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 ...

The coin is an example of the first half sovereigns issued during the reign of Queen Victoria Author, Eleanor Lawson Role, BBC News, West Midlands ...

"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 ...