1879-S Queen Victoria Young Head Shield Gold Sovereign

The 1879-S Queen Victoria Gold Sovereign is a historic Sydney Mint issue featuring the Young Head portrait of Queen Victoria on the obverse and the crowned shield reverse. Struck in traditional 22ct gold, this sovereign combines recognised gold content with added collector interest from its early Australian mint origin.

The reverse features the crowned royal shield within a wreath, with the Sydney Mint “S” mintmark below the shield. The obverse displays Queen Victoria facing left with the date 1879 below. This shield-back design is distinct from the St George reverse sovereigns and is an important type within Victorian-era gold coin collecting.

With a reported mintage of approximately 1,366,000, the 1879-S Shield Sovereign offers appeal beyond bullion value, particularly for collectors building a date, mintmark, or design-type collection. Generally pre-owned and selected for resale where suitable, it is a collectable Australian-struck sovereign offered by Galaxy Coins with a focus on authenticity, transparency, and clear product information.