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Sovereign 1889 Melbourne, first legend (DISH M11)
Victoria (1837-1901), gold Sovereign, 1889, Melbourne, Australia Mint, Golden Jubilee style bust facing left, small crown and veil on head, pearl earring and 13 pearl necklace, raised J.E.B. initials close 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, M mint mark at centre of ground-line, date in exergue, initials B.P to upper right, for engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, edge milled (DISH M11 R3; Marsh 133; S.3867A). Scratch on cheek, once cleaned, almost very fine to very fine and quite rare.
Whilst this variety is a rare coin and not easy to find, it does seem to exist in slightly greater numbers than the 1888 dated first legend. We can therefore only assume that either there was usage during a time of the year when new second legend dies were still expected and tardy in arriving from London, or that a decision was made to 'use up' the still usable older first legend dies.
Sold as part of the David Iverson Collection on the 130th anniversary of the Jubilee head Sovereign - coin JH35