Sovereign Rarities Ltd
Auction 4 21 Sep 2021
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Victoria (1837-1901), gold Sovereign, 1843, so-called "narrow shield" reverse, first young filleted head left, W.W. raised on truncation for engraver William Wyon, date below, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, VICTORIA DEI GRATIA, rev. crowned quartered shield of arms, laurel wreath of different arrangement surrounding, three leaves at tops of wreath either side, narrow arrangement of emblems below, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID: DEF:, edge milled, 7.89g (Bentley 45; Marsh 26A R4; S.3852B). With surface marks and nicks, otherwise a bold fine and extremely rare.
Calendar year mintage 5,981,968 of which the narrow shield variety would form a miniscule percentage.
The Latin legends translates on obverse as "Victoria by the Grace of God," and on the reverse "Queen of the Briton's, Defender of the Faith."
Starkly different to the regular reverse Sovereigns, the wreath consists of 21 leaves each side with the top leaves being a group of three. The most obvious difference is the narrow arrangement of the emblems below the wreath and shield and there is no rosette either side like with the regular currency Sovereigns.
The reason for this reverse is lost to history and the variety is a keen favourite amongst collectors being a one year only type and of a different make-up to the companion 1838 "narrow shield" Sovereign.
(£6,000-£8,000)
Calendar year mintage 5,981,968 of which the narrow shield variety would form a miniscule percentage.
The Latin legends translates on obverse as "Victoria by the Grace of God," and on the reverse "Queen of the Briton's, Defender of the Faith."
Starkly different to the regular reverse Sovereigns, the wreath consists of 21 leaves each side with the top leaves being a group of three. The most obvious difference is the narrow arrangement of the emblems below the wreath and shield and there is no rosette either side like with the regular currency Sovereigns.
The reason for this reverse is lost to history and the variety is a keen favourite amongst collectors being a one year only type and of a different make-up to the companion 1838 "narrow shield" Sovereign.
(£6,000-£8,000)