Stanley Gibbons Baldwin's
Auction 79 8 May 2013
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G BRITISH COINS
The Bentley Collection of British Milled Gold Sovereigns
Rare Victoria 1847 Sovereign with 1 Over Inverted 1 in Date
Victoria, Sovereign, 1847, figure 1 in date over inverted 1 giving impression of a Roman I, the inverted 1 appears to be on top of the correct 1, 4 doubled therefore appears quite tall, first young head left, date below, Queen's name lightly die flawed, rev crowned quartered shield of arms within laurel wreath, emblems below, broken foot on first N of legend, flaw by third R, broken limb on last E with F doubled, 7.92g (cf Marsh 30; MCE 508; S 3852). Light surface marks and rim nick, cleaned, almost fine to fine and very unusual.
bought Spink and Son Ltd, May 2005
Calendar year mintage 5,981,968
Perhaps the most interesting variety of 1847 Sovereign. It will be noted the "Roman I" is actually a product of a figure 1 over another of the opposite inversion. However in this case the inverted figure appears to be over a correctly placed 1. The lower left serif being the one that steps down from the figure on top, indicating the correct figure underneath. This may well have been an attempt to correct the die that had the broken lower right serif that had been used for other 1847 Sovereigns, an example of which was sold in the Bentley Collection previously, lot 409. This is another sign of how the quality of the engraving was becoming more careless at this time, but not too serious as to not make it into circulation. The variety for 1847 discovered only in the last ten years and therefore not described by Marsh for this date. Note the weight of this coin is under the limit of what was legally acceptable for trade at face value according to the Acts of Coinage 1816-70.
For further reading on varieties of 1847 Sovereigns see part one of the Bentley Collection, footnote to lot 54
Estimate: £300-500
The Bentley Collection of British Milled Gold Sovereigns
Rare Victoria 1847 Sovereign with 1 Over Inverted 1 in Date
Victoria, Sovereign, 1847, figure 1 in date over inverted 1 giving impression of a Roman I, the inverted 1 appears to be on top of the correct 1, 4 doubled therefore appears quite tall, first young head left, date below, Queen's name lightly die flawed, rev crowned quartered shield of arms within laurel wreath, emblems below, broken foot on first N of legend, flaw by third R, broken limb on last E with F doubled, 7.92g (cf Marsh 30; MCE 508; S 3852). Light surface marks and rim nick, cleaned, almost fine to fine and very unusual.
bought Spink and Son Ltd, May 2005
Calendar year mintage 5,981,968
Perhaps the most interesting variety of 1847 Sovereign. It will be noted the "Roman I" is actually a product of a figure 1 over another of the opposite inversion. However in this case the inverted figure appears to be over a correctly placed 1. The lower left serif being the one that steps down from the figure on top, indicating the correct figure underneath. This may well have been an attempt to correct the die that had the broken lower right serif that had been used for other 1847 Sovereigns, an example of which was sold in the Bentley Collection previously, lot 409. This is another sign of how the quality of the engraving was becoming more careless at this time, but not too serious as to not make it into circulation. The variety for 1847 discovered only in the last ten years and therefore not described by Marsh for this date. Note the weight of this coin is under the limit of what was legally acceptable for trade at face value according to the Acts of Coinage 1816-70.
For further reading on varieties of 1847 Sovereigns see part one of the Bentley Collection, footnote to lot 54
Estimate: £300-500