1853 Sovereign PCGS MS66
When applied to coins, the term “freshness” is a hard concept to describe. It captures the coin’s physical properties (originality and superior eye appeal), as well as the feeling you have when you hold the coin in hand (pleasant surprise that a coin still exists in completely original state). Freshness is a unique quality found in a coin, and isn’t always present, even in very high-grade examples. A coin with freshness deserves a premium. The present coin, a sovereign from 1853, is one of the freshest coins we’ve handled in recent years, and was part of a large hoard of shield back sovereigns allegedly found in the wall of an old house in the United Kingdom. Its lustre is unbroken, matte surfaces are untouched, and strike is full and complete, with even the tiny kiss curl at Her Majesty’s temple visible and struck up. For the error collectors, the “5” in the date is doubled, while there is to be a die chip or some other aberration below the wreath on the reverse where the die number or mint mark can appear. Overall, this 1853 sovereign is one of the finest shield back sovereigns we’ve handled, and is the equal-finest certified by PCGS (1/23). If you are a sophisticated numismatist or connoisseur collector, you deserve this coin. Professional Coin Grading Service is the global leader in coin authentication and grading. With over 60 million coins graded and counting, PCGS is trusted by collectors, dealers, and investors to certify authenticity, protect value, and elevate market confidence. This is a direct conversion of the 70-point PCGS grade to a 10-point scale, intended to present the grade in a more intuitive format for newer collectors. It is not our personal opinion or an attempt at regrading the coin to a different standard. To understand how the 70-point scale converts to a 10-point scale, [click here](https://drakesterling.com/en/page/the-ten-point-coin-grading-scale).