* These images show the type of coin you will receive, not the exact item
1893 gold Half Sovereign, struck with the Old Head portrait of Queen Victoria as part of a calendar year mintage of 4,392,418.
This effigy, showing Victoria wearing a long veil, replaced the unpopular Jubilee Head in this year, with most 1893-dated Half Sovereigns issued with Sir Thomas Brock's new design. This portrait is paired with Benedetto Pistrucci's classic Saint George reverse, used on the Half Sovereign for the first time.
S 3878, Marsh 488
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1893 Half Sovereigns saw the introduction of the classic Saint George and the dragon motif, borrowed from the 'full' Sovereign to this denomination. This enduring motif was created by Benedetto Pistrucci in the early 19th century.
1893 Half Sovereigns were the first to feature Sir Thomas Brock's so-called Widowed or Old Head portrait of Queen Victoria. The inscription reads 'VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·'.
These coins are struck to a historic specification in just under four grams of solid 91.67% (22-carat) fine gold, making them half the weight of a 'full' Sovereign. They measure 19.3 millimetres from milled edge to milled edge.
In the 1893 calendar year, the London branch of the Royal Mint struck some 4,392,418 gold Half Sovereigns. This figure includes both Old Head Half Sovereigns and the 1893 Jubilee Head Half Sovereign - the other portrait used in this year.
Like most historic currency coins, these 1893 Veiled Head Half Sovereigns will show signs of having been in circulation, including wear, marks and minor edge dings, commensurate with their age and their grade.
