St. James's Auctions
Auction 66 22 Sep 2022
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Victoria, sovereign, 1863, second young head l., 827 on trun., rev. crowned shield of arms within wreath, no die number below (S.3852F; M.46A), certified and graded by NGC as About Uncirculated 58
Until 1954, the existence of this rarity remained unknown to the numismatic community. It first appeared in the Hatton Hoard found in Derbyshire, but with the addition of the die number 22 below the shield to the obverse.
This coin is referred to as 'first variety' 827 sovereigns in the Bentley Collection. The coins which also feature the die number 22 are referred to as the 'second type'.
The number of '827' sovereigns minted is also unknown although it can be deduced, more or less, if the theory is correct that the numerical designation appearing on the queen's bust at the truncation (well hidden from view) is that of a bar of gold made into sovereigns. This was in order to make a reliable count of how many sovereigns are equal to a gold bar in storage at the Royal Mint or at the Bank of England. Pieces so produced were, at the time, nothing but an accounting check for the mint or the bank and all were seemingly bagged and placed into commercial circulation. The English sovereign was the world's measure of money in 1863, and doubtless many of these '827' coins were shipped abroad, were used hard and were eventually melted.
The highest grade awarded by NGC on their census. Excessively rare, rarity R6.
St. James's Auctions sold another example of this rare coin as part of The Royal Berkshire Collection, Auction 57, lot 74 in February 2022 for £37,200.
(15000-20000 GBP)
Until 1954, the existence of this rarity remained unknown to the numismatic community. It first appeared in the Hatton Hoard found in Derbyshire, but with the addition of the die number 22 below the shield to the obverse.
This coin is referred to as 'first variety' 827 sovereigns in the Bentley Collection. The coins which also feature the die number 22 are referred to as the 'second type'.
The number of '827' sovereigns minted is also unknown although it can be deduced, more or less, if the theory is correct that the numerical designation appearing on the queen's bust at the truncation (well hidden from view) is that of a bar of gold made into sovereigns. This was in order to make a reliable count of how many sovereigns are equal to a gold bar in storage at the Royal Mint or at the Bank of England. Pieces so produced were, at the time, nothing but an accounting check for the mint or the bank and all were seemingly bagged and placed into commercial circulation. The English sovereign was the world's measure of money in 1863, and doubtless many of these '827' coins were shipped abroad, were used hard and were eventually melted.
The highest grade awarded by NGC on their census. Excessively rare, rarity R6.
St. James's Auctions sold another example of this rare coin as part of The Royal Berkshire Collection, Auction 57, lot 74 in February 2022 for £37,200.
(15000-20000 GBP)