1859 Victoria Gold Full Sovereign London Mint Coin

Royal Portrait Of Queen Victoria

These gold coins feature the second, larger Young Head portrait of Queen Victoria by William Wyon. This youthful effigy shows the Queen facing left with her hair pulled back in a knot with two ribbons. The inscription reads 'VICTORIA DEI GRATIA' and the date (1859) appears below.

Crowned And Quartered Shield Reverse

Jean Baptiste Merlen's classic quartered shield of royal arms design appears on the reverse of these 1859 coins with a crown above and an encircling wreath of laurel leaves. The inscription reads 'BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID: DEF:'.

British Coin Struck In 22-Carat Gold

These coins measure just over 22 millimetres from milled edge to milled edge and weigh approximately 7.98 grams. They are stuck in 22-carat gold to an exacting specification, established before the first of these milled gold coins were issued in 1817.

How Many 1859 Sovereigns Were Minted?

Some 1,547,603 gold Sovereigns were minted in 1859 at the London branch of the Royal Mint. Surviving Sovereigns with this date are rated R for Rare by Marsh. Further 1859 gold coins were issued at the recently opened branch of the Sydney mint. A distinct Sovereign issue was also made in 1859, known as the Ansell Sovereign, distinguished by a tiny detail on the obverse.

Collecting Early Victorian Gold Coins

Early Victorian gold Sovereigns are a fascinating area of focus for serious numismatists looking to complete a complex series. Shield-back Sovereigns are generally scarcer than their later St George reverse counterparts and are sought-after for this reason.