Sovereign (Shield), Coin Type from United Kingdom (showing photos)

Sovereign (Shield), Coin Type from United Kingdom (issued 1837 - 1887)

Coin Type	Sovereign (Shield)

Starting in 1863, die numbers were introduced on the reverse of sovereigns (small numbers under the wreath). This was done to assist with production and quality control, and the practice continued on most London Mint sovereigns. About 100,000 coins were struck with a die before it was changed.

A specific die number does not increase the collector's value of a coin.

Composition: 0.9167 gold, 0.0833 copper.

Obverse
Effigy of the monarch, legend.

Obverse Inscription	VICTORIA DEI GRATIA [year]

Reverse
The initial reverse type for gold coins was the shield and crown motif, supplemented on the sovereign with a heraldic wreath.

Reverse Inscription	BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID : DEF :

Edge	Milled	Edge Inscription	None

Notes

References to additional information:

[Book] Mullett, William J. 1991. Gold Coinage and Refining at the Melbourne Mint.

Advertising

London Mint Office coins.

Coin Type: Sovereign (Shield) - (48) Coins

Coin Name	Reverse	Obverse	Details
Sovereign 1837 Victoria			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: unknown
Sovereign 1838			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 2,718,694
Sovereign 1839			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 503,695
Sovereign 1841			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 124,054
Sovereign 1842			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 4,865,375
Sovereign 1843			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 5,981,968
Sovereign 1844			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 3,000,445
Sovereign 1845			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 3,800,845
Sovereign 1846			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 3,802,947
Sovereign 1847			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 4,667,126
Sovereign 1848			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 2,246,701
Sovereign 1849			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 1,755,399
Sovereign 1850			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 1,402,039
Sovereign 1851			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 4,013,624
Sovereign 1852			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 8,053,435
Sovereign 1853			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 10,597,993
Sovereign 1854			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 3,589,611
Sovereign 1855			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 8,448,482
Sovereign 1856			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 4,806,160
Sovereign 1857			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 4,495,748
Sovereign 1858			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 803,234
Sovereign 1859			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 1,715,142
Sovereign 1860			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 2,555,958
Sovereign 1861			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 7,624,736
Sovereign 1862			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 7,836,413
Sovereign 1863			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 5,921,669
Sovereign 1864			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 8,656,352
Sovereign 1865			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 1,450,238
Sovereign 1866			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 4,047,288
Sovereign 1868			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 1,653,384
Sovereign 1869			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 6,441,322
Sovereign 1870			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Royal Mint Mintage: 2,189,960
Sovereign 1871 Shield			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint London: 8,767,250 - Sydney Mint: 2,814,000 Total Mintage: 11,581,250
Sovereign 1872 Shield			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint: 13,486,708 - Sydney Mint: 1,815,000 - Melbourne Mint: 748,000 Total Mintage: 16,049,708
Sovereign 1873 Shield			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Royal Mint: 2,368,215 - Sydney Mint: 1,478,000 Total Mintage: 3,846,215
Sovereign 1874 Shield			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Melbourne Mint: 1,373,000 - Royal Mint: 520,713 Total Mintage: 1,893,713
Sovereign 1875 Shield			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Sydney Mint Mintage: 2,122,000
Sovereign 1877 Shield			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Sydney Mint Mintage: 1,590,000
Sovereign 1878 Shield			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mint: Sydney Mint Mintage: 1,259,000
Sovereign 1879 Shield			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Sydney Mint: 1,366,000 - Royal Mint London: unknown Total Mintage: 1,366,000
Sovereign 1880 Shield			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Melbourne Mint: 3,052,800 - Sydney Mint: 1,459,000 - Royal Mint London: unknown Total Mintage: 4,511,800
Sovereign 1881 Shield			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Melbourne Mint: 2,324,000 - Sydney Mint: 1,360,000 Total Mintage: 3,684,000
Sovereign 1882 Shield			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Melbourne Mint: 2,466,000 - Sydney Mint: 1,298,000 Total Mintage: 3,764,000
Sovereign 1883 Shield			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Sydney Mint: 1,108,000 - Melbourne Mint: 427,450 Total Mintage: 1,535,450
Sovereign 1884 Shield			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Melbourne Mint: 2,942,000 - Sydney Mint: 1,595,000 Total Mintage: 4,537,000
Sovereign 1885 Shield			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Melbourne Mint: 2,956,500 - Sydney Mint: 1,486,000 Total Mintage: 4,442,500
Sovereign 1886 Shield			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Melbourne Mint: 2,901,500 - Sydney Mint: 1,667,000 - Royal Mint London: unknown Total Mintage: 4,568,500
Sovereign 1887 Shield			Material: 0.9167 Gold Mints: - Melbourne Mint: 1,915,000 - Sydney Mint: 1,000,000 - Royal Mint London: unknown Total Mintage: 2,915,000

Advertising

Buy Austrian Silver Philharmonics Online

Sovereign (Shield): Details

Country	United Kingdom
Currency	Pound Sterling (pre-decimal)
Sub-type of	Sovereign (Pre-Decimal)
From	1837
To	1887
Face Value	1 (x Pound)
Current	No (demonetised 1971)
Material	0.9167 Gold
Designer	Jean Baptiste Merlen
Technology	Milled (machine-made)
Shape	Round
Size	22.0500 mm
Thickness	1.5200 mm
Mass	7.9881 g

Advertising

Coins of England and the United Kingdom 2024 Pre-decimal Issues

Sovereign (Shield): Photos

Image	Details
	Coin - Sovereign, Queen Victoria, Great Britain, 1843 Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Justine Philip Notes: Crowned shield (1838 - 1887). Source
	Coin - Sovereign, Queen Victoria, Great Britain, 1852 Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Justine Philip Notes: Queen Victoria, "Young Head" portrait (1838 - 1887). Source

Sovereign (Shield), Coin Type from United Kingdom - detailed information