1879 Sovereign Dragon
Gold Coin - 1879 Sovereign Dragon
- Listing Type:
- This item is For Sale - Buy It Now
- Quantity:
- 1 available for sale
- Buy It Now For:
- $2600.00
- Shipping:
- $4.50 Economy Shipping (1 to 10 business days) - (more details)
- Returns:
- Returns are not Accepted - (more details)
- Certified by:
- Other
- Condition or Grade of Item:
- Great for the age!
- Visitor Count:
- 13 views
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Payment on Pickup
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SCORPION - 7.00% Off Order
Item Description
Record Price: from $87,715 Manufacturer: Royal Mint Weight (grams): 7.988 Pure Gold content (grams): 7.3224
Year: 1879 Fineness: .9167 Dimensions: Dia: 22.05mm Thickness: 1.52mm
Mintage: Only 2,740,594 Sovereigns were struck at the Melbourne Mint in 1879
This listing features one beautiful 19th century English Gold Sovereign, minted in 1879. This coin is made of 0.917 fineness gold and feature intricate designs, including the Slayed Dragon.
The Sovereign was named after the original and first of its kind “The English Gold Sovereign”, which was struck until 1603. In 1816 there was a revamp of the sovereign, which was a part of ‘the Great Re-coinage’. At first, the British Sovereign Gold coin was not very popular among the public because the currency notes used at that time were considered more convenient. However, £1 currency notes were soon limited by the government, and eventually, the sovereign took their place. It soon became popular in other parts of the world too because of a definite quantity of gold it contained.
The “George and Dragon” design
The British Sovereign Gold coin is best known by its reverse design showing Saint George riding a horse. This popular design was made by the skilled coin designer Pistrucci. He designed various other coins in addition to this one.
The George and Dragon design show Saint George on horseback with his hand clutching the horse bridles' rein. He only has his legs and feet armored. He has a helmet on his head with his hair floating behind. He also has a sword in his right hand with the dragon laying on the ground wounded.
While many things have changed in the coin's design over the years, there is no dramatic or considerable change in its composition or shape.
Through the years, this coin has changed its role according to the value and application of gold in various eras. Let’s take a look at the certain highlighted points.
The circulation years: featured Queen Victoria's favorite portrait that was struck on Sovereigns for the next 47 years.
This coin was first circulated in 1817. At this time the Sovereign faced tough competition with currency notes, which were largely considered a more convenient way of trading. As a result, this coin failed to gain mainstream popularity, and there was a considerable decrease in the number of mintage's the following year (1818).
The proposal lead by economist David Ricardo to ban gold as a metal for coinage caused the coin’s value to decrease further. However, his proposal was declined in 1820, and the Bank of England continued to issue gold Sovereigns as a means of payment. The coin increased in value during wartime and quickly began to replace banknotes. Watching this positive trend, British parliament banned the issuance of notes below five pounds in 1826.
The British Sovereign gold coin promoted worldwide trade activity and provided more liquidity in the market. Britain, Australia, Canada, and some other countries struck Sovereigns in the colonial era. They were in-fact promoted by several central banks to promote gold trade.
Due to the discovery of new gold deposits in Australia in 1851, the demand for a similar coin like the British Sovereign increased. The officials in Australia installed a mint in 1853 and started striking a similar Sovereign but with different design and a slightly lighter color due to a higher silver content. This coin was not a legal tender until 1866.
Canada followed Australia by establishing a mint branch called the “Royal Canadian Mint" and started making their own version of the sovereign. India also did the same.
At this time, the Sovereign was the most popular coin worldwide, and was accepted at all ports of trade under the British Empire due to its gold content. This coin helped increase and facilitate trade throughout the Empire.
Payment and Shipping Details
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- United States Shipping services available:
| Shipping / Handling Cost | Cost For Each Additional Item | Service |
|---|---|---|
| $4.50 | $0.00 | Economy Shipping (1 to 10 business days) |
| $5.00 | $0.00 | USPS Parcel Post (2 to 8 business days) |
| $6.00 | $0.00 | Standard Shipping (1 to 5 business days) |
| $10.00 | $0.00 | USPS Priority Mail (2 to 3 business days) |
United States: APO/FPO
Middle East: Yemen, Iran, Islamic Republic of, Lebanon, Turkey, Syrian Arab Republic, Oman
Oceania: Norfolk Island, Wallis and Futuna, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Pitcairn Islands, Christmas Island, Niue, New Caledonia, Nauru, Micronesia, Federated States of, Kiribati, Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Payment methods accepted:
- Payment on Pickup
Return Policy:
Returns are not Accepted
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