153.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1/2SOV 1821 G.britain GEORGE IV, Ex HEYLEIGH COLLECTION (M.Marsh 403)
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NGC MS 64
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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.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1SOV 1825 G.britain BARE BUST
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NGC MS 62
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GT. BRITAIN, GEORGE IV (BARE BUST) GOLD SOVEREIGN 1825
(Marsh 10; S 3801).
OBVERSE: Second bare head of King facing left. Date shown below truncation on field.
REVERSE: The Ensigns Armorial of the United Kingdom contained in a beautiful ornate shield surmounted by the royal crown.
ENGRAVERS: Obverse: William Wyon. Reverse: J.B.Merlen.
DIAMETER: 22.05mm.
WEIGHT: 7.998 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 4,200,343.
RATING: S (M.Marsh). The 1825 is one of the scarce dates of King George IV sovereigns, although is quite difficult to find an example in UNC condition.
GEORGE IV, SOVEREIGN, 1825, SECOND TYPE, BARE HEAD.
The second standard design for the currency Sovereigns of King George IV from 1825-1830 inclusive had an obverse designed by William Wyon based upon the sculpted model bust by Francis Legatt Chantrey (1781-1841). A marble bust that the King was particularly pleased with, and which was first used as an inspirational model for the coinage on the gold Two Pound piece of 1823 engraved by Jean Baptiste Merlen shown here. The Second Type Obverse and Reverse of King George IV The former abbreviated legend used on the first type obverse, now appears across both sides of the second type coins and in a fuller form, on obverse georgius iv dei gratia and continuing on the reverse britanniarum rex fid: def: The lettering no longer has any decorative compartments. The reverse of the Sovereigns of this type, also engraved by Merlen, have a crowned quartered shield of arms, with an escutcheon of the Hanoverian Arms. The straight grained milled edge continues.
KING GEORGE IV
The Reign of King George IV (House of Hanover) : 1820-1830.
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.
1825 SECOND BARE BUST, GOLD SOVEREIGN MS 62
A nice example of this "bare head" type sovereign with good strike and original luster.
ex Clark Smith Numismatists, San Rafael CA, USA, purchased 21 April 2008.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1/2SOV 1828 G.britain Ex Thos. H. Law COLLECTION
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NGC MS 64
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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.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1SOV 1837 G.britain
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NGC MS 62
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GT.BRITAIN, WILLIAM IV 1837 GOLD SOVEREIGN
(Marsh 21; S 3829B).
OBVERSE: Bare head of King facing right, engraved by William Wyon (1795-1851).
REVERSE: Garnished shield modelled and engraved by Jean Baptiste Merlen (1769-1850).
DIAMETER: 22.05 mm.
WEIGHT: 7.998 g.
EDGE: Milled.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MINTAGE: 1,172,984
RATING: S (M.Marsh).
WILLIAM IV, SOVEREIGN, 1837, SECOND BARE HEAD.
The standard design for the currency Sovereigns of King William IV from 1830-1837 inclusive, was engraved by William Wyon after Francis Chantrey’s model, and consists of two bare headed bust types and one standard reverse. Both bust types have the same legend reading GULIELMUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR REX F: D: The first bust obverse has more finely engraved hair most noticeable on the top of his head and a more rounded ear. The position of the bust in relation to the legend dictates that his nose points to the second letter N in britanniar. The first bust obverse has border teeth that are quite fine and tall, and more in number when compared with obverse two. The second obverse has coarser hair, a flat top to the ear and the nose points to the second I in britanniar. The border teeth also differ from the first bust as the obverse teeth are of a coarser wide spread rendering, with less depth. The majority of the coinage of William IV Sovereigns, depict this obverse, including the very first pattern piece of 1830. It seems the demarcation of second bust relates really to its use ending with the reign in 1837, as the first bust type finishes first by 1832. The reverse teeth on the second bust obverse coins are similar to the first bust obverse ones, and are taller and finer than those on the obverse of the second bust coins. The reverses of William IV engraved by Jean Baptiste Merlen, always carry eight strings in the Irish harp with a diagonal line running through them depicting the rear of the bottom harp body. The inner arches of the crown above have thirteen pearls on each side, and five more run diagonally up each side of the central upright. There are nine varied jewels on the crown band. There is a short legend reading to the lower left anno and the date to the lower right. The edges are milled as usual. There was no issue in or dated 1834.
