2018-09-24 Mon

On 25th September, Sovereign Rarities is going to offer an NGC PF 62 Cameo 1839 Victoria gold “Una and the Lion” Five Pounds coin in London at an estimated value of £120,000 to £150,000.

These extremely beautiful coins are very popular among collectors and have a mintage of only 400 pieces, making them even more desirable. The obverse features a very striking bust of young Queen Victoria. The queen’s reign began two years before the coin was struck. This side also features the Latin text VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIARUM REGINA F: D which means “Victoria, by the grace of God, Queen of the Britons, Defender of the Faith” in English. Name of Engraver of the Royal Mint and coin’s designer, William Wyon is also depicted at the bottom.

The reverse features Queen Victoria as Lady Una. Lady Una was a character from a 1590 poem named “The Faerie Queene” written by Edmund Spenser. The queen is controlling a lion with a sceptre in her right hand and a cross-bearing orb in her left. This side also depicts the Latin text DIRIGE DEUS GRESSUS MEOS, which means “May God direct my steps” in English.

Image Courtesy: Sovereign Rarities