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GREAT BRITAIN, GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1838-1901, Circulation Issue, (VICTORIA).
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2025/9/27
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QUEEN VICTORIA, CURRENCY GOLD HALF SOVEREIGNS 1838-1901.
The Royal Mint struck its first gold sovereign in 1489 during the reign of Henry VII. This coin became known as "sovereign" because the obverse design depicted the King enthroned in regal splendour. It was the first gold coin produced with a value of one pound or twenty shillings, it was the largest coin yet issued in England and also the most beautiful.
The half-sovereign was introduced a few years after, during the reign of King Henry VIII (1509-1547), in the year 1544, nearly 300 years before the modern coinage period. This half-sovereign was introduced to replace the ryals, at a value of ten shillings, and with a weight of 96 grains. It was struck at the Royal Mint.
The half-sovereign continued to be issued for the reign of Edward VI (1547-1553), the young boy who succeeded his father at only nine years of age. It was next struck in the reign of James I (1603-1625) and eventually replaced by the half-guinea during the reign of Charles II (1660-1685). It appeared again in 1817, during the reign of George III (1760-1820) in the form as we know it today.
Gold half-sovereigns continued to be issued by the Royal Mint in London for the reigns of King George IV (1821-1830), King William IV (1831-1837), Queen Victoria (1838-1901), King Edward VII (1902-1910), and King George V (1911-1915).
After 1915 currency half -sovereigns were not issued by the Royal Mint until 1982 when the first bullion half-sovereign issued only for that year.
The year 2000 was of particular interest to half-sovereign enthusiasts, because for the first time since1982 a bullion type half-sovereign was struck and continued to be struck yearly ever since.
SPECIFICATIONS OF THE HALF-SOVEREIGN
DIAMETER: 19.3-19.4mm
WEIGHT: 3.994g
ALLOY: Gold.
FINENESS: 22 Carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 0.916
EDGE: Milled.
QUEEN VICTORIA
The Reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901) House of Hanover.
Born: 24 May 1819.
Accession: 20 June 1837.
Married: Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, 10 February 1840.
Coronation: Thursday 28 June 1838.
Children: Four sons, five daughters.
Died: 22 January 1901, aged 81.
QUEEN VICTORIA (1819-1901), began her reign upon the death of her uncle on 20 June 1837. Many fine types and varieties of gold coinage were produced during Victoria's reign. Regarding the half-sovereign, three main types or designs were recognized during the period 1838-1901: The "Young Head", the "Jubilee Head" and the "Old Head" (Veiled Head).
The first gold currency half-sovereign for this reign was issued in 1838, bearing the " Young Head " design on the obverse and the Ensigns Armorial of the United Kingdom within a garnished shield surmounted by a crown on the reverse. Several types and varieties were issued with this design until 1885. The Type IA half-sovereigns ( Without Die Number ) from 1838-1863, the collector will in general find that they will not be easy to acquire even the common dates in extremely fine condition. However, there are four coins within these series that are extremely rare and may well cause much difficulty to find. These coins are the 1845 (R4), 1850 (R3), 1862 (R6) and 1879 (R4). Regarding Type IB Half-sovereigns ( With Die Number ), from 1863 until 1880 inclusive, the Royal Mint in London individually numbered the shield type reverse dies used to strike the currency half-sovereigns as a means of " quality control " in assessing the efficiency of use of the dies, and in tracing any weakness in the production process. Some of the dates in this period number over 100 individual dies alone.
The year of 1887 brought about the fiftieth anniversary of the Queen's accession and it was marked by the introduction of a special Jubilee coinage. The new bust of the Queen by J.E.Boehm replaced the Wyon effigy currently being used. The "Golden Jubilee" gold half-sovereign was struck in 1887, bearing on the obverse the bust of the Queen facing left, wearing a small crown, veiled and with ribbon and star. The reverse once more displays the Ensigns Armorial of the United Kingdom within a garnished shield and surmounted by a royal crown. Four more currency issues of half-sovereigns (1890, 1891, 1892, 1893) were struck with the same " Jubilee Head " design, but no coins of this kind were struck for the years of 1888 or 1889. Mintage figures relating to the Royal Mint Jubilee gold half-sovereigns are very high as one would expect, and they do in fact reveal that well over twenty two million were struck for the period of issue.
In 1893 the final design of coinage known as the " Old Head " or " Veiled Head " type was introduced. This type featured on the obverse the bust of the Queen facing left, veiled and draped, and on the reverse the design of St. George mounted with streamer flowing from helmet, slaying the Dragon with sword. Nine issues of gold half-sovereigns were struck by the Royal Mint with this design (1893-1901).
MINTAGE and RARITY by M.A.Marsh.
1838: 273,341 R
1841: 508,835 R2
1842: 2,223,352 N
1843: 1,251,762 R
1844: 1,127,007 R
1845: 887,526 R3
1846: 1,063,928 R
1847: 928,656 R
1848: 410,595 R2
1848/7 Not Known R4
1849: 845,112 R
1850: 179,275 R3
1851: 773,275 S
1852: 1,377,671 N
1853: 2,708,796 N
1855: 1,120,362 N
1856: 2,391,909 N
1857: 728,223 S
1858: 855,578 R
1859: 2,203,813 N
1860: 1,131,500 N
1861: 1,130,867 N
1862: Not Known R6
1863: 1,374,574 R
1864: 1,758,490 N
1865: 1,834,750 N
1866: 2,058,776 N
1867: 992,795 N
1869: 1,861,764 N
1870: 981,408 N
1871: 2,217,760 N
1872: 3,235,112 N
1873: 2,003,464 N
1874: 1,883,872 N
1875: 516,240 S
1876: 2,804,187 N
1877: 1,962,800 N
1878: 2,317,506 N
1879: 35,201 R2
1880: 1,008,362 R
1883: 2,807,411 C
1884: 1,121,600 N
1885: 4,533,605 C
1885/3: Not Known R5
1887: 841,200 S
1890: 2,243,200 N
1891: 1,087,884 S
1892: 13,665,480 C
1893: 4,392,218 N
1894: 3,794,591 C
1895: 2,869,183 C
1896: 2,946,605 C
1897: 3,568,156 C
1898: 2,868,527 C
1899: 3,361,881 C
1900: 4,307,372 C
1901: 2,037,664 C
RARITY SCALE by M.A.Marsh
C Common
N Normal
S Scarce
R Rare
R2 Very Rare
R3 Extremely Rare
R4 15 to 25 Examples known
R5 9 to 14 Examples known
R6 4 to 8 Examples known
R7 Highest rarity possible
Rare coins fall into two major classes: Mintage Rarities and Grade Rarities.
Mintage Rarity: A coin which is rare because it has a low mintage relative to market demand for the coin. This must take into consideration the type of coin, the date and the mintmark combination.
Grade Rarity: An otherwise common coin that is only rare in certain grades.
To elaborate the general rarity of the gold coinage (Gold sovereigns and gold half-sovereigns), despite the large mintage in each date, there are two good reasons to contribute greatly to this matter.
During the Victorian period a very large quantity of worn coinage was withdrawn and melted. Bearing in mind that the sovereign and half-sovereign were then very much in use as a currency, it is not unreasonable to suggest that this withdrawal of gold coinage would certainly have contributed much to the rarity aspect. In fact It was actually the half-sovereign that had the most circulation in Victorian Britain and that is why half-sovereigns are a great deal more difficult to find in uncirculated condition, than finding uncirculated gold sovereigns.
The second reason is that both the sovereign and half-sovereign have been extensively used in the world of jewellery, and both these coins have been a big favourite for both sexes to use in rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants. Indeed many of these coins have been lost from the collectors' tray in this way.
Of the two main gold coins, half-sovereigns played a less important role internationally, serving a more domestic function and consequently being struck in smaller numbers. Wear rates recorded during the nineteenth century for half-sovereigns were always higher since the coin had a greater surface area in relation to its weight and was probably more roughly treated. Non only, therefore, did it survive less well, it was more likely to be lost in handling and was more difficult and costly to produce. Problems of wear were more extensive in relation to half-sovereigns, but sovereigns suffered as well. It was estimated that for sovereigns and half-sovereigns to fall below their minimum legal weights would take no more than 15 years. By the late 1860s 30% of sovereigns were thought to be below the least current weight and for half-sovereigns more than double that level. A further 20 years on and the problem had grown much worse.
REFERENCES:
COINS OF ENGLAND & THE UNITED KINGDOM, 56th Edition 2021, by SPINK.
THE COIN YEAR BOOK 2012, Edited by John W. Mussell.
THE GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN, 2nd Edition 2004, by MICHAEL A. MARSH.
THE JUBILEE HEAD HALF SOVEREIGN 1887-1893, by DAVID IVERSON, edited by Steve Hill.
A HISTORY OF THE SOVEREIGN, by KEVIN CLANCY. A Royal Mint Museum publication. 2nd Edition 2017.
THE SOVEREIGN, The world's most famous coin, by DANIEL FEARON, 2001.
Although the collection is still a work in progress, contains examples from all the above types described. Most of the coins are in Mint State condition, half of them single or equally single finest, and some of the AUs are condition rarities.
As the quality of the individual coins determines the strength and value of a collection, constant emphasis was given on quality and condition rarity, buying allways the best that could be afforded. For some rarer and scarcer pieces though I had to compromise condition in order to fill the empty slot, hoping to upgrade as opportunity permits.
The aim now is to recognize opportunities and be prepared to strike when a piece comes up in order to fill up the empty slots and upgrade certain dates.
The centerpiece of this collection is the stunning 1844 half-sovereign (MS66) from the famous D.Moore collection.
Other highlights are the 1838 (MS64), 1847 (MS64) which is in my opinion one of the key dates (Only two certified by NGC), 1849 (MS65), 1850 (MS63), 1852 (MS65), 1863 (MS64), 1872 (MS64), 1887 (MS66) and 1893 (MS66) single finest out of 42 certified.
RECENT ENTRIES:
1844 MS66 ( January 2017 ).
1849 MS65 ( January 2017 ).
1865 AU58 ( June 2017 ).
1874 AU55 ( June 2017 ).
1880 Die Number AU58 ( June 2017 ).
1853 MS63+ ( July 2017 ).
1860 MS63 ( September 2017 ).
1857 MS64 ( April 2018 ).
1838 MS64 ( September 2018 ).
1845 VF35 ( October 2018 ).
1850 MS63 ( October 2018 ).
1858 MS64 ( February 2019 ).
1859 MS64 ( April 2020 ).
1866 MS63 ( Self-submitted, October 2020 ).
1870 MS62 ( Self-submitted, October 2020 ).
1848/7 MS64 ( January 2021 ).
RECENT UPGRADES:
1885 MS63 ^ MS64 ( March 2017 ).
1884 MS62 ^ MS63 ( March 2017 ).
1861 AU58 ^ MS62 ( May 2017 ).
1896 AU58 ^ MS62, ( May 2017 ).
1885/3 AU53 ^ AU55, ( June 2017 ).
1880 No Die Number AU55 ^ AU58 ( July 2017 ).
1873 MS61 ^ MS63 ( January 2018 ).
1890 MS62 ^ MS64 ( April 2018 ).
1893 MS65 ^ MS66 ( June 2018 ).
1861 MS62 ^ MS63 ( October 2018 ).
1846 MS63 ^ MS64 (January 2019 ).
1865 AU58 ^ MS64 ( February 2019 ).
1901 MS64 ^ MS65 ( April 2019 ).
1885/3 AU55 ^ AU58 ( June 2019 ).
1842 MS62 ^ MS64 ( August 2019 ).
1891 AU58 ^ MS64 ( December 2019 ).
1856 MS63 ^ MS64 ( May 2020 ).
1861 MS63 ^ MS65 ( May 2020 ).
1899 MS62 ^ MS65 ( May 2020 ).
1896 MS62 ^ MS64 ( October 2020 ).
2015 "BEST PRESENTED SET" AWARD WINNER
NGC Expert Comments:
This collection features the gold half sovereign (ten shillings) series of Queen Victoria, who still holds the record as longest-reigning British monarch. The owner presents a history of the sovereign and its half unit as coins of the realm, as well as a biography of Victoria herself. Each coin is illustrated and described fully, including it aesthetic qualities and provenance, when known. While the collection is still a work in progress, some of its current highlights include 1847 (NGC MS 64), 1852 (NGC MS 65), 1863 without die number (NGC MS 64) and 1883 (NGC MS 64).
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