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Victoria 1850 Sovereign, 8 with 5 struck over it, Ex Bentley lot 986, extremely rare
Victoria (1837-1901), gold Sovereign, 1850, the 8 of date with 5 struck over it, second larger young filleted head left, W.W. raised on truncation for engraver William Wyon, date below with unusual overstrike, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, VICTORIA DEI GRATIA, rev. crowned quartered shield of arms, laurel wreath surrounding, emblems below, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID: DEF: weight 7.97g (Bentley 986 this coin; Marsh 33B R5; S.3852C). Once cleaned, but now lightly toned, some surface marks and nicks, otherwise good very fine and still the only example the cataloguer has seen of this elusive and clear overdate, extremely rare.
Calendar year mintage 1,402,039.
The Latin legends translates on obverse as "Victoria by the Grace of God," and on the reverse "Queen of the Briton's, Defender of the Faith."
This variety was caused by the die engraver punching the figure 5 in the master die first, then correcting it with the figure 8 over the top.
Provenance:
Ex Bentley Collection, part 2, 8th May 2013, lot 986.
Ex Clark Smith Collection, The Coin Vault, San Rafael, California, bought July 2010.