Queen Victoria

Victoria Sovereigns are gold sovereigns issued during the reign of Queen Victoria who was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. From 1 May 1876, she adopted the additional title of Empress of India. Victoria ruled for 64 years, a record only recently surpassed by Queen Elizabeth II.

Victoria’s parents were Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathern and Pricess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. She married Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, who later became known as Prince Albert. Victoria had nine children, the eldest son succeeding her as Edward VII.

Victoria posed for a number of head portraits, but there are generally three major variants: Young Head (1838-1887) by William Wyon, RA; Jubilee Head (1887-1893) by Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm and Old Head (1893-1901) by by Sir Thomas Brock.