1853 Sovereign - PCGS MS66

Great Britain, 1853 Sovereign -

When applied to coins, the term “freshness” is a hard concept to describe. It captures the coin’s physical properties (originality and superior eye appeal), as well as the feeling you have when you hold the coin in hand (pleasant surprise that a coin still exists in completely original state). Freshness is a unique quality found in a coin, and isn’t always present, even in very high-grade examples. A coin with freshness deserves a premium. The present coin, a sovereign from 1853, is one of the freshest coins we’ve handled in recent years, and was part of a large hoard of shield back sovereigns allegedly found in the wall of an old house in the United Kingdom. Its lustre is unbroken, matte surfaces are untouched, and strike is full and complete, with even the tiny kiss curl at Her Majesty’s temple visible and struck up. For the error collectors, the “5” in the date is doubled, while there is to be a die chip or some other aberration below the wreath on the reverse where the die number or mint mark can appear. Overall, this 1853 sovereign is one of the finest shield back sovereigns we’ve handled, and is the equal-finest certified by PCGS (1/23). If you are a sophisticated numismatist or connoisseur collector, you deserve this coin.