Sovereign 1888 Melbourne, first legend (DISH M9)

Victoria (1837-1901), gold Sovereign, 1888, Melbourne, Australia Mint, Golden Jubilee style bust facing left, small crown and veil on head, pearl earring and 13 pearl necklace, raised J.E.B. initials close on truncation with right angled J, initials of engraver J Edgar Boehm, first abbreviated Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, VICTORIA D:G: BRITT: REG: F:D: rev. struck en medaille, St George and dragon right, horse with short tail, broken lance to left on ground-line, tiny WWP under lance, initials of William Wellesley Pole, Master of Mint when design introduced, M mint mark at centre of ground-line, date in exergue, initials B.P to upper right, for engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, edge milled (DISH M9 R4; Marsh 132; S.3867A). Nick on cheek, some surface marks in fields, otherwise practically extremely fine and very rare.

This variety of coin exists in very small numbers. The Melbourne branch mint had produced around half a million first legend Jubilee head sovereigns dated 1887, and had then switched to producing the later second legend coins. Production at Melbourne seems to have been more regimented than at Sydney, so it is unlikely that a first legend obverse die was used in error. We can only assume that this was about not wasting usable and therefore valuable dies, so some 1888 dated pieces were coupled with a first legend obverse.

Provenance:

Ex George Collection, St James Auction 25, 5^th May 2014, lot 124.

Sold as part of the David Iverson Collection on the 130th anniversary of the Jubilee head Sovereign - coin JH33