KING WILLIAM IV
The Reign of King William IV (House of Hanover) 1830-1837.
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, aged 71.
1837 GOLD SOVEREIGN MS 62
Beautiful and bright with honey-gold color.
Features a sharp strike on clear fields and original satiny luster.
NGC: Pop of six with only two grading higher.
ex Clark Smith Numismatists, San Rafael CA, USA, purchased 21 January 2010.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1/2SOV 1837 G.britain
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NGC MS 65
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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.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1/2SOV 1836 G.britain WILLIAM IV, Ex Jon Blyth Collection (M.Marsh 412)
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NGC MS 65
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GT. BRITAIN, WILLIAM IV GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1836
(Marsh 412, 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: 19.4mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994g
EDGE: Milled.
FINENESS: 22 Carat.
MINTAGE: 146,865
RATING: R2 (M.Marsh)
1836 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 65
NGC 5879652-001
A superb GEM of this extremely rare issue.
Unsurpassed in certified quality with exceptional eye appeal and technical proficiency, this incredibly vibrant specimen features blooming luster and design motifs that have been rendered with an exacting strike.
NGC : Very likely the finest-known and only mint-state of a total of 5 specimens seen, the next closest graded example of this date is an AU58.
One of the key dates of the complete half-sovereign collection 1817-2022.
Purchased 11 January 2021.
NGC : Price Guide Plate Coin.
EVENTS IN HISTORY
www.onthisday.com/events/date/1836
February 23, 1836 : Battle of the Alamo. Alamo besieged for 13 days until March 6 by Mexican army under General Santa Anna; entire garrison eventually killed.
February 25, 1836 : Historic Invention; Samuel Colt patents first multi-shot revolving-cylinder revolver, enabling the firearm to be fired multiple times without reloading.
March 2, 1836 : Event of Interest. Republic of Texas declares independence from Mexico in Columbia.
April 20, 1836 : Territory of Wisconsin created.
Jun 15, 1836 : Arkansas becomes 25th state of the Union.
July 1, 1836 : Event of Interest; US President Andrew Jackson announces to Congress bequest by James Smithson of 100,000 gold sovereigns to found institution in Washington.
July 29, 1836 : Inauguration of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris
August 17, 1836 : British parliament accepts registration of births, marriages and deaths.
September 5, 1836 : Election of Interest; Sam Houston elected President of the Republic of Texas.
December 7, 1836 : Election of Interest; Martin Van Buren elected the 8th President of the United States.
December 28, 1836 : Spain recognizes the independence of Mexico.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1/2SOV 1834 G.britain WILLIAM SMALL SIZE
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NGC MS 64
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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).
William's first currency half sovereign was not issued until 1834, and had a diameter of only 17.9 mm; this was considerably smaller than any other half-sovereign previously struck during the modern era (19.4 mm), but it was though the same weight and fineness as previous issues (3.994 g and 22 carats).
1834 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 64
NGC 3743677-005
A conditionally rare example.
Superb Choice Brilliant Uncirculated, slightly prooflike with gleaming luster, sharp strike and superb color.
ex Heritage Auction # 3030, Lot 24179, 6 January 2014.
NGC: Pop 1 with one grading higher (MS65).
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).
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GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1SOV 1871 G.britain SHIELD
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NGC MS 64
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GT.BRITAIN, VICTORIA Young Head (Shield), Type A3 (with die number) 1871 GOLD SOVEREIGN.
(Marsh 55; S 3853B).
OBVERSE: Third Young head bust of the Queen facing left, date below. Engraved by William Wyon.
REVERSE: Ornate garnished shield containing the Ensigns Armorial of the United Kingdom. Engraved by J.B.Merlen.
DIAMETER: 22.05mm.
WEIGHT: 7.998g.
EDGE: Milled.
