Vereinigtes Königreich. Victoria. Sovereign 1872 London

Global Money Week – “From Barter to Banknotes” - The Gold standard

This 1872 Gold Sovereign is a masterpiece of the British Royal Mint, featuring the iconic "Young Head" portrait of Queen Victoria by William Wyon and the legendary St. George and the Dragon reverse by Benedetto Pistrucci. Struck in 22-carat gold, the Sovereign was not merely a British coin but the "chief coin of the world" during the 19th century, accepted at face value from London to Hong Kong. Its precise weight of 7.98 g and gold purity made it the backbone of the international Gold Standard, a monetary system where paper currency was directly convertible to gold. This coin represents the era of maximum global financial integration, where trust in the currency was literally as solid as the gold it was made of.
1872 Gold Sovereign Coin Queen Victoria Young Head

Royal Mint

22 Carat Gold

7.98 g

22.05mm

William Wyon / Benedetto Pistrucci

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This lot is part of the thematic auction “From Barter to Banknotes”, organised in celebration of Global Money Week (16–22 March). Global Money Week is an international initiative coordinated by the OECD that promotes financial education and helps young people better understand money, savings, and economic systems.

Through this curated selection of objects - from early trade items and proto-currencies to historic coins and modern banknotes - we explore the fascinating evolution of money and the many forms it has taken across cultures and centuries.