Victoria 1838 Sovereign "Narrow shield", AU53, third finest graded, extremely rare

Victoria (1837-1901), gold Sovereign, 1838, "narrow" shield variety, first young head left, W.W. raised on truncation for designer and engraver William Wyon, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, VICTORIA DEI GRATIA, rev. crowned quartered shield of arms within laurel wreath, wreath with more leaves including three at top either side, narrower arrangement of emblems below, flower stops either side, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, BRITANNIARUM REGINIA FID: DEF: (Bentley 38; Bull EGC 1056 R3; MCE 499; Hill 22A R3; S.3852A). Light wear on high points with some nicks and bagmarks in fields, graded by PCGS as AU53, extremely rare and the first we have stocked.

PCGS Certification 517069.53/32660239 - As an AU53 this coin is currently at the second finest grade level at PCGS where there is one example in a 63 holder listed. At NGC there is only one example graded finer as a 55 grade and there are only 9 grading records of this extremely rare variation across both services.

Calendar Year Mintage 2,718,6904

The Latin legends translate as on obverse as "Victoria by the Grace of God," and on the reverse as "Queen of the Britons, Defender of the Faith."

This variety has always been called the "narrow shield" reverse when in fact the shield is not noticeably narrower. What is blatantly more obvious is the fact the laurel wreath surrounding it appears a little more bushy with more leaves than usual, most noticeable at the top either side where there are three leaves each side. The emblems under the wreath tie are also slightly narrower but nothing like the 1843 "narrow shield" variety it being a distinct variety. This variety for 1838 is extremely rare perhaps more so than the R3 rating suggests as they are more infrequently encountered than the 1843 version.