Victoria - Young Head (Shield)

The Victoria Young Head Sovereign displays the Queen's "young head" portrait on the obverse. This can be identified through the hair tied into a double fillet with a large ponytail bun at the rear. The edges are milled with a linear circle around the raised border. This Victorian Sovereign design also features the initials of William Wyon on the bust truncation. The Victoria Young Head would remain a stable of British gold sovereigns from 1838 to 1887.

The Shieldback Sovereign’s reverse engraving displays a thistle and rose tied together by a ribbon. The inner sides bear eleven pearls, with five more in the upright centre. The outer sides of the Sovereign include a laurel.