Victoria (1837-1901). 5 livres (5 pounds) “Una and the lion”, bandeau à 5 rouleaux et 9 feuilles, Flan bruni (PROOF) 1839, Londres.

GREAT BRITAIN Victoria (1837-1901). 5 pounds “Una and the lion”, headband with 5 rolls and 9 leaves, Proof 1839, London.
Obv. VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIARUM REGINA F: D:. Bust facing left, wearing headband ; signature W. WYON R. A.
Rev. DIRIGE DEUS - GRESSUS MEOS. The queen facing left leading a lion with her sceptre : below (date) and signature W . WYON R. A.
Fr.386 - S.3851 - W&R.279 - GH.103 ; Gold - 37 mm - 12h.
Top Pop : this is the higher graded example ! For this variety (headband with 5 rolls and 9 leaves), our example is the higher graded by NGC amongst 41 proof examples [The top pop example graded PF is 63 ; the top PFCA is 63 ; the top PFUC is 66 (our example) and the second highest in PFUC is far behind, graded 64*]
NGC PF66* ULTRA CAMEO. Proof and Ultra Cameo. Raised letter edge : DECUS ET TUTAMEN * ANNO REGNI TERTIO*. In its mint state with minor micro-scratches on the glazed fields. Intact mint lustre.

Conceived by William Wyon (1795-1851) in 1839 to commemorate the beginning of queen Victoria’s reign (1837), the “Una and the lion” 5 pounds is considered one of the most beautiful British coins. Victoria, standing with a lion, is moving left, with the motto “May God directs my steps” above her. The young queen, 20 years old, is represented as Lady Una, from Edmund Spencer’s The Faerie Queene, a poem written in 1590. This is the first time a British monarch is represented as a fictitious character : England as a lion is guided by Una, personified by queen Victoria, and her sceptre.