1838 Great Britain Gold Sovereign NGC AU-53 Ex.RMS Douro

Ex.RMS Douro Victoria gold Sovereign. NGC Census of 17 coins with 96 finer - which includes both shipwreck and non-shipwreck items. A total of 167 have been graded and encapsulated by NGC.

This historic coin stands as the inaugural Sovereign of Queen Victoria's distinguished reign, introducing one of the most captivating and extensively collected series in world numismatics. The obverse presents William Wyon's celebrated Young Head portrait of the youthful monarch, executed with remarkable delicacy, while the reverse displays Jean Baptiste Merlen's distinctive crowned shield design within a laurel wreath—a hallmark of the early Victorian era prior to the adoption of the St. George and the dragon motif.

Recovered from the tragic wreck of the RMS Douro, which sank in the Bay of Biscay on 1 April 1882 after a collision with the Spanish steamer Yrurac Bat, this example carries the romance of sunken treasure. The Douro's cargo included thousands of gold Sovereigns spanning Victoria's Young Head issues, many salvaged in the 1990s and dispersed through landmark auctions. Graded AU53 by NGC, it exhibits light circulation wear consistent with its seafaring history yet retains sharp details and appealing surfaces, offering exceptional historical provenance and rarity for collectors of British gold. KM736.1, S-3852, Marsh-22 (R). 

Product ID	557247
Year	1838
Mint Mark
Strike	MS
Grade	AU-53
Variety	Ex.RMS Douro
Precious Metal Weight	0.2354 ozt Gold
Grading Agency	NGC
Specification properties	No
Serial	1791539-055
Status	Active
Designation	-
Additional Info	-