Owner Comments:
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.