Victoria 1879 S Gold Sovereign Shield NGC MS 63

AUSTRALIA. Victoria, 1837-1901.
Gold Sovereign, 1879 S. Sydney. Shield.
Young head left, WW on truncation; date below; VICTORIA DEI GRATIA. / Crowned shield within wreath; mintmark S and national emblems below; BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID: DEF:. Edge milled.

Established in 1855, the Sydney Mint was the first overseas branch of the Royal Mint and converted the gold of New South Wales into sovereigns struck to the British standard. By 1879 its coins carried the same principal designs as those of the London sovereign, distinguished by the small ‘S’ beneath the reverse shield.

London had discontinued the shield sovereign in 1874, but production continued at the Australian branch mints alongside Pistrucci’s St George type. The present coin pairs William Wyon’s Young Head portrait with Jean-Baptiste Merlen’s crowned Royal Arms, a design retained at Sydney until the final year of Victoria’s Young Head coinage in 1887.

Examples of the 1879-S shield sovereign are exceptionally difficult to obtain in superior Mint State condition. Graded NGC MS63, the present coin is one of only three examples recorded at this level, with just a single coin certified finer. It would be a valued addition to any advanced Australian sovereign collection.

In secure plastic holder, graded NGC MS 63 , certification number 6692675-001.

NGC Census in this grade: 3.
NGC Census in higher grade: 1
Reference: S-3855; Marsh-75; McD-126
Weight: 7.99g. (AGW=0.2355 oz.)
Diameter: 22mm.
Mintage: 1,366,000.
Composition: 917/1000 Gold.

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