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1899 Queen Victoria Gold Full Sovereign Melbourne Australia Mint Widowed Veiled Old Head (Best Value)

1899 Queen Victoria Gold Full Sovereign Old Veiled Widowed Head Melbourne Mint Australia Reverse

* Images are of the actual product not stock images

Buy a 1899 Queen Victoria Gold Full Sovereign Melbourne Australia Mint Widowed Veiled Old Head (Best Value)

from
£525.00
(VAT Exempt)
Victorian Old Head Melbourne branch mint 22 carat gold Sovereign, struck in 1899. The Melbourne mint opened in 1872 and struck Sovereigns and Half Sovereigns from the rich supply of gold found in what was then the Victoria colony. Melbourne was the second of three Royal Mint branches, established in Australia during Queen Victoria's reign. The facility would strike Sovereigns until 1931, long after these 22 carat gold coins had ceased to be minted in London. Melbourne Sovereigns from this period are identified by a tiny 'M' found on the ground beneath the dragon to the reverse. The design used here is Benedetto Pistrucci's instantly recognisable St George design, seen intermittently on Sovereigns since the reign of George III. Pistrucci's initials appear to the right of the date: 1899. This reverse design is paired with Sir Thomas Brock's portrait of Queen Victoria. Known as the 'Old Head' or the 'Widowed Head' this veiled effigy was first seen on Sovereigns in 1893 and was used until the Queen's death in 1901. Brock's initials ('T.B.') appear below Victoria's shoulder. Mintage: 5,579,157. Weight: 7.98 grams. Actual gold weight: 7.31 grams. Diameter: 22.05 millimetres. Minimum grade: VF - Very Fine. References: S 3875, Marsh 159.
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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

Benedetto Pistrucci's Saint George and the dragon design with the artist's 'B.P.' initials below, to the right of the date: 1899.

Specification

From a mintage of 5,579,157. Struck in 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 1899 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.

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