Suweren Królowa Wiktoria "Stara Głowa" Gold Coin | 1893 - 1901

Sovereign Victoria „Old Head" 1893-1901 — the queen's final Sovereign type until Victoria's death in 1901

The Sovereign Victoria „Old Head" 1893-1901 gold coin is a historic Royal Mint Full Sovereign with a gross mass of 7.98805 g, a gold mass of 7.32238 g, a fineness of 916.7/1000 (Crown Gold 22 carat), a 22.05 mm diameter and a 1 GBP face value as legal tender of the United Kingdom. The 1893 „Old Head" portrait (also called „Veiled Head") by Thomas Brock remained in use until the death of Queen Victoria on 22 January 1901 — the last Victoria Sovereign type and the symbolic close of the 64-year Victorian era. The coin is VAT-exempt in the EU as a legal-tender coin 916.7 struck after 1800, holds LBMA accreditation and CGT-free status for UK tax residents.

Technical specification

Why this Sovereign earns a place in your stack

• Final Victoria Sovereign type (1893-1901): the Old Head Sovereign closes the series of three main portraits of the queen (Young Head 1838-1887, Jubilee 1887-1893, Old Head 1893-1901) — the coin marks the last 8 years of Victoria's reign and symbolically closes the 64-year Victorian era (1837-1901).
• Widow's veil portrait by Thomas Brock: the „Veiled Head" portrait shows the 74-year-old queen in the black widow's veil worn after the death of Prince Albert (1861) — Brock dropped the crown and replaced it with the traditional veil, making the portrait more dignified and natural than Boehm's controversial Jubilee.
• Crown Gold 916.7 — standard since 1817: 22-carat fineness (Au 91.67% + Cu 8.33%) introduced in 1817 alongside the modern Sovereign form remains unchanged to this day — combining scratch resistance (harder alloy than .9999) with high precious-metal content.
• CGT-free for UK tax residents: all British Sovereigns hold Capital Gains Tax exempt status for UK tax residents — capital gains from resale are not subject to capital gains tax, a unique privilege of British legal-tender coins.
• VAT-exempt in the EU as a legal-tender coin: fineness 916.7 above 900, strike after 1800 (1893+) and United Kingdom legal-tender status meet all VAT exemption criteria under Polish VAT Act Art. 122 and EU Directive 2006/112/EC Art. 344.

History of the „Old Head" portrait — Royal Mint's response to Jubilee criticism

After the artistic fiasco of the 1887 „Jubilee Head" portrait by Joseph Edgar Boehm — criticised for the disproportionate miniature crown above the veil — Royal Mint commissioned the new design in 1893 from sculptor Thomas Brock (1847-1922). Brock chose the „Veiled Head" formula (head in veil), entirely dropping the crown that was the source of the Jubilee Head criticism, and referencing Victoria's status as a widow in mourning for Prince Albert who had died in 1861.

The „Old Head" portrait shows Victoria at age 74 — with the natural features of an older queen, a black veil falling from the head onto the back, and a discreet diadem. Brock omitted the controversial Imperial State Crown of the Jubilee Head in favour of a simple veil — an element that the public and critics received positively as appropriate for an aging queen in mourning. The „Old Head" portrait remained in continuous use from 1893 until the queen's death on 22 January 1901.

Victoria died at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight on 22 January 1901 at age 81, ending a 64-year reign — the longest in the history of British monarchs until the reign of Elizabeth II (1952-2022, 70 years). The Sovereign Old Head was therefore the last Victoria Sovereign type and the symbolic close of the Victorian era — the next Sovereigns were already struck with the portrait of Edward VII (from 1902).

Thomas Brock (1847-1922) — English sculptor born in Worcester — was a pupil of John Henry Foley and author of numerous public monuments, including the Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace (unveiled 1911) and monuments to Robert Peel, Frederic Leighton and other figures of the Victorian era. The „Old Head" portrait of Victoria is regarded as one of his mature works and a model of dignified portraiture of a monarch in old age — a contrast to the unfortunate Boehm Jubilee.

Royal Mint holds LBMA Good Delivery accreditation since 1750 — the oldest active LBMA status among mints and refineries producing gold bullion. The mint operates from the Llantrisant site (Wales) since 1968 after relocation from London's Tower Hill; it currently produces Sovereigns in cooperation with the LBMA under strict quality and Crown Gold 916.7 alloy-purity audit.

