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1897 Melbourne Mint Gold Full Sovereign Queen Victoria Australian Coin

1897 Queen Victoria Gold Full Sovereign Coin Old Veiled Widowed Head Melbourne Australia Mint Reverse

* These images show the exact coin you will receive

Buy a 1897-M Sovereign

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£895.00
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Melbourne mint Old Head Sovereign of Queen Victoria, struck in 1897. The obverse of this coin bears the 'Old Head' portrait of Queen Victoria: the last such effigy to be used on British currency. It's the work of the English sculptor and medallist Sir Thomas Brock. Showing the Queen wearing a long veil that drapes over a tiara, the 'Widowed Head' as it is also known was first seen on Sovereigns in 1893 and would be used through until Victoria's death in 1901. The legend around reads: 'VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·'. The artist's initials appear at the Queen's shoulder. The reverse features Benedetto Pistrucci's classic Saint George and the dragon design, created in 1817 and used perennially on these gold coins down the centuries. The origins of this Sovereign are confirmed by the tiny 'M' to the ground below the dragon. It's one of 4,165,869 Sovereign minted in Melbourne in this year. This Australian branch of the Royal Mint opened in 1872 and struck Sovereigns until 1931. Mintage: 5,130,565. Weight: 7.98 grams. Actual gold weight: 7.31 grams. Diameter: 22.05 millimetres. Minimum grade: VF - Very Fine. References: S 3875, Marsh 157.
Grade: Minimum Grade: VF

Grade

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Obverse

Old Head portrait of Queen Victoria, facing left, by Sir Thomas Brock. Legend around reads: 'VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·'.

Reverse

Saint George on horseback, sword pointed at a dragon underfoot. Artist: Benedetto Pistrucci. 'M' for Melbourne to the ground below. Date below that: 1897.

Specification

One of 5,130,565 'full' Sovereigns struck in Melbourne in 1897. Composition: 22 carat (916.7) gold. Weight: 7.98 grams. Actual gold weight: 7.31 grams. Diameter: 22.05 millimetres.

Grade

Our Best Value Melbourne Mint 1897 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.