Numismatic

1898-M Australia Gold Sovereign Victoria Veiled Head MS-62 NGC

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Struck in the final years of the nineteenth century, this 1898 Gold Sovereign represents a fascinating chapter in global coinage. Minted at the Melbourne Mint in Australia, the coin features a small "M" mint mark on its reverse, indicating its origin at this branch of the British Royal Mint. Each coin contains 0.2354 troy ounces of gold, struck with a purity of 0.9167, and was part of a total mintage of 5,509,000 pieces. The obverse of the coin displays the left-facing bust of Queen Victoria wearing a crown and a veil, a depiction often referred to as the veiled head portrait. Surrounding her image is a traditional Latin inscription. This mature portrait of the long-reigning queen offers a dignified look at the monarch during her twilight years. On the reverse, the coin features the legendary scene of Saint George on horseback slaying a dragon, a masterpiece created by the artist Benedetto Pistrucci. This dynamic design remains one of the most recognized and celebrated motifs in numismatic history, symbolizing triumph and bravery. Identified in standard catalogs as KM #13, this sovereign is a remarkable artifact of nineteenth-century minting artistry.