FINENESS: 22ct.
MINTAGE: 8,767,250
RARITY: N (M.Marsh).
VICTORIA, SOVEREIGN (SHIELD), 1871 with die number.
The Third Young Head type of Queen Victoria. It has always been known that the truncation again differs from 1870 onward for the young head shield reverse design Sovereigns, and they are so referenced in the Spink Standard Catalogue as S.3853B. Marsh mentions the difference in his narrative as point number 3, but did not go as so far to tabulate or study it further. The raised w.w. actually runs to the very edge of the truncation and meets the field. Strangely for 1870 only, for five of the higher die number reverses from 112 upwards this new bust variation exists coupled with the ww initials incuse without stops, before a swift return for 1871 to the w.w. raised rendering. There is a change to the rendering of the hair which is very evident when comparing coins of the previous type and this “new” third head. The rendering of the hair in the large bun and the strands of hair nearest the letter G are of a different arrangement and the treatment of the ponytail below also differs. Coupled with the change of the ww initials on the neck, back to being punctuated and in relief on this truncation, it makes for a more significant variety than has previously been credited.
The Victorian Die Number Series of Gold Sovereigns 1863-1874 at the Royal Mint London.
From 1863 to 1874 inclusive, seemingly as a new drive for quality control, the Royal Mint in London added a tiny die number to the reverse die of gold Sovereigns. There were however no Sovereigns issued in, or dated 1867 in this time-frame. This die numbering occurred additionally on gold Half-Sovereigns from 1863 till 1880, and also in the silver coinage, on Shillings from 1864 till 1879, and Sixpences from 1864 till 1879. There is correlation in these denominations all being of a similar size and stature, which may mean similar minting presses being employed and perhaps worked by the same teams of operators. They were now seemingly subject to a stricter regime where work in production could be individually traced back to a worker on a given day. Equally the engravers with their apprentices in their respective department could also be traced from the tiny number on the die they had worked upon. Within the Mint itself in 1865 the vacant post (since 1862) of Resident Engraver is taken up by T J Minton.
QUEEN VICTORIA
The reign of Queen Victoria (House of Hanover): 1837-1901.
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.
1871 GOLD SOVEREIGN (SHIELD), with die number 30, MS 64
A very choice example of this common sovereign with bold strike, clean fields and satiny luster.
Purchased from Ebay 14 June 2012.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1/2SOV 1852 G.britain
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NGC MS 65
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GT. BRITAIN, VICTORIA Young (small) Head, Type A1 (without die number) GOLD HALF- SOVEREIGN 1852
(Marsh 426; 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.
MINTAGE: 1.377.671.
RATING: N (M.Marsh).
1852 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 65
NGC 1878934-001
Outstanding coin, one of the nicest of Victoria's Type A1 half-sovereigns.
Gem UNC with satiny luster, sharp strike and lovely color to the gold.
ex Heritage Signature Auction # 3014, Rosemont, April 2011, lot 24230.
NGC: Pop 2 with none grading higher.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1SOV 1871 G.britain ST.GEORGE
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NGC MS 64
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GT.BRITAIN, VICTORIA Young Head - St.George, 1871 GOLD SOVEREIGN
(Marsh 84; S 3856A).
OBVERSE: Young head bust of the Queen facing left, engraved by William Wyon.
REVERSE: St. George slaying the dragon with sword. Date below. Design by Benedetto Pistrucci.
DIAMETER: 22.05mm.
WEIGHT: 7.998 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 8,767,250
RARITY: C (M.Marsh). Very common coin with a lot of examples in high grade.
VICTORIA, SOVEREIGN (ST.GEORGE), 1871.
