Victoria 1889-S Sovereign, Sydney mint, first legend, DISH S11 R3

Victoria (1837-1901), gold Sovereign, 1889, Sydney Mint, Australia, 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, weight 7.96g (Bentley 701; DISH S11 R3; Marsh 140 R3; S.3868). Toned with underlying lustre, a bold very fine, and very rare.

Calendar year mintage 97,860.

The Latin legend translates as "Victoria by the Grace of God, Queen of the Britains, Defender of the Faith."

During 1889, the Sydney branch Mint were still producing some gold Sovereigns using a small number of the old first legend obverse dies. We can only speculate if these dies were used in error, or it was simply a case of them still being usable and not wishing to waste them. It is estimated that no more than around two or three percent of the year's output were the first legend type.