Semi-Numismatic

1894 Great Britain Gold Half-Sovereign Victoria Veil AU

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In 1894, the Royal Mint struck this gold half-sovereign, a coin that captures a significant transitional era in British numismatics. Containing 0.1176 troy ounces of gold at a purity of 0.9167, this piece represents the late-period coinage of Queen Victoria's exceptionally long reign. It survives today in an About Uncirculated state, preserving the fine details of its classic engraving. The obverse presents the left-facing veiled bust of Queen Victoria, representing her later years of leadership. Surrounding her portrait are the Latin inscriptions of her titles, including VICTORIA, DEI GRA, BRITT REGINA, and FID DEF, translating to her status as Queen by the Grace of God and Defender of the Faith. On the reverse, the coin features the dynamic depiction of Saint George on horseback, battling the dragon toward the right. The year 1894 is clearly struck at the bottom of this design. This specific issue, cataloged as KM#784 and Sp#3878, had a historical mintage of 3,795,000 pieces, making it a fascinating survivor of late nineteenth-century British commerce.