Description
British Empire, Australia, Queen Victoria (1837-1901 AD), Gold Sovereign (7.99g, 22mm), 1878 S, Royal mint Sydney branch, Shield of Arms Type. Obverse: Second young, bare head of Queen Victoria facing to the left, her hair double filleted and collected in an updo knot, date below, engraver’s initials ‘W.W.’ (William Wyon) complete on truncation in relief, legend surrounds, “VICTORIA DEI GRATIA”. Reverse: Royal Shield of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952) surmounted by St. Edward’s Crown, olive branches surround either side joined at the bottom by a knotted bow, mintmark above the National Floral monogram of English rose, Scottish thistle and Irish shamrock below, legend surrounds, “BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID: DEF:”. Bentley-660/661; McDonald-125; Marsh-74; Spink-3855; Friedberg-11; KM-6. Calendar year mintage 1,259,000. A sensational and impressive example, highly lustrous and visually bold, only very minor typical contact marks to obverse, reverse choice, near Mint State, reverse Mint State.
The Obverse Latin legend reads “Victoria, Deī Grātiā”, with an English translation of “Victoria, by the Grace of God”. The Reverse Latin legend continues from the obverse and reads “Britanniārum Rēgīna, Fideī Dēfēnsor”, with an English translation of “Queen of the British people, Defender of the Faith”.