Sovereign 1887 Melbourne, first legend, hooked J, JEB higher close (DISH M2)

Victoria (1837-1901), gold Sovereign, 1887, Melbourne, Australia Mint, Golden Jubilee style bust facing left, small crown and veil on head, pearl earring and 13 pearl necklace, J.E.B. initials closer higher and raised on truncation with hooked J, initials of engraver J Edgar Boehm, first abbreviated Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, VICTORIA D:G: BRITT: REG: F:D: rev. struck en medaille, St George and dragon right, horse with short tail, broken lance to left on ground-line, tiny WWP under lance, initials of William Wellesley Pole, Master of Mint when design introduced, M mint mark at centre of ground-line, date in exergue, initials B.P to upper right, for engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, edge milled (DISH M2 R5; Marsh 131A; S.3867). A little weakly struck on shoulder, bright with surface marks, otherwise extremely fine and extremely rare.

As with variety DISH M1, this coin DISH M2 represents an estimated average of just 4.75% of the jubilee head output for the year. There was an example in the "Bentley Collection," lot 788 sold at Baldwin, but no example in the "Quartermaster Collection" sold at Monetarium Australia in 2009. We emphasise this is a very hard coin to find, hence the adjustment of the rating to R5 since the DISH publication.

Sold as part of the David Iverson Collection on the 130th anniversary of the Jubilee head Sovereign - coin JH28