The Currency Sovereigns of Queen Victoria with St George and dragon reverse young head obverse most significantly no longer carries the date of the coin, which for the St George and dragon reverse after Pistrucci is always in the exergue on the reverse side. The obverse is therefore of a different design, though the rendering of the bust style is similar to that seen at the end of the die number series, well engraved with a complete hair “ponytail”. This obverse was no doubt engraved by the Chief Engraver Leonard Charles Wyon, the son of William Wyon, working in the style of his Father and still acknowledging his design of the young head with the initials upon the neck. In fact the main difference with this bust design is upon the neck, where two distinct renderings of the ww initials occur once again. The first type to appear is the raised ww “buried” in the truncation, where the truncation appears literally too thin to support the large characters, and they only partially appear and meet the field below. In some cases as on some of the proof 1871 strikings this raised ww appears to be cut over the top of another even more partial raised ww right on the bottom edge of the truncation. Why this should be so rendered is a little mysterious, but could be as simple as correcting a first attempt at placing the initials, or more intriguingly perhaps Leonard C Wyon was acknowledging himself along with his Father, the twin ww’ s literally one within the other. The second rendering of the raised ww complete on the truncation from 1880 is smaller and more neatly engraved. The legend is a longer and abbreviated one compared to the shield series and reads victoria d : g : britanniar : reg : f : d : the tip of the neck usually points downwards, though there is one proof 1871 Sovereign where it distinctly points outwards (to be revealed and sold in part three). The finely toothed outer border is within twin linear concentric circles and an outer raised rim both sides. The Sovereigns are struck with an inverted die axis and the reverse is as the 1821 design. The horse has a long tail with a three strand terminal, though this does vary later on. The horse tail length later in this series can be either short or long, and “spurs” of extra tail hair can appear below the top outside curve of the tail. The rendering of the dragon claws can also vary, at most it has four claws all attached on each foreleg. Sometimes one or two claws are detached and as dies start to wear they become more indistinct, being only a tiny detail on the coin. Sometimes the dragon has four claws on the left and three on the right, or three claws on each foreleg. St George himself can have a cloak with either a complete “hem-line” or sometimes it is partly broken and indistinct. The helmet streamer upon his head can also vary in its depiction. The wwp continues to appear in relief under the broken lance on the ground-line. The most significant variation on the reverse though is the b.p. initials in the upper right of the exergue, which can be either large or small, mostly small in currency. They can be all there, or sometimes with absent stops though this is likely due to die degradation. This becomes more evident in coins where the letters themselves also become very indistinct and only partially there, until we see the “no b.p.” varieties which again are likely due to blockages on the die, though there is a chance that one die may have had the initials left off at the design stage! The edges are always milled for currency as usual.
QUEEN VICTORIA
The reign of Queen Victoria (House of Hanover): 1837-1901.
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.
1871 GOLD SOVEREIGN (ST.GEORGE) MS 64
A choice example of this common sovereign.
Bright, with bold strike, clear surfaces and satiny luster.
NGC: Tied with thirty others as finest graded.
ex St.James's Auction # 18, 27 September 2011, lot 516.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1SOV 1887 G.britain JUBILEE HEAD
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NGC MS 65
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GT.BRITAIN, VICTORIA, Jubilee head, 1887 GOLD SOVEREIGN
(Marsh 125; S 3866B).
OBVERSE: The Jubilee bust of the Queen facing left wearing a small crown, veiled and with ribbon; top cross on crown meets border, j.e.b. fully on truncation, angled J.
REVERSE: The Pistrucci's design of St. George slaying the Dragon with sword; horse with short tail, date in exergue, tiny b.p. to upper right, all stops present,
DESIGNER: Joseph Edwar Boehm.
DIAMETER: 22.05mm
WEIGHT: 7.998g
FINENESS: 22 carat.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 1,111,280.
RARITY: N (M.Marsh)
1887 was the Jubilee year for the fiftieth anniversary of Queen Victoria's accession.
VICTORIA, SOVEREIGN, 1887.