Obverse — Victoria „Old Head" / „Veiled Head" by Thomas Brock (1893)

The obverse of the Sovereign Victoria Old Head 1893-1901 features the „Veiled Head" portrait by Thomas Brock from 1893 — Victoria at age 74, with the natural features of a mature queen, a black veil falling from the head onto the back, and a discreet diadem (instead of the controversial miniature crown of Boehm's Jubilee). The portrait conveys the dignity and gravity of the monarch in widow's mourning.

Around the portrait are the full Latin inscriptions VICTORIA DEI GRA BRITT REGINA FID DEF IND IMP (Victoria by the Grace of God, Queen of the Britons, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India) — the full Latin monarch title valid since the Indian proclamation of 1876. The inscription emphasises Victoria's dual status as Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India.

Thomas Brock (1847-1922) — English sculptor, also author of the Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace (1911) — designed the „Old Head" portrait as a mature and dignified depiction of the aging queen, deliberately contrasting with the criticised Boehm Jubilee. The portrait remained in use on Sovereigns until 1901, and after 1893 also on other Royal Mint coins (including Half Sovereign, Two Pounds, Five Pounds).

Reverse — St. George slaying the dragon (Pistrucci 1817)

The reverse of the Sovereign Victoria Old Head 1893-1901 shows the classic motif of St. George slaying the dragon in the 1817 Benedetto Pistrucci design — the saint nude on horseback in classical sculpture style, lance raised to deliver the fatal strike on the dragon lying under the horse's hooves. Royal Mint continued exclusive use of the Pistrucci reverse from 1887 (Jubilee), and the Old Head 1893-1901 knew no Shield Sovereign variant — exclusively Pistrucci.

The motif symbolises the triumph of good over evil and references Christian mythology (the legend of St. George and the dragon from Cappadocia) and the aesthetics of classical Greek and Roman sculpture. Pistrucci modelled the composition on Hellenistic sculpture, which explains the nude figure of the saint — an element that raised religious controversies in the 19th century but was retained as the Royal Mint signature.

Benedetto Pistrucci (1783-1855) — Italian sculptor born in Rome — served as chief engraver of the Royal Mint from 1828 to 1855. His 1817 St. George motif remains to this day the Sovereign reverse across all vintages from Victoria Young Head to Charles III 2026. The Pistrucci continuity on Sovereigns over more than 200 years (1817-2026+) is one of the longest-running reverse designs in the history of bullion coins worldwide.

What to check when buying

Inspect the preservation condition of the Sovereign Victoria Old Head — Crown Gold 22 carat (916.7) is harder than .9999 and less prone to scratching, but specimens from 130 years of history (1893-1901+) often show circulation marks. Preservation condition (VF, EF, AU, UNC) significantly affects collector premium — specimens in higher conditions with legible Brock veil details achieve higher prices than specimens with worn portrait details.

The premium on the Sovereign Victoria Old Head is higher than on Elizabeth II Mix Years Sovereigns — typically 10-18% in the European retail segment, of which part is a collector premium for the historical vintage. Rare colonial mint variants (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth from 1899) and the 1901 vintage (last year before Victoria's death) achieve clearly higher premiums, sometimes 30-50% over spot for colonial mints in UNC condition.

CGT-free status applies to all British Sovereigns — Victoria Old Head as legal tender of the United Kingdom (1 GBP face value) qualifies for the CGT exemption for UK tax residents, regardless of strike vintage. This status distinguishes Sovereigns from neutral bullion coins (Krugerrand, Maple Leaf, Lunar), which are not CGT-free in the UK.

Check the strike mint — Victoria Old Head was struck at the main Royal Mint in London (no mintmark) and at the colonial mints Sydney (S), Melbourne (M) and Perth (P, only from 1899). The mintmark is usually placed below the St. George motif on the reverse. The 1901 vintage from any mint is historically exceptional as the last strike year with the Victoria portrait (death 22.01.1901, subsequent strikes from 1902 already with the Edward VII portrait).

