Sovereign 1887 Sydney, closer JEB on narrow truncation (DISH S3)

Victoria (1837-1901), gold Sovereign, 1887, Sydney, 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 and raised on truncation with hooked J, narrower truncation, 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, S mint mark at centre of ground-line, date in exergue, initials B.P to upper right, for engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, edge milled (DISH S3 R4; Marsh 138A; S.3868A). Cleaned with light surface marks both sides, scuff in field near broken lance, otherwise very fine and very rare.

This variation, along with DISH varieties S4 and S5 is extremely hard to find. There was no example present in either the "Bentley Collection" sold at Baldwin 2012-13 or the "Quartermaster Collection" sold at Monetarium, Australia in 2009. Since the DISH publication was released indicating the rarity as R3, it is now thought that it would be more accurate to revise the rarity of this to R4.

Sold as part of the David Iverson Collection on the 130th anniversary of the Jubilee head Sovereign - coin JH14