NumisBids
  
Stanley Gibbons Baldwin's
Auction 79  8 May 2013
View prices realized

Lot 1001

Estimate: 300 GBP
Price realized: 480 GBP
Find similar lots
Share this lot: Share by Email
G BRITISH COINS
The Bentley Collection of British Milled Gold Sovereigns
1858 Sovereign with Second 8 Struck Over a 7 in Date Victoria, Sovereign, 1858, with second 8 struck over a 7, WW incuse on truncation without stops, second larger young head left, date below, C of Queen's name out of rotational alignment, penultimate A of legend unbarred, rev crowned quartered shield of arms within laurel wreath, emblems below, 7.99g (cf Marsh 41 R; MCE 519; S 3852D). Once cleaned, lightly hairlined, fine, reverse better and very rare.
ex Spink and Son Ltd, March 2005
Calendar year mintage 803,234
Not listed by Marsh, the 8 over 7 overdate is a relatively recent discovery and very seldom encountered. The only evidence of the 7 under the 8 is the top right where the "elbow" of the upper right of the 7 is revealed. This is how an 8 over 7 appears in other coinages, such as the Jubilee head shilling of 1888 which all appear to be overdates and even the Oliver Cromwell Crown of 1658.
A dramatically lower calendar year mintage figure than previous years, in fact the fourth lowest for the Victoria shield London series, and only seven times higher than the 1841 output. The 1858 Sovereign can be considered rare but does seem to be readily available. This is either because of a high survival rate, perhaps a quantity of the issue was hoarded, coming to the market place many years later, or some of the 1859 output was dated 1858. However the 1859 output is not that high either being not even double that of 1858. The hoarding theory is more likely.
For further reading on varieties of 1858 Sovereigns see part one of the Bentley Collection, footnote to lot 79

Estimate: £300-400
Question about this auction? Contact Stanley Gibbons Baldwin's