Month: April 2026

1853 Sovereign Young Head Shield Obverse 1853 Gold Sovereign – Victoria - 1853 Young head sovereign of Queen Victoria. Shield Back. There are a couple of variants to look for (described in the article).
1843 Sovereign Young Head Shield Reverse 1843 Gold Sovereign - Reverse is Shield designed by Jean Baptiste Merlen. The Obverse is Queen Victoria Young Head by William Wyon.
1839 Gold Sovereign Proof Obverse 1839 Gold Sovereign Proof - 1839 Gold Sovereign Proof minted by the Royal Mint in London. First (Small) Head by William Wyon. Some variations but all 1839 proofs are expensive.
1838 Sovereign Obverse 1838 Gold Sovereign – Victoria - The 1838 sovereign was the first sovereign to be issued during the reign of Queen Victoria. The reverse features a crowned shield.
1835 Sovereign Reverse 1835 Gold Sovereign - The 1835 Gold Sovereign of King William IV shows a crowned shield of the Royal Arms on the reverse of the coin, designed by Jean Baptiste Merlen.
1833 Sovereign Obverse 1833 Gold Sovereign – William IV - The 1833 Gold Sovereign was issued during the reign of King William IV. Second Bust: the top of the ear was made broad and flat; the King's nose points towards the second 'I' in Britanniar; and the Obverse beading is coarser.
1829 Sovereign Obverse 1829 Gold Sovereign - The 1829 Gold Sovereign of King George IV. Note the spelling on the legend as GEORGIUS IV, unlike previous coins which used George IIII.
1823 Gold Sovereign 1823 Gold Sovereign - The 1823 Sovereign is a much sought after coin due to its low mintage. King George IV’s Bare Head can be seen on the obverse of the coin.
1822 Sovereign Obverse 1822 Gold Sovereign - The 1822 George IV gold sovereign. This first type (1821-1825) shows St George on the back, in 1825 this was changed to a crowned shield. The year 1825 had both versions.
1821 Sovereign Obverse 1821 Gold Sovereign George IV - The 1821 sovereign was the first sovereign to be issued during the reign of King George IV. Reverse is Pistrucci’s St George and the Dragon.