© Heritage Auctions
© Heritage Auctions
½ Sovereign - Victoria 1st portrait
| Gold (.9167) | 3.99 g | 19.3 mm |
| Issuer | United Kingdom (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) |
|---|---|
| Queen | Victoria (1837-1901) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 1838-1885 |
| Value | ½ Sovereign |
| Currency | Pound sterling (1158-1970) |
| Composition | Gold (.9167) |
| Weight | 3.99 g |
| Diameter | 19.3 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Coin alignment ↑↓ |
| Updated | 2024-10-08 |
| Numista | N#23736 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 37% |
Reverse
Crowned quartered shield of arms, legend around.
Script: Latin
Lettering: BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID: DEF:
Translation: Queen of the Britains Defender of the Faith
Engraver: Jean Baptiste Merlen
Comment
The standard weight of a half sovereign was 80/623 troy ounce (61.6 grains). The pure gold content was 56 312/623 grains (3.6612 g).Numerous obverse, reverse and overdate varieties exist (Spink lists 10). Between 1863 and 1880 gold coins issued by the Royal Mint for circulation in the UK and its possessions had a die number inscribed on the reverse under the wreath:
KM#735.1 without die number
KM#735.2 with die number
Note: For issues with mintmark below the shield see (M = Melbourne mint, S = Sydney mint).
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the ½ Sovereign - Victoria (1st portrait) 1838-1885 coin is that it was minted during a time when the British Empire was at its peak, and the coin's gold content and value represented the power and wealth of the empire. The coin's design, featuring a young Queen Victoria, also symbolized the empire's strength and longevity.
Price
| Date | Mintage | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1838 | 273000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1839 | 1230 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1841 | 509000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1842 | 2223000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1843 | 1252000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1844 | 1127000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1845 | 888000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1846 | 1064000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1847 | 983000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1848 | 411000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1849 | 845000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1850 | 180000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1851 | 774000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1852 | 1378000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1853 | 2709000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1854 | 1125000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1855 | 1120000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1856 | 2392000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1857 | 728000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1858 | 856000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1859 | 2204000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1860 | 1132000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1861 | 1131000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1863 | 1572000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1864 | 1758000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1865 | 1835000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1866 | 2059000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1867 | 993000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1869 | 1862000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1870 | 160000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1871 | 2063000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1872 | 3249000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1873 | 1927000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1874 | 1884000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1875 | 516000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1876 | 2785000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1877 | 2197000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1878 | 2082000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1879 | 35000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1880 | 1008999 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1883 | 2870000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1884 | 1114000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1885 | 4469000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for ½ Sovereign - Victoria (1st portrait) 1838-1885 coin.
