Victoria 1843 Sovereign, narrow shield variety, very rare, XF40

Victoria (1837-1901), gold Sovereign, 1843, narrow "shield" variety, first young filleted head left, W.W. raised on truncation for engraver William Wyon, date below, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, VICTORIA DEI GRATIA, rev. crowned quartered shield of arms, more busy laurel wreath of 21 leaves surrounding, narrower bunched emblems below, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID: DEF: (Bentley 45; Marsh 26A R3; S.3852B).Toned, with surface marks both sides, has been slabbed and graded by PCGS as XF40, extremely rare.

PCGS Certification 206952.40/39088130.
Calendar year mintage 5,981,968.

The Latin legends translates on obverse as "Victoria by the Grace of God," and on the reverse "Queen of the Britain's, Defender of the Faith."

Arguably one of the most interesting rarities in the Sovereign series the so-called narrow shield variety actually differs from the other regular currency sovereigns by virtue of its bushier laurel wreath and bunched emblems below the shield. The reverse die used seemingly in error, had only been used before for an 1839 Pattern Sovereign of the highest rarity. It was perhaps used only briefly in the 1843 production run before being discarded as different, as not many Sovereigns are extant today with this unusual reverse. One of the key rarities in the Victorian Sovereign series it has its own Spink catalogue number and is different to the other so-called narrow shield variety of 1838 which is 3852A.