Victoria 1848 Gold Sovereign Small head PCGS AU55

UNITED KINGDOM. Victoria, 1837-1901.
Gold Sovereign, 1848. London. Small head.
The year 1848 marks a fascinating transition in the coinage of Queen Victoria. The use of William Wyon’s smaller first bust was phased out and the larger second bust was introduced. The extreme scarcity of surviving “Small Head” pieces today suggests that they represented only a tiny fraction of the year’s output. The decision to enlarge the effigy may have been influenced by the deliberations of a Royal Mint Committee of the time, where Wyon himself gave evidence. Whatever the cause, the result was a fleeting issue of great rarity.

First, smaller, young head of Victoria facing left, hair tied in fillet; date below truncation; VICTORIA DEI GRATIA. / Crowned shield within wreath; thistle, rose and shamrock below; BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID: DEF:.
In secure plastic holder, graded PCGS AU55 , certification number 17240745.

PCGS population in this grade: 2.
PCGS population in higher grade: 5.
Reference: Marsh-31A; S-3852
Weight: 7.9881g. (AGW=0.2355 oz.)
Diameter: 22mm.
Composition: 917/1000 Gold.

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