Preparations for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee of 1887 were underway years in advance. The Queen herself had first signified that she was willing for a change in portrait on the coinage as she had been most impressed by a portrait medal of her effigy by Mr Joseph Edgar Boehm RA (6 July 1834 - 12 December 1890) modelled from life. A large plaster model was prepared by Boehm in his studio, and from this metal copies were taken and then reduced for coinage. The first proposed coinage patterns appear from 1880 in base metals and silver, the Queen having sat for her portrait with Boehm in February of that year. The resulting currency coinage produced for 1887 included a commemorative gold Five Pound and Two Pound coin issued together for the first time since 1826. There were sets available in various guises officially for sale as proof or currency quality, with cases costing extra. The Jubilee coinage also marks for the first time in the British currency coinage the die axis being upright (en médaille). All die axes previously on coinage were of the inverted orientation and upright axis was reserved for medals or patterns. The obverse legend appears slightly more abbreviated than the last young head issue too. Apart from this, and the obvious bust change, the coinage is very similar to the previous young head St George type with a milled edge. The story of the gestation of the coinage was revealed in a series of Royal Mint correspondence, the elements of which have been published in the British Numismatic Journal by G P Dyer and Mark Stocker in 1984. What can be seen is that the resulting currency coins were received with mixed reaction from the public, much to the consternation of C W Fremantle, the Deputy Master of the Mint who had fully supported the design. The populous accepted the change in celebration of the Jubilee, but more seriously criticism of the design was given by critics at the Royal Academy for the way the crown appeared upon the Queen’s head, and the coinage was much discussed in Parliament. Comments ranged from such as “this toy crown” and “too small to be realistic,” as had the Queen turned or moved the crown would have tumbled from her head. More seriously, the Sixpence and Half-Sovereign coins being of similar dimensions and unfortunately of similar design, meant the Sixpences were quickly gilt by the unscrupulous and passed as gold coins. The Numismatic Society again were vocal about this, saying that the Mint had a precedent in 1821 when the Half Sovereign design had to be changed after one year as it was too similar to the sixpence. In 1887 the Sixpence became the withdrawn coin and the reverse design regressed to what it was before. The Numismatic Society and its President Sir John Evans, amongst others, continued to criticise the designs and the Jubilee portrait only lasted on British coins from 1887-1892 inclusive. Even the Queen herself had remarked on her displeasure of this coinage during 1888. In Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, the portrait continued briefly into 1893 on the gold coins. Boehm having died in 1890 was no longer around to see the change so soon after the Jubilee, and the criticism received may well have contributed to his demise, though he was kept very busy with his sculpture work.
QUEEN VICTORIA
The reign of Queen Victoria (House of Hanover): 1837-1901.
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.
1887 GOLD SOVEREIGN MS 65
A true GEM with superb detailed strike, satiny luster and hardly any abrasions.
NGC Pop 7 (Nov.16 2013) with none grading higher.
Purchased from ebay 17 July 2012.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1/2SOV 1887 G.britain JUBILEE HEAD
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NGC MS 66
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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.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1SOV 1900 G.britain Ex BENTLEY COLLECTION
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NGC MS 64
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GT.BRITAIN, VICTORIA Veiled Head, 1900 GOLD SOVEREIGN
(Marsh 151; S 3874).
OBVERSE: Bust of the Queen facing left, crowned, veiled and draped, wearing ribbon and star of the Garter. The small letters T.B. appear below the bust.
REVERSE: St. George mounted with streamer flowing from helmet, slaying the dragon with sword. The date is shown below the exergue line with the small letters B.P. to right.
DESIGNER: Obverse: Thomas Brock. Reverse: Benedetto Pistrucci.
DIAMETER: 22.05mm.
WEIGHT: 7.998g.
FINENESS: 22ct.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 10,846,741; This output for 1900 represents the zenith of the old head coinage of Victoria.
RARITY: C (M.Marsh)
VICTORIA, SOVEREIGN, 1900.
The Last Coinage of Queen Victoria. It was decided by a Royal Mint committee in February 1891 that the unpopular Jubilee portrait was no longer appropriate and something new was required. Fellows of the Royal Academy were called upon to submit ideas and designs, and the following made submissions:- Edward Onslow Ford ARA sculptor, Edward J Poynter RA painter, Henry N Armstead RA sculptor, Charles A Birch ARA sculptor, Thomas Brock RA sculptor, W Hamo Thornycroft RA sculptor. Interestingly Poynter had been one of the harsh critics of the Jubilee design, so now had a chance to literally prove how good a coin designer he himself was. However, Thomas Brock’s design won the day and the new older “widow” bust with heavy veil appeared for currency in 1893 to great acclaim. The design was engraved in metal from the designs by the Chief Engraver, George W De Saulles, who later went on to design the obverse for the King Edward VII coinage. Brock’s initials appear below the bust and the titles now significantly include the Empress of India and read thus VICTORIA D: G: BRITT: REG: F: D: IND: IMP: Again the coins are struck en médaille with an upright die axis and the St George reverse continues effectively unchanged except in the smallest details, which can vary from die to die. The edges are of course milled.
