In England in 1489 a new gold coin was ordered. It was to be worth 20 Shillings and to be called a ‘Sovereign’, the coin is a large one having a diameter of 42 millimetres and weighing 240 grains. Having such a large flan to work on, the artist was able to depict the splendour of the Tudor period in all its glory. On the obverse, the king is shown seated on the throne in his robes, wearing the royal crown and holding the orb and sceptre. The reverse design is the royal arms centred on a full blown Tudor rose.
In Australia, the Sydney Mint was established as a branch of the Royal Mint in London in 1855. Its primary object, together with the mints of Melbourne (1872-1931) and Perth (1899-1931) was to strike Sovereigns and Half Sovereigns from the gold that had been discovered in the goldfields of Victoria and New South Wales in 1851. The dies were cut in London and shipped to Australia, the first issue of coins being made in June of that year. The designs for this first issue were by James Wyon. The Obverse shows the young head of Queen Victoria similar to that used on the British coinage whilst the reverse, instead of the St George and dragon design, bears the word AUSTRALIA with a crown above within a wreath and SYDNEY MINT ONE SOVEREIGN (or HALF SOVEREIGN) above and below. Subsequently the St George reverse was used, the mint being denoted by the initial letter (S, P or M) on the ground line below St George.
The Australian Minted Gold Sovereign Series 1855-1931 consists of 9 different types. The Sydney Mint Type 1 (1855-1856), Sydney Mint Type 2 (1857-1870), Victorian Young Head Shield Reverse (1871-1887), Victorian Young Head St George Reverse (1871-1887), Victorian Jubilee Head (1887-1893), Victorian Veiled Head (1893-1901), King Edward VII, (1902-1910), King George V Large Head (1911-1928) and King George V Small Head (1929-1931).
Sovereigns could be produced at one mint, two mints or at all mints, and when enough coins were thought to be in circulation no sovereigns were produced at all.
A complete collection of Australian Gold Sovereigns 1855 to 1931 from the Melbourne, Sydney & Perth Mints has 190 coins in total.
Australian Sovereigns can be collected by Date, Type, and Mint mark or by a combination of these.
The later King George V Sovereigns are either Very Scarce or Rare due to the mints cutting back on mintages struck. Dates: 1919M, 1920M & S, 1921S & M, 1922S & M, 1923S, 1924S & P, 1925P, 1926P, S & M, 1927P, 1928M & P, 1929M, 1930M & 1931M.
You will discover collecting Gold Sovereigns (Australia’s first coins) to be one of the most fascinating and rewarding hobbies you will ever find. Go for it, and enjoy collecting.
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