Gold Sovereign Victoria – Old Head

Buy a Victoria Old Head gold sovereign today with GerrardsBullion. This gold coin features the third and final portrait of the Queen Victoria. Also called the “Veiled Head” portrait, it is one of the most famous british gold coin. It traces back to the Victorian period, one of most prosperous time in the history of the british money.

Buy gold sovereign victoria old head ensures british investors to hold high value british gold coins. Moreover, this gold coin is exempt of Capital Gain Tax (CGT Free). Therefore, it is an ideal coin for british bullion investors.

This product is a selection of random year from 1893 to 1901).

See our catalog of gold sovereigns.

Design of the gold sovereign – Victoria Old Head

The obverse depicts the third portrait of the Queen Victoria, wearing a widow’s veil over her crown. The obverse also bears the inscriptions ” VICTORIA . DEI . GRA . BRITT . REGINA . FID . DEF . IND . IMP . ” (Translated by “Victoria by the Grace of God King of the Britons, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India.“). This design is also known as the Veiled Head, Widow Head or Old Head portrait and was created by the sculptor Thomas Brock. The design of the monarch is surrounded by a toothed border

The reverse depicts the design of Benedetto Pistrucci, St George, mounted on horseback slaying a dragon. The mint mark can be identified under the right rear hoof of the horse. The year of issue and the letter corresponding to the mint mark are displayed below, as well as the initial of the designers “B.P.”. The border of the reverse is finely toothed within two linear concentric circles, and a raised rim.

Why buy gold sovereign Victoria Old Head ?

Any gold sovereign collector will find interesting to buy this british gold coin. In fact, the Victoria Old Head Gold Sovereign is a must have for those who collect Victorian gold sovereigns. In total, the Royal Mint produced more than 40 millions Victoria gold sovereigns, which circulated until World War I. Most of these coins remained in vaults for many years. Therefore, these coins are not hard to find as uncirculated grade.

Besides being one of the longest running series of coins in the world (minted since 1489), British Sovereigns are a standard of gold buyers worldwide, and their design remains standard today (other than the obvious change in monarchy). They are simple yet elegant, and make a wonderful way to own gold!

You can also find other Victoria gold sovereigns in our store such as the Young Head or Jubilee Head portrait.

History of Victorian Gold Sovereigns.

During the reign of the Queen Victoria, the gold sovereign coin reached its highest renown and prestige as a British gold coin. During the reign of Queen Victoria, Great Britain expanded its Empire even to the shores of India, which was the prized possession of British Empire. During her reign, gold sovereign were minted in millions for trade and commerce. Therefore they used to circulate around the world and had worldwide recognition.

Queen Victoria (House of Hanover) was the longest reigning monarch of the United Kingdom (63 years and 7 months). She accessed the throne the June 20th, 1837 and was coronated the Thursday 28th of June, 1838. She died the January, 22nd, 1901, aged 81. She married Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the 10th February, 1840.

Her reign was known as the “Victorian era”, and the Queen Victoria was also referred as the “grandmother of Europe”, as her four sons and five daughters married into nobility across the continent. She was also conferred the title of Empress of India in 1876. The last period of Queen Victoria’s reign was considered as the most prosperous and peaceful one.

The veiled head portrait was minted from 1893 to 1901 in the London and Australian branches of the Royal Mint: Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. Production in the Perth branch started only in 1999 and it was the first time that this branch produce gold sovereign for Great Britain.

In February 1891, the Royal Mint decided that a new design portrait for the sovereign coin was required, because of the unpopularity of the Jubilee portrait. A committee was formed which selected 8 artists who were either a member or associate of Royal Academy who were asked to design two portraits each for the new coin. Out of all the designs, Sir Thomas Brock’s design was selected which showed a leftward facing mature‐looking and majestic bust portrait of Queen Victoria who is in mourning and is featured wearing a veil over her crown and also wearing the ribbon and star of the Garter. The veiled head design represents the last portrait type of Queen Victoria in a gold sovereign coin. This is also the only time in the British history that a monarch was depicted in this way. It displays an elderly portrait of the Queen Victoria, following the death of her husband.

Victoria type sovereign also have the Shield Back design in the reverse, instead of the famous St George design.

Why buy gold sovereigns ?

Because of their legal tender status in UK, gold sovereigns are exempt of Capital Gain Tax. Therefore, they are ideal for british investors. In addition, these coins have a good premium over spot, because of their high demand in the bullion market. Gold Sovereign coins are a great combination of traditional manufacturing and design.