This Sovereign dates from 1874. Stuck in 22 carat gold, it features Queen Victoria’s Young Head portrait on the obverse, which was her favourite portrait for coinage. The Young Head portrait was created by William Wyon RA, chief engraver at The Royal Mint, and shows Victoria when she acceded to the throne at 18 years of age. The queen liked the design so much that it was struck on coins for 47 years. 

1874 represents the last year for the shield Sovereign at the London Royal Mint and is, therefore, the rarest. The calendar year mintage for the Sovereign this year is a mere 520,713 but this also includes the more numerous St George reverse pieces. The shield reverse must have totalled a mere fraction of this mintage. The shield Sovereigns of this period have individually numbered dies, a way of identifying which press on which journey on which day minted the coinage.