Semi-Numismatic

1896 Great Britain Gold Half-Sovereign Victoria Veil AU

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In 1896, the Royal Mint struck this gold half-sovereign, a coin that captures the final era of Queen Victoria's historic reign. Minted with a gold purity of 0.9167 and containing 0.1176 troy ounces of precious metal, this piece represents a time when British currency circulated globally as a standard of trade. This specific issue had a mintage of 2,947,000 pieces. The obverse of the coin displays the mature, veiled bust of Queen Victoria facing left. Surrounding her likeness are the Latin inscriptions indicating her titles as Queen and Defender of the Faith. This portrait, often referred to as the old head or veiled head, offers a dignified representation of the long-ruling monarch near the end of the nineteenth century. On the reverse, the coin features the classic numismatic illustration of Saint George on horseback, battling the dragon. The warrior faces right, poised above the mythical beast in a dynamic scene that has defined British sovereign coinage for generations. Cataloged as KM#784 and Sp#3878, this half-sovereign survives today in Almost Uncirculated condition, preserving the intricate details of both the royal portrait and the legendary battle scene.