1902 Gold Matte Proof Half Sovereign King Edward VII London Mint Coin
London mint matte proof Half Sovereign of Edward VII, struck in 1902. This gold coin is among the first Half Sovereigns struck in the reign of King Edward VII. He came to the throne in 1901 on the death of his mother, Queen Victoria. His first coinage was issued the following year in 1902. Edward remained on the throne until his death in 1910 at which point he was succeeded by his second son who took the regnal name George V. Throughout his short reign. Edward VII's Sovereigns featured a right-facing, bare headed portrait by George William de Saulles whose initials - rendered 'DeS' - can be seen below the truncation of the King's neck. The reverse of this Half Sovereign shows the classic motif of England's patron saint, St George, in the act of slayign a dragon from his position on horseback. The design is the work of Benedetto Pistrucci and in this variant ('reverse A') the ground beneath the dragon is well separated from the edge of the coin and the artists initials are absent. Just the date appears below. Some 4,244,457 of these Half Sovereigns were struck in London in 1902 and this example is one of a unknown number struck with a matte proof finish Weight: 3.99 grams. Diameter: 19.30 millimetres. Grade: UNC - Very few contact marks, Uncirculated. References: Marsh 505A, S 3974A. System.Threading.Tasks.Task`1[System.String] System.Threading.Tasks.Task`1[System.String]