QUEEN VICTORIA
The reign of Queen Victoria (House of Hanover): 1837-1901.
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.
1900 GOLD SOVEREIGN MS 64
NGC 3504391-014
A very choice UNC example of the "Veiled Head" design.
Lovely satiny surfaces.
NGC population of three, none finer. Total graded for the date 87 (Nov.16 2013).
From the wonderful Bentley Collection, the best and most complete set of sovereigns ever formed.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1/2SOV 1900 G.britain
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NGC MS 65
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GT.BRITAIN, VICTORIA Veiled head, GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1900 (S3878).
OBVERSE: Old veiled head of Queen facing left.
REVERSE: St. George and the dragon. Date in exergue.
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 4,307,372.
RATING: C (M.Marsh).
1900 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 65
A true GEM, with full strike, clean surfaces and blazing luster.
NGC pop of 2 with none grading higher.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70
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1SOV 1909 G.britain
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NGC MS 64
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GT. BRITAIN, EDWARD VII GOLD SOVEREIGN 1909
(Marsh 181; 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: 12.157.099
RATING: C (M.Marsh).
EDWARD VII, SOVEREIGN, 1909.
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.
1909 GOLD SOVEREIGN MS 64
Choice UNC with sharp strike, clear surfaces and full original luster.
Pedigree: Cheshire Collection.
NGC: Tied with two others as finest graded.
Ex Northeast Numismatics, Concord MA, USA, purchased 18 January 2011.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70
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1/2SOV 1909 G.britain
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NGC MS 65
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GT. BRITAIN, KING EDWARD VII GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1909
(Marsh 512; 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:4.010.715.
RATING: C (M.Marsh).
1909 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 65
NGC 3589072-002
A GEM example featuring full strike and full original luster.
ex Brigandi coins, New York, purchased 27 April 2013.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70
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1SOV 1914 G.britain EX BENTLEY COLLECTION
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NGC MS 65
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GT. BRITAIN, GEORGE V GOLD SOVEREIGN 1914
(Marsh 216; S 3996).
OBVERSE: The King's bare head facing left. Designed by Edgar Bertram Mackennal.
REVERSE: St. George mounted and slaying Dragon with sword. Date at the bottom with small letters B.P. to right.
DIAMETER: 22.05mm.
WEIGHT: 7.9887g ( 0.9170 gold).
FINENESS: 22 Carat.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 11,501,117
RATING: C (M.Marsh).
GEORGE V, SOVEREIGN, 1914
ex THE BENTLEY COLLECTION OF BRITISH MILLED GOLD SOVEREIGNS.
George V, Sovereign, 1914, bare head left, rev St George slaying dragon with sword, date in exergue, 7.99g (Marsh 216; MCE 642; S 3996). Ex Randy Weir Numismatics, Unionville, Ontario, Canada, purchased 25 March 1992. Calendar year mintage 11,501,117. 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. The coinage of the reign of King George V features a bare head portrait of the King facing to the left by the Australian sculptor, Edgar Bertram Mackennal (12 June 1863 – 10 October 1931), whose initials appear on the truncation of the bust and with the titles georgivs v d: g: britt: omn: rex f : d : ind : imp :. Mackennal was famed for his artistic sculptures, but became more numismatically interesting, as the designer of the Olympic Medals for the London Olympic Games of 1908. This led to the commission for the Coronation Medallion for King George V, and he then successfully won the commission for the coinage and for postage stamp portraits. One other Royal commission was to design the tomb for King Edward VII at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. He was also the first Australian citizen to be knighted, in 1921 and was admitted to the Royal Academy in 1922. For the Sovereign the classic St George and dragon design continues engraved, after Pistrucci with his initials in the exergue, and amazingly still featuring the tiny wwp under the lance for William Wellesley Pole from his days of the Master-ship of the Mint circa 1820. Had the London Mint continued to produce gold Sovereigns from 1928, like some of the Colonial Mints did, then a smaller portrait of George V would no doubt have appeared as at Melbourne, Perth and Pretoria. More significantly, the reverses of these Colonial small head pieces are revised and the wwp initials disappear at last.
