British Colonial - London: 1871-1885
St George Sovereign - Queen Victoria
Benedetto Pistrucci's engraving of
St. George slaying the Dragon is what is most associated with the Sovereign. It was first introduced in 1817
and used till 1825 when it was replaced with a Armorial shield, used from 1825 to 1874 in Royal Mint in London.
The St. George design was reintroduced in 1871 and has since been the primary design.
| SPECIFICATIONS |
| Denomination | Sovereign |
| Metal | Gold 0.916 |
| Alloy | Ag/Cu 0.?? |
| Diameter | 22.1 mm |
| Thickness | 1.5 mm |
| Weight Legal | 7.99 gms |
| Weight | 7.95 gms |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Milled |
| Die-Axis | 180° |
| Mint | Royal, London |
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Obverse :Young Head of Queen Victoria to left. Hair bound with double fillet
and collected up into a knot behind. Above along periphery
legend VICTORIA D:G:BRITANNIAR:REG:F:D: .
Engraver Willium Wyon put his initials W.W. incuse at the rear,
below the truncation
Reverse : St. George with Steamer flowing from Helmet, mounted on
horse rearing right, slaying with sword in right hand, the dragon on
ground. Mint Year below the representation of ground, with designer
Benedetto Pistrucci's initials B.P. to the right.
Note Young Head Queen Victoria, St George Sovereigns were minted with
Mint mark on obverse below the truncation.
| Type | Royal Mint | Start | End | Mint Mark
|
| Type IIA | London | 1871 | 1885 | None
|
| Type IIB | Melbourne | 1872 | 1887 | M
|
| Type IIC | Sydney | 1871 | 1887 | S
|
Minted after 1869 they would become legal tender in Ceylon only after
the sovereign was re-legalised by
Proclamation of King Edward VII in 1901. They would have only come
to Ceylon in circulation, not by importation by Government of Ceylon.
Ref: The Gold Sovereign. by M. A. Marsh.
1999, Cambridge U.K., 2nd ed. 118pp. Illustr. colour
The Sovereign was scanned at 600 dpi and displayed at 300 dpi
It was obtained in USA around 2000.