'Rare' young Queen Victoria coin sells for £1,600

The coin is an example of the first half sovereigns issued during the reign of Queen Victoria

A rare early Victorian coin less than a millimetre thick sold at auction for a "phenomenal" £1,600, auctioneers said.

The 1838 gold half sovereign, with a diameter of 19.3mm, was handed for sale to Richard Winterton's The Auction Café in Lichfield and sold at The Lichfield Auction Centre in April.

The coin is an example of the first half sovereigns issued during the reign of Queen Victoria.

Richard Winterton Auctioneers said the coin bears the first and smallest portrait of the young queen on the front, with a garnished shield on the other side.

Auctioneers called the early Victorian coin "rare" and "tiny"

"Depicting the young queen, this 1838 coin was the first half sovereign minted for Victoria," said specialist Phil Bridge.

"A huge amount of coins were lost due to being scrapped for bullion when gold prices started to escalate in 2011.

"We expected this example to perform well at auction but its rarity combined with it being in very good condition attracted lots of interest at auction and it made £1,600. A phenomenal amount of money for a half sovereign coin."

Also recently valued at The Auction Café was a UK 1980 gold proof four coin set with certificate of authenticity from the Royal Mint.

The set fetched £4,000 in the same sale at the auction centre off Wood End Lane, Fradley Park.

The UK 1980 gold proof four coin set sold for £4,000