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.
KING GEORGE V
The Reign of King George V (House of Windsor) : 1910-1936.
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.
1914 GOLD SOVEREIGN MS 65
NGC 2776090-002
A true GEM with excellent provenance. A beauty with satiny luster and a sharp strike. Common in XF and AU as one of the "kings sovereigns" but difficult to find with mint frost and such choice surfaces. Only a handful of sovereigns of this king have been graded above MS63 by each TPG company.
NGC Pop 5 with one grading higher.
ex BENTLEY COLLECTION. Purchased at A.H. BALDWIN Auction 73, 8 May 2012, lot 360. Self submitted.
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GREAT BRITAIN 1902-70
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1/2SOV 1914 G.britain
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NGC MS 66
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GT. BRITAIN, GEORGE V GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1914
(Marsh 529; S 4006).
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: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 7,251,124
RATING: C (M.Marsh).
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.
PHOTO*
A large queue of people formed at the Bank of England on the eve of the First World War in the summer of 1914 to change their banknotes into gold coins.
* From the book " A HISTORY OF THE SOVEREIGN " by Kevin Clancy.
1914 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 66
NGC 3349825-005
Glorious example of this common coin.
Fully struck and fully lustrus with perfect surfaces and bright gold colour, making for outstanding eye appeal.
ex Northeast Numismatics, Concord MA, USA, purchased 10 August 2010.
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GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL
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1SOV 1982 G.britain
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NGC MS 67
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GT. BRITAIN, ELIZABETH II (Third Issue) GOLD SOVEREIGN 1982
(Marsh 312; S 4204).
OBVERSE: Bust of the Queen facing right and wearing a coronet.
REVERSE: St. George with streamer flowing from helmet mounted and slaying the Dragon with a sword.
DESIGNERS: Obverse: Arnold Machin. Reverse: Benedetto Pistrucci.
DIAMETER: 22.05mm.
WEIGHT: 7.988g.
FINENESS: 22ct.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 5,000,000
RATING: C (M.Marsh).
1982 GOLD SOVEREIGN MS 67
A wonderful brilliant coin. Absolute top grade.
Features a bold strike, superb mark-free surfaces and full shimmering luster. The deep gold color creates elegant eye appeal.
NGC: Pop of three with none grading higher.
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GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL
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1/2SOV 1982 G.britain
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NGC MS 67
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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.
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GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL
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1SOV 2009 G.britain
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NGC MS 67
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GT. BRITAIN, QUEEN ELIZABETH II GOLD SOVEREIGN 2009 (S4433) .
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 1820 with the plumed helmet without its streamer. Date below exergue line.
DESIGN: Obverse by Ian Rank-Broadley. Reverse by Benedetto Pistrucci.
DIAMETER: 22.05mm.
WEIGHT: 7.998 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 75,000
RATING: C
2009 GOLD SOVEREIGN MS 67
Among the finest examples, with sharp strike, perfect surfaces and full shiny luster.
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GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL
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1/2SOV 2009 G.britain
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NGC MS 69
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GT. BRITAIN, QUEEN ELIZABETH II GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 2009 (S 4443).
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: 50,000
RATING: C (M.Marsh).
2009 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 69
Extraordinary specimen of superb quality.
Wonderful and bright, with niedle sharp strike, perfect surfaces and fuul shimmering luster. A true FDC !!
ex J. Welsh Coins, Burton-On-Trent, Staffs, England, purchased 25 March 2010. Self submitted.
NGC: The single finest example of the date.
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