Victoria 1863 Sovereign "827" on truncation, die 22 reverse PCGS XF40

Victoria (1837-1901), gold Sovereign, 1863, with die number 827 raised on truncation, second young filleted head left, date below, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, VICTORIA DEI GRATIA, rev. crowned quartered shield of arms, laurel wreath surrounding, emblems below with die number 22, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID: DEF:, edge milled, weight 7.93g (Bentley 106; Hill 48A R5; Bull EGC 1161 R5; S.3853A). Toned with surface marks and wear from circulation, has been graded and slabbed by PCGS as XF40, very rare indeed.

PCGS Certification 520103.40/30829778.

Calendar year mintage 5,921,669.

The Latin legends translates on obverse as "Victoria by the Grace of God," and on the reverse "Queen of the Britain's, Defender of the Faith."

The 827 die number on the bust was for some years an intriguing mystery and it also exists for an 1863 Sovereign with die number 22 reverse. The first example ever noted and recorded was one found in the Hatton Hoard in Derbyshire in 1954 which had the die 22 reverse which was retained by the British Museum for the National Collection. It was not until an article by Royal Mint Curator Graham Dyer in the Spink Numismatic Circular of October 1977, page 421, that a reason for the existence of 827 variety was proposed. They are thought to have been produced from a particular batch of remelted scissel and scrap gold that had emanated from N. M. Rothschild brittle gold ingots that had been delivered to the Mint circa November-December of 1863. Such coins of both varieties have sporadically turned up since the first discovery in 1954. They remain elusive and extremely rare.

Provenance:

Ex Ezen Collection, Heritage 8^th May 2024, lot 30175.