Gold Sovereign, 1838

The sovereign, the money Phil was offered in The Open Door not only represents financial stability but also the highly sought-after possibility of societal recognition and upward mobility in a society as rigid as the Victorian hierarchy. Specifically for Phil, a struggling clerk, earning the money by solving the "haunting" is a chance to gain respect and prove his worth in a world that often dismisses individuals with his status and reputation. 

Tom Mulvaney, 2005