Why GoldInvest24

• Manufacturers with LBMA accreditation: in the catalogue you will find coins and bars from mints accredited by the London Bullion Market Association — Royal Mint holds LBMA Good Delivery status since 1750, the oldest active status among mints and refineries producing gold bullion.
• Full Sovereigns size range: Half Sovereign, Full Sovereign, Double Sovereign and Quintuple Sovereign in one shop — allowing the build of a portfolio diversified by unit value.
• Language versions PL / DE / EN: full technical descriptions and specifications in three languages for convenient handling of the Polish, German and international markets.
• Current precious-metals quotes: spot data for comparing offer prices with current market valuation — check current metals prices before purchase.
• Full metals categories in one shop: access to gold bullion coins, bars, silver, platinum and palladium — all from one customer account.

Comparison of 5 Sovereign types — from Victoria to Charles III

See the full category of gold bullion coins available at GoldInvest24.

FAQ — common questions about the Sovereign Victoria Old Head 1893-1901

What is the Sovereign Victoria „Old Head" 1893-1901?

The Sovereign Victoria „Old Head" 1893-1901 is a historic Royal Mint Full Sovereign with 7.32238 g of gold, fineness 916.7 (Crown Gold 22 carat), 22.05 mm diameter and 1 GBP face value. The 1893 „Old Head" / „Veiled Head" portrait by Thomas Brock remained in use until the death of Queen Victoria on 22 January 1901 — the last Victoria Sovereign type. Reverse: St. George slaying the dragon (Pistrucci 1817).

What is the technical specification of the Sovereign Victoria Old Head?

Gross mass 7.98805 g, gold mass 7.32238 g, fineness 916.7/1000 (Crown Gold 22 carat, alloy Au 91.67% + Cu 8.33%), diameter 22.05 mm, thickness approx. 1.52 mm, face value 1 GBP. Obverse: Victoria „Old Head" portrait by Thomas Brock with widow's veil. Reverse: St. George slaying the dragon (Pistrucci 1817).

Who designed the „Old Head" portrait and why with a veil instead of a crown?

Victoria's „Old Head" portrait was designed by Thomas Brock (1847-1922) — English sculptor, also author of the Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace. Brock chose the widow's veil instead of the crown as a response to the criticism of the disproportionate miniature crown of Boehm's „Jubilee Head" portrait — the veil referenced Victoria's status as a widow in mourning for Prince Albert who died in 1861, and was received as more dignified than the Jubilee's controversial miniature crown.

How does Victoria Old Head differ from Young Head, Jubilee and Edward VII?

Victoria Old Head (1893-1901) — 8 years, Brock portrait with veil (no crown), last Victoria type. Young Head (1838-1887) — 49 strike years, Wyon portrait of the 19-year-old queen. Jubilee (1887-1893) — short 6-year mintage, Boehm portrait with miniature crown (criticised). Edward VII (1902-1910) — 9 years, De Saulles portrait, son of Victoria. All have identical Full Sovereign specifications and the same Pistrucci reverse.

For whom is the Sovereign Victoria Old Head a practical choice?

For collectors of Victoria coins building a set of the three main portraits (Young Head, Jubilee, Old Head), for those valuing the history of the late Victorian era (1893-1901) and the first coins with the full Empress of India title, and for UK tax residents using the CGT-free status. The collector premium (10-18%) is higher than on Elizabeth II Mix Years Sovereigns (5-9%).

What is the LBMA, VAT, CGT and IRA status of the Sovereign Victoria Old Head?

LBMA Good Delivery — YES (Royal Mint holds the status since 1750, the oldest active). VAT in the EU — EXEMPT (legal-tender coin, fineness 916.7 above 900, struck after 1800 — meets the Polish VAT Act Art. 122 and EU Directive 2006/112/EC Art. 344 criteria). CGT-free in the United Kingdom — YES (British legal tender Sovereign). IRA-eligible in the USA — NO.

How do I buy the Sovereign Victoria Old Head at GoldInvest24?

Place an order in our shop with access to the gold bullion coins category, the full range of Royal Mint Sovereigns (Victoria Young Head, Jubilee, Old Head, Edward VII, George V, Elizabeth II, Charles III) and the offer of LBMA mints. Check the current gold quotes to compare the premium against the current spot price. Technical descriptions and specifications are available in PL / DE / EN language versions.