1899 Victoria Old Head Half Sovereign NGC MS64 – Only 3 Finer
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CGT & VAT exempt for UK residents
14-day return policy
Business-strike, not proof — and rare because of it. This 1899 half sovereign is certified NGC MS64, with only three coins graded this high and just three graded finer across the entire NGC census. It never went through a proof press or a mirror-finish die; it's a circulation-strike coin from the London Mint that somehow survived 126 years in near-pristine condition. That's a different, and genuinely harder, kind of rarity than a modern proof.
Victoria Old Head, London Mint
Struck in 1899 at the Royal Mint, London (no mint mark), this half sovereign carries the Old Head — also known as the Veiled Head — portrait of Queen Victoria, designed by Thomas Brock and introduced in 1893. The reverse is Benedetto Pistrucci's St George and the Dragon, restored to the half sovereign for this design series after decades of the shield reverse. London struck 3,361,881 half sovereigns in 1899, the overwhelming majority of which went straight into circulation and show it.
Why MS64 Matters Here
Half sovereigns saw hard daily use as small-denomination currency well into the 20th century, so Mint State survivors from any date are scarce, and Mint State survivors at the very top of the census are harder still. With only three examples at MS64 and three finer recorded by NGC, this coin sits at the sharp end of what's actually available for the date — a genuinely exceptional survivor, priced as part of our Value Select range rather than the flagship proof tier.
Specifications
| Grade | NGC MS64 |
| Mint | London (no mint mark) |
| Monarch/Portrait | Victoria, Old Head (Veiled Head) |
| Reverse | St George and the Dragon (Pistrucci) |
| Mintage (1899, London) | 3,361,881 |
| Population | 3 graded MS64, 3 finer (NGC) |
| Diameter | 19.30mm |
| Weight | 3.994g |
| Fineness | 22 carat (.9167) |
| Gold content | 0.1177 troy oz |
Tax Status
As UK legal tender, this half sovereign is 100% VAT-free and exempt from Capital Gains Tax under HMRC manual CG78308.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Delivery Information
We offer free insured delivery across the UK on all orders. Every coin is carefully inspected, securely packaged, and sent using Royal Mail Special Delivery - a fully tracked, next-day service that requires a signature on receipt.
All parcels are shipped discreetly and fully insured for peace of mind.
We currently do not ship internationally. Orders can only be delivered to the UK address provided at checkout, and we’re unable to send to PO Box addresses.
We aim to dispatch all orders within one business day of receiving cleared payment. Once your order has been dispatched, you’ll receive tracking details so you can monitor its progress.
Returns Policy
For non-bullion items (such as proof coins, graded coins or accessories), we’re happy to accept returns within 14 days of receipt if you feel your coin is not as described and provided the item is returned in its original condition, please contact us and we’ll be glad to help.
If an item is returned for reasons other than being not as described, return postage will be the responsibility of the buyer.
Important Notes
- All returns must be pre-authorised by our customer service team.
- Please use a tracked and insured service when sending items back to us, as we cannot accept liability for goods lost or damaged in transit.
- For full details, please see our Terms & Conditions or contact us directly with any questions.
At Sovara Coins, your security is our priority. To protect both our customers and ourselves from fraud, we currently accept debit card and bank transfer payments only.
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Please note that we do not accept credit cards. This policy helps us keep prices competitive and ensures all transactions remain low-risk and fully traceable.
For your protection:
- Billing and shipping addresses must match.
- On higher-value orders, we may request ID verification before dispatch. This is a quick process and helps keep your purchase safe.
Every payment method we accept is fully secure, encrypted and protected. Once payment is confirmed, your order will be prepared for dispatch within one business day.
Yes. Every NGC-certified coin has a unique certification number visible on the slab label. You can verify the grade, coin details and population data at NGCcoin.uk using the cert number shown.
The NGC census records how many examples of each coin have been graded at each level. A Top Pop coin means no other example has achieved a higher grade — making it the finest certified specimen in existence for that issue.
Yes. If you have existing graded sovereigns you'd like to trade towards a purchase, contact us for a bespoke cost-to-change valuation.