Great Britain 1886 1/2 sovereign
This specimen was lot 41517 in Stack's Bowers Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction (Pittsburgh, August 2026), where it sold for $43,920. The catalog description[1] noted, "Extraordinarily Rare 1/2 Sovereign from a Pattern-Only Date, GREAT BRITAIN. Gold 1/2 Sovereign Pattern, 1886. London Mint. Victoria. PCGS PROOF-65 Deep Cameo. A VERY RARE Pattern type that is especially desirable given that no business strike 1/2 Sovereigns bearing this date were minted in London. Seemingly the first opportunity to acquire this type in public auction in over 20 years, and a wonderful Gem survivor at that, the portrait and devices enveloped in thick frost while the fields of the dies have been polished to a deep mirrored contrast. A combination of condition, presentation, and true rarity that is not often encountered within the Victorian series. From the Charles “Cheech” Litman Collection. Ex: Superior Galleries (12/1993) Lot # 715." It's possible that this was struck to serve as a model for the Australian mints (Sydney and Melbourne) which were striking half sovereigns in 1886. The London mint resumed striking half sovereigns in 1887 using the Jubilee head.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.99 g, 0.917 fine gold, .117 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: W&R-358 (R6); DM-195; KM-Unlisted.
- Bressett, Kenneth E., A Guide Book of English Coins, Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, 2nd Ed., Racine, WI: Whitman Publishing, 1962.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Lobel, Richard, Mark Davidson, Allan Hailstone and Eleni Calligas, Coincraft's Standard Catalogue of English and UK Coins, 1066 to Date, London: Coincraft, 1995.
- Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of England & the United Kingdom, 46th edition, London: Spink & Son, 2011.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2026.
Link to:
- 1885 half sovereign
- 1886 farthing
- 1886 half penny
- 1886 penny
- 1886 Maundy penny
- 1886 tuppence (halfgroat)
- 1886 threepence
- 1886 4 pence (groat)
- 1886 sixpence
- 1886 shilling
- 1886 florin
- 1886 half crown
- Australia 1886-S 1/2 sovereign
- Australia 1886-M 1/2 sovereign
- 1886 pattern sovereign
- 1887 half sovereign
- Coins and currency dated 1886