Such were the celebrations for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887 that it led the queen to record in her journal, "No one ever, I believe, has met with such an ovation as was given to me, passing through those six miles of streets. The cheering was quite deafening, and every face seemed to be filled with real joy. I was much moved and gratified."

In that Jubilee year, a new coinage portrait of Queen Victoria was introduced, created by Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm who depicted the queen with a small crown. It would become known as the 'Jubilee Head'.

The Jubilee Head effigy gives a realistic representation of a mature monarch. The portrait was first seen on coins in the same year as Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, but it wasn’t well received. Despite the queen becoming increasingly popular in later years, this portrait was never taken to heart by her people.

2,347,537 Sovereigns were produced at the Melbourne branch mint in this year, with each coin bearing an M mint mark.

Jubilee Head Sovereigns from this year were produced in the London, Sydney and Melbourne branches of the Royal Mint, with the Sydney and Melbourne branches minting in much lower numbers. This Melbourne minted coin was produced in the smallest amount.