Key Date GoldYear: 1841Sovereign

Sell 1841 Victoria Young Head Shield Back Sovereign

1841 Victoria Young Head shield sovereign: mintage 124,054, key date values £2k–£35k+, GRATIA varieties, weight 7.988g, auction records.

Circulated Market Guide

£2,000 – £5,000

Typical UK collector & dealer range for circulated examples

Uncirculated / Graded

£10,000–£35,000+ (NGC/PCGS AU55–MS63); exceptional MS64+ realises £40,000+

Mintage

124,054

Weight

7.988g

Composition

22-carat gold (91.67% Au, 8.33% Cu)

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Market Valuation & Pricing Notes

Lowest-mintage London Victoria shield-back sovereign. Two obverse varieties: 'barred A' and 'unbarred A' in GRATIA (Marsh 24 R3). Mid-grade (VF–EF) examples trade £2,000–£5,000; AU/UNC slabbed coins at auction (Noonans, Spink, Baldwin's) consistently bring £10,000–£35,000. A 2011 Bonhams MS63 realised £34,800. Noonans 2024 pre-sale estimate £30,000–£36,000 for NGC MS63. Royal Mint retail listings £15,700–£22,250 for graded pieces. Bullion floor ~£680 (0.2354 oz Au @ £2,900/oz).

Physical Authentication Checkpoints

Our specialists verify these exact specifications when appraising your 1841 Victoria Young Head Shield Back Sovereign:

Weight: 7.988 g ± 0.020 g on 0.01 g precision scale
Diameter: 22.05 mm flat-to-flat
Edge: uniformly milled (reeded) with no casting seam
Magnetic test: non-magnetic (22-carat gold)
Specific gravity: 17.7 g/cm³ via water displacement
Obverse: William Wyon Young Head left, date 1841 below truncation, toothed border, legend VICTORIA DEI GRATIA (check A in GRATIA: barred vs unbarred variety)
Reverse: Jean Baptiste Merlen crowned quartered shield within laurel wreath, emblems below, toothed border, legend BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID DEF
No mint mark (London Royal Mint)
Die alignment: medal rotation (↑↑)

Coin Specifications

Catalogue ID: GB-1841-VIC-YH-SOV-LDN
Denomination: Sovereign
Issue Year: 1841
Rarity Tier: Key Date Gold
Mintage: 124,054
Weight: 7.988 grams
Metal Composition: 22-carat gold (91.67% Au, 8.33% Cu)

Common Fakes & Variant Confusion

Cast counterfeits show porous surfaces, incorrect weight (±0.2 g), visible seam on edge, and fail magnetic/specific gravity tests. Electrotype copies lack correct ring tone. Modern 22-carat bullion sovereigns (post-1817) share dimensions but carry different portraits/dates. Confusion possible with 1838–1840 Young Head shield sovereigns (higher mintages) and 1842–1853 issues; verify date and GRATIA variety. No branch-mint pieces exist for 1841 (Sydney/Melbourne/Perth mints opened later).

Best Ways to Sell Your 1841 Victoria Young Head Shield Back Sovereign

Compare liquidation routes in the UK, or sell directly to Finacforce with zero auction commission.

Specialist numismatic auction (Spink, Baldwin's, Noonans, Heritage)

Highest realised prices for graded key dates; 15–20% seller's commission; 4–6 week consignment window; requires PCGS/NGC slab for maximum bidder confidence.

Established UK numismatic dealers (Chards, Coincraft, A.H. Baldwin & Sons)

Immediate outright offer; typically 10–20% below auction hammer; no waiting period; convenient for raw/uncertified coins.

eBay UK sold-auction format (with reserve)

Access to retail collectors; fees ~12.8% + PayPal; requires high-quality images and provenance; risk of non-paying bidders; best for sub-£5,000 circulated grades.

Bullion dealers (Royal Mint, BullionByPost, Atkinsons)

Instant settlement at melt + small premium (£680–£800); no numismatic premium recognised; only appropriate for damaged/cleaned/jewellery-grade pieces.

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