The Perth Mint are producing a gold sovereign for 2005 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the first Australian sovereign. the reverse design is a re-creation of the original Sydney Mint sovereign dated 1855. The new coin is being issued in ordinary uncirculated, and in proof qualities. Exact specifications will be identical to normal sovereigns.
History
In celebration of the 150th anniversary of Australia's first sovereign, The Perth Mint has
meticulously re-crafted the distinctive 'colonial' reverse of the Sydney Mint Type 1
sovereign on this 2005-dated Australian legal tender gold coin. The historic significance of this unique commemorative will not be lost on collectors aware
of the original coin's momentous impact on world coinage in 1855. Until then, London's
Royal Mint was the sole producer of legal tender for Britain and her vast Empire. But the discovery of gold in New South Wales in 1851 set in motion a train of events that led
to the creation of the Royal Mint's first colonial branch. Empowered to produce sovereigns
from Australian gold, the Sydney Mint, together with its junior siblings in Melbourne and
Perth, went on to strike more than 400 million sovereigns prior to 1932. The Perth Mint's tribute to the extremely rare Sydney Mint Type 1 sovereign is produced
from the same purity of gold as the 1855 coin. Its flawless proof finish, strictly limited
mintage and magnificent presentation packaging add further allure to this extremely
collectable release.
Mintage
The Perth Mint will release just 7,500 coins.
Sovereign Design
Leonard Charles Wyon's historic Type 1 reverse, which depicts St Edward's crown and a
laurel wreath, is reproduced on the new sovereign. Like the original coin, it includes other
design elements that have long fascinated numismatists and historians. The inclusion of the
denomination ONE SOVEREIGN was a radical departure from the traditional Imperial
design. Likewise, the words SYDNEY MINT and AUSTRALIA had never been seen before
- the latter referring to a geographical concept of the 19th century rather than an independent
nation. The coin's obverse bears the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,
the denomination and the 2005 year-date.
Proof Version -capsule only - no box or certificate
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Uncirculated Version
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Proof Version - Complete with Book and Certificate!
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Presentation
Each 2005 Commemorative Sovereign comes with the book Australia's Sovereigns. Written
by sovereign specialist Andrew Crellin, this invaluable historical reference provides
fascinating information about the many obverse and reverse designs that appeared on
sovereigns produced from Australian gold by the Sydney, Melbourne and Perth branches of
the Royal Mint between 1855 and 1931. Packed with illustrations and invaluable hints and
tips for collectors, it also incorporates a numbered Certificate of Authenticity and is
protected within a stylised outer sleeve.
Historic Prices
Checking our new edition of Krause's World Gold Coins, we see that the original 1855 coin catalogues at $7,500 (about £4,000) in Fine condition, and $90,000 (£50,000) in Uncirculated. There is no price for B.U., and we reckon a near perfect original may well cost £100,000 if one exists. This 2005 re-creation makes for a bargain priced addition to almost any collection.
Australian Sovereign Book
The Perth Mint have published a book for the 150th anniversary of the Australian sovereigns. A copy is available free with every proof sovereign.
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