1884 Gold Sovereign Victoria ‘Young Head’ with St George Back

Description

The Design

The obverse of the 1884 British Sovereign has Benedetto Pistrucci’s St George on horseback slaying the dragon right; 1884 and B.P. in exergue inscribed at the bottom.

And On The Reverse

Portrait of  a young Victoria by William Wyon. Matte background with matte bust of queen Victoria facing left. VICTORIA D:G: BRITANNIAR REG: FID:DEF:” Translated from Latin: Victoria by the Grace of God King of the Britons, Defender of the Faith.)

Down Under

This 1884 Victoria Sovereign was minted in Melbourne, Australia.

Value

Created in 1817 to replace the old English gold currency which was the guinea, the gold sovereign dates from the time of George III. A sovereign was worth 20 shillings, while a guinea was worth 21 shillings. Despite its disappearance for the benefit of the sovereign, the guinea remained for a long time as a currency of account, often replacing the pound for some English people.