Baldwin & Sons
Auction 88 8 May 2014
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BRITISH COINS, MILLED GOLD SOVEREIGNS, Victoria, Gold Sovereign, 1874, die number 32, third young head left, w.w. in relief on truncation, date below, rev crowned quartered shield of arms within laurel wreath, die number 32 below, 2 slightly larger than 3, emblems below (Bentley 301; Marsh 58; MCE 537; S 3853B). Light hairline scratch to lower right side of obverse field, otherwise good very fine to almost extremely fine and extremely rare, the last issue of the London shield die number series.
Calendar year mintage 520,713
There were also 1874 dated St George and Dragon reverse coins included in the output figure of just over half a million Sovereigns. This suggests very good die longevity indeed but most were likely the St George reverse in reality as the shield reverse of this date is very elusive, being the last date for the London shield reverse Sovereign.
The London shield Sovereign was issued concurrently with the reintroduction of the familiar St George and dragon reverse from 1871-1874 at which point the St George reverse became the more dominant type, rendering the last shield Sovereign date a major rarity.
Estimate: £6000-8000
Calendar year mintage 520,713
There were also 1874 dated St George and Dragon reverse coins included in the output figure of just over half a million Sovereigns. This suggests very good die longevity indeed but most were likely the St George reverse in reality as the shield reverse of this date is very elusive, being the last date for the London shield reverse Sovereign.
The London shield Sovereign was issued concurrently with the reintroduction of the familiar St George and dragon reverse from 1871-1874 at which point the St George reverse became the more dominant type, rendering the last shield Sovereign date a major rarity.
Estimate: £6000-8000