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Leonard Charles Wyon's portrait of Queen Victoria appears on the reverse of this Sydney mint Sovereign, showing Victoria with her hair dressed with a wreath of banksia flowers. The date (1858) is shown below with an inscription around which reads VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:'.
Gold Sovereigns struck in Australia between 1855 and 1870 feature a unique reverse design which is unusual in that it states the denomination with the words 'ONE SOVEREIGN' seen below a wreath with a crown and the word 'AUSTRALIA' inside. The inscription at the top of the design reads 'SYDNEY MINT'.
Like their British counterparts, 1858 Sydney mint Sovereigns are struck in 22-carat gold to a specification established in 1817 when the first of these iconic gold coins were minted. Early Sydney Sovereigns like this one are known to be made from slightly finer gold, leading to them being favoured by traders.
1,101,500 gold 'full' Sovereigns were struck at the Sