Victoria Gold Sovereigns
Picture from www.cng.coins.com
Victoria Gold Sovereigns
Victoria gold sovereigns were produced when Victoria succeeded William IV in 1837 after he died without fathering a legitimate heir to the throne and ruled until 1901. She is the longest serving monarch in British history. This gave time for there to be 3 portraits of her to be used on the gold sovereigns:-
The first (Young Head), when she ascended to the throne in 1837, aged 18.
The second (Jubilee Head), during her golden jubilee in 1887 when she was mourning the death of her beloved Albert, and finally -
The third (Old Head), depicting her as an elderly monarch in 1893.
It was during Victoria's reign that the introduction of Die numbers came into being in the year 1863, these can be found on the reverse of the sovereign. The shield and St George and the Dragon were both used during her long reign. This included St George on the reverse of the £2 and £5 piece coined in 1887 and 1893. However, the most highly sort after coin during this period is the £5 proof only issue which was struck in 1839, this gold coin is most unusual in that it depicts not St George, but Una and the Lion.
Una and Lion Sovereign on eBay
 Marble Statue of Una And The Lion Glass Lantern Slide $9.99 Time Remaining: 17h 30m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 2001 ROYAL MINT BRITANNIA UNA AND LION GOLD PROOF 4 COIN SET PCGS PR69 DCAM $6,499.95 Time Remaining: 2d 8h 57m Buy It Now for only: $6,499.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
One thing to note is that the shield no longer showed the Hanover crowned shield which used to be in the center of the shield during William IV's reign; this was because Salic Law forbade females succession.
Victoria Gold Sovereigns on eBay
 1883 Half Sovereign 4 Gram 22 ct Gold Queen Victoria Young Head $221.31 Time Remaining: 4h 48m Buy It Now for only: $221.31 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 1887 QUEEN VICTORIA GOLD FULL SOVEREIGN COIN PCGS AU58 $879.95 Time Remaining: 6h 33m Buy It Now for only: $879.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 1871 Victoria Shield Sovereign aUnc UNC $799.00 Time Remaining: 9h 51m Buy It Now for only: $799.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
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Victoria Young Head The Victoria Young Head gold sovereign coin has been produced in two versions, and both portraits show the Queen in her younger years. The first of the two sovereigns was minted from 1838 to 1887 |
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Victoria Jubilee During Queen Victoria's 50th year of reign in 1887 it was decided to commission an updated portrait showing Victoria in her middle years. This portrait was done by Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm |
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Victoria Old Head The design for the last sovereign to be struck during Queen Victoria's reign was that of Sir Thomas Brock which was chosen on 27th November 1892 and went into production in 1893 |
