![Victoria, 'Jubilee' Half Sovereign, 1887. MS63 [ECMSS-17] - Image 2](https://colonialcoins.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ECMSS-17-1.jpg)
Description
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Victoria of the House of Hanover, Queen of the United Kingdom 1837-1901 AD, Gold ‘Jubilee’ Half Sovereign (3.99g, 19mm), 1887, Royal mint, London. Obverse: Jubilee style bust of Queen Victoria facing to the left, wearing small crown with veil, pearl earring and necklace of 13 pearls, ribbon and star of the Order of the Garter and the Order of Victoria and Albert; engraver’s initials ‘J.E.B.’ (Joseph Edgar Boehm) in relief on truncation (“J” is imperfect and appears as an “I”), legend surrounds, “VICTORIA DEI GRATIA”. Reverse: Royal Shield of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952) set within ornate mantle and surmounted by the Tudor Crown, date below, legend surrounds, “BRITTANIARUM REGINA FID: DEF:”. DISH L508; Marsh-478F. Calendar year mintage for L508 approx. 841,200. Certified and graded by PCGS as Mint state 63. The inaugural Jubilee type half sovereign, a charming piece.
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 Dēfēnstrīx”, with an English translation of “Queen of the British people, Defender of the Faith”.
