1847 Gold Full Sovereign Victoria Young Head Shield London Mint

The 1847 gold sovereign is one of the earliest dates of Victoria shield sovereign and features the young head portrait of Queen Victoria as designed by William Wyon, with the crowned Victoria shield featuring on the reverse.  

It was only the ninth sovereign of Queen Victoria's reign as the sovereign wasn't issued in 1840.

In common with all the other dates of "first head" shield sovereigns from 1838 to 1848, the portrait is not only slightly smaller, but also in slightly higher relief. Trying to spot the differences in detail is quite difficult, but it is very easy to sort them "by sight", because once you get used to looking at the different variations, you should be able to recognise the first head instantly.

See the rest of the 1847 Sovereign Collection.

Hammered gold coins called 'sovereigns' had been minted on and off between 1489-1604, whereupon James I (VI) changed the name of the 20/- gold piece to a 'Unite'. The reform coinage sovereign of 1817 onwards was issued as a normal circulation type coin, and also as a proof. 

All of these early shields are now in strong demand, especially in top grades, and we are always interested in buying early shield sovereigns, indeed almost all sovereigns, in mint or near mint condition.

The obverse features the first and smallest young head portrait of Queen Victoria facing left and wearing a double ribbon in her hair.

The inscription reads

VICTORIA DEI GRATIA

with the date (1847) appears below the portrait. 

The reverse shows a new crowned shield design. It includes a branch of laurel at either side of the shield tied together at the bottom with a ribbon.  

Beneath this, the reverse displays the thistle, rose and shamrock (symbols of Scotland, England and Ireland) with a small flower stop on each side.

The inscription reads

BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID: DEF:

completing the monarch's legend, which begins on the obverse.