Gold 'full' Sovereigns, struck in the year of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee: 1887.
Obverse
Jubilee Head effigy of Queen Victoria wearing a small crown with a long lace veil. Artist: Joseph Edgar Boehm ('J. E. B.' initials to shoulder). Legend reads: 'VICTORIA D: G: BRITT: REG: F: D:'.
Reverse
England's patron saint, St George, mounted on a rearing horse, pointing his sword at a winged dragon below. Date beneath: 1887. No mintmark to ground. Artist: Benedetto Pistrucci.
Specification
22-carat gold historic UK coin, minted for circulation in London. Weight: 7.98 grams. Diameter: 22.05 millimetres.
Presentation
1,111,280 gold Sovereigns were struck at the Royal Mint's London branch in this year. This figure includes rarer varieties of 1887 London Sovereign including Hooked J varieties.
Grade
Our Best Value Sovereigns are graded 'Very Fine' or better by our expert numismatists. VF coins display a high level of fine detail with some wear to the high points and marks associated with having been in circulation. The images on this webpage are stock photographs but represent the type and grade of coin available.
Jubilee Head Queen Victoria Portrait
Several portraits were used on the Sovereigns issued during the long reign of Queen Victoria. Among the most controversial and short-lived is the Jubilee Head.
It gets its name because it was introduced in 1887: the year of Victoria's Golden Jubilee. The Queen marked fifty years on the throne with a banquet attended by 50 kings and princes and a procession through London to Westminster Abbey.
The work of sculptor, Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm, the Jubilee Head shows the Queen wearing the Small Diamond Crown and a long lace veil. The artist's initials appear to Victoria's shoulder and the legend reads: 'VICTORIA D: G: BRITT: REG: F: D:'. The veil was a nod to the state of morning she entered after the death of her husband, Prince Albert, but the tiny crown was mocked by contemporary pundits as it appeared it might topple off at any moment. The design was removed from British and colonial currency after only a few short years.
Saint George And The Dragon Reverse
Boehm's effigy is paired with a more enduring coinage design: Benedetto Pistrucci's interpretation of the legend of Saint George and the dragon, created decades before for the first modern Sovereigns, issued in 1817. Pistrucci's St George wears a helmet and flowing cloak and is mounted on horseback, drawing his sword on a dragon that rears up from beneath the hooves of his steed. The artists initials appear to the right of the date at the the base of the coin.
Though the image of Saint George has become closely linked to the Sovereign, through much of Victoria's reign these British gold coins featured a shield and wreath design by Jean Baptiste Merlen. The older design was only revived in the 1870s, establishing itself as a calling card for these prestigious coins.
Historic Queen Victoria Sovereigns
Some 1,079,759 gold 'full' Sovereigns were struck in 1887 with the standard right-angled 'J' initial to the base of the bust. As the the first issue of these gold coins to feature the Jubilee Head, 1887 Sovereigns are an essential addition to any Sovereign collection though they may be tricky to find in high grade. All our historic Sovereigns are individually authenticated and graded by our expert staff.
Victorian Sovereigns conform to the precise specifications established for these coins when they were first issued in 1817. Each one is composed of 7.98 grams of 22 carat gold and has a diameter of 22.05 millimetres. Their gold content means that these coins are free from VAT in the UK and the EU while their face value of £1 / One Pound lends them an important Capital Gains Tax exemption.
Where Can I Sell A 1887 Gold Sovereign?
Got a historic Sovereign you are looking to sell? We buy London mint Sovereigns and other rare gold coins for market leading prices. Visit our Sell Your Coins page for more information or contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote for your Queen Victoria Sovereign.
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