Description
Australia, King Edward VII (1901-1910 AD), Gold Sovereign (7.98g, 22mm) dated 1906 M, Melbourne mint. Obverse: Bare Head of King Edward VII facing to right, engraver’s initials ‘DeS.’ (George William De Saulles) below, legend around, “EDWARDVS VII D:G: BRITT: OMN: REX F:D: IND: IMP:”. Reverse: Figure of Saint George slaying the Dragon to the right atop horse with a longer tail, wielding sword and wearing plumed helmet and billowing cloak, broken lance to left on exergual line above mint master’s initials ‘wwp’ (William Wellesley Pole), mintmark at centre of exergual line, small engraver’s initials ‘B.P.’ (Benedetto Pistrucci) and date in exergue. Bentley-818; McDonald-223; Marsh-190; Friedberg-33; Spink-3971; KM-15. Calendar year mintage 3,656,000. A charming Edwardian sovereign and overall very attractive, Extremely Fine, reverse better.
The Obverse Latin legend reads “Edwardus Septimus, Deī Grātiā, Britanniārum Omnium Rēx, Fideī Dēfēnsor, Indiae Imperātor”, with an English translation of “Edward the Seventh, by the Grace of God, King of all the British People, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India”.