Sovereign 1888 Sydney, first legend, angled J (DISH S9)

Victoria (1837-1901), gold Sovereign, 1888, 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 raised on truncation with right angled 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, S mint mark at centre of ground-line, date in exergue, initials B.P to upper right, for engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, edge milled (DISH S9 R2; Marsh 139; S.3868). Some surface marks, a pleasing extremely fine.

Unlike the mere five obverse dies used for the date 1887 at the Sydney branch mint, the date 1888 used many more Jubilee head sovereign dies; the vast proportion being the later second legend obverse dies. By now, all obverse dies, first and second legend, being produced by the royal mint in London and sent to Sydney had the angled J in the J.E.B. initials that was present on the master die. It is estimated that only around three to five percent of 1888 Sydney sovereigns were the first legend type as offered herewith.

Sold as part of the David Iverson Collection on the 130th anniversary of the Jubilee head Sovereign - coin JH18