This Sovereign was struck in 1877, the same year that Queen Victoria was proclaimed empress of India, the only draw in the history of the Cambridge and Oxford boat race occurred and the world-famous Swan Lake ballet debuted.

It is impossible to imagine modern Britain without the influence of Queen Victoria and the era of incredible progress and innovation to which she lends her name. Crowned queen at just 18, Queen Victoria’s first coins were issued in 1838 and featured the Young Head portrait by William Wyon. 

Struck in 22 carat gold, Queen Victoria’s Young Head was her favourite portrait for coinage. 1886 was the last year to feature this portrait of Victoria on Sovereigns. The queen liked the design so much that it was struck on coins for 47 years. The next portrait to appear on her Sovereigns was to be what we now call her ‘Jubilee Head’ by Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm. Victoria's love of her Young Head portrait was so great, it is reported to have taken many years and designers to find a portrait she liked enough to replace it.