Struck in 1838, the first year of Queen Victoria’s Sovereign coinage, this historic gold coin marks the beginning of one of the most admired reigns in British history. Victoria came to the throne at just 18 years old, and her first Sovereigns introduced the famous Young Head portrait by William Wyon, one of The Royal Mint’s most celebrated engravers.

The obverse shows the young, uncrowned Queen facing left, with her hair simply arranged and the legend VICTORIA DEI GRATIA surrounding the design. Wyon’s portrait became one of the defining images of Victorian coinage and remains highly regarded by collectors today for its elegance and charm. The reverse features Jean Baptiste Merlen’s crowned shield of arms within a wreath, a dignified design that is closely associated with the earliest Sovereigns of Victoria’s reign.

As the first Sovereign of Queen Victoria, the 1838 issue holds a special place in numismatic history. It is one of the more elusive London Sovereigns of the circulated series, and its first-year status gives it particular appeal to collectors building a collection of key dates or important royal portrait coins. In Very Fine condition, this example still shows pleasing detail and the character of a coin that has seen real use, while remaining a wonderful survival from the early Victorian era.

Struck in 22 carat gold to the traditional Sovereign standard, this coin combines historic importance with the lasting craftsmanship for which The Royal Mint is known. For collectors, it offers the chance to own the first gold Sovereign of Queen Victoria’s remarkable reign, a coin that captures both the elegance of its age and the start of a new chapter in British coinage.