Victoria 1887 S Sovereign sydney Mint DISH S2 rare R2

Victoria (1837-1901), gold Sovereign, 1887, Sydney, Australia Mint, Golden Jubilee style bust facing left, small crown and veil on head, pearl earring and 13 pearl necklace, J.E.B. initials spread and raised on truncation with hooked J, stops in line with each other, 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, S mint mark at centre of ground-line, date in exergue, initials B.P to upper right, for engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, edge milled, weight 7.98g (DISH S2 R2; Marsh 138; S.3868A). Lightly hairlined in the fields both sides, otherwise practically extremely fine and very rare.

The Latin legend translates as "Victoria by the grace of God, Queen of the Britains, Defender of the Faith."

All 1887 Sydney Jubilee head sovereign variations are hard to find and range from R2 to R5, the rarest being where only a single digit figure is known to exist presently. This variation although very rare, is the easier to find. All 1887 Sydney Jubilee head sovereigns are now commanding premium prices, especially in high grades. A PCGS slabbed and graded MS66 example of this variation sold at a Heritage Auction in April 2015 for $18,800.

Provenance:

Ex David Iverson Duplicates Collection.