In common with all the other dates of 'First Head' shield sovereigns from 1838 to 1848, the portrait is not only slightly smaller, but also in slightly higher relief. Trying to spot the differences in detail is quite difficult, but it is very easy to sort them by sight, because once you get used to looking at the different variations, you should be able to recognise the first head instantly. All these early shields are now in strong demand, especially in top grades, and we are always interested