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, and it had the date at the base of the neck on the obverse side. Though it changed moderately through the years, it has been commonly known as a shield, in referrence to its crowned shield reverse.
Pictures from cngcoins.com
Victoria Shield Sovereigns on eBay
 Victoria Young Head Gold Shield Back Sovereign 1866 Die Number 74 $437.27 (13 Bids) Time Remaining: 15h 14m |
 Victoria Young Head Gold Shield Back Sovereign 1853 $419.84 (13 Bids) Time Remaining: 16h 11m |
 1863 BRITISH GOLD SOVEREIGN YOUNG VICTORIA SHIELD BACK $423.32 (12 Bids) Time Remaining: 22h 56m |
 LUSTROUS 1848 QUEEN VICTORIA SHIELD GOLD FULL SOVEREIGN COIN $1,663.52 Time Remaining: 1d 15h 16m Buy It Now for only: $1,663.52 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Gold Full Sovereign 1878 S Shield SCARCE Queen Victoria Young Head Extra Fine $458.99 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 15h 55m |
 1848 Victoria Shield Reverse Full Sovereign s3852c $554.51 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 16h 36m |
Young Head Sovereign
The second version of the coin was initiated in 1871 and made until 1887. It encompassed several noticeable changes, such as: the shield was no longer on the reverse and was replaced by St. George and the Dragon, the date was removed from the front and moved to the reverse, and beneath the head at the base of the neck a new mint mark could be seen. This coin is referred to by its obverse side, and its common name is a young head.
The areas that receive the most wear on the sovereigns are the surfaces that have been raised the highest in relief, such as: the lettering, hair and other facial features on the obverse, and on the reverse, details of the crown and shield and St. George and his horse, the dragon and the decorative outer band. The edges of the sovereigns also tend to get dented, nicked and scratched.
Rare Sovereigns to Look For
Rare coins to look for in the Victoria young head series are ones known as overdates. The term means that the coin was altered from its original date by a die whose initial information was changed. Some of the rare sovereigns to look for are the following overdates: the 1843 over 1842 shield coin minted in London, the 1872 over 1871 young head minted in Melbourne, and 1880 over 1870 young head coins minted in London. Occassionally an extremely rare mistrike is found.
Victoria Young Head Sovereigns on eBay
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Victoria Young Head Gold Shield Back Sovereign 1866 Die Number 74 $437.27 (13 Bids) Time Remaining: 15h 14m |
Victoria Young Head Gold Shield Back Sovereign 1853 $419.84 (13 Bids) Time Remaining: 16h 11m |
Gold Full Sovereign 1878 S Shield SCARCE Queen Victoria Young Head Extra Fine $458.99 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 15h 55m |
 1884 Queen Victoria Young Head Half Sovereign SHIELD $178.83 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 3d 5h 42m |
 ESTATE 1879 SOLID GOLD SOVEREIGN QUEEN VICTORIA YOUNG HEAD PENDANT + CHAIN 2479 $1,360.00 Time Remaining: 6d 14h 48m Buy It Now for only: $1,360.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 UNC 1884 London Mint Victoria Young Head Gold Sovereign UNLISTED No BP $410.87 (7 Bids) Time Remaining: 8d 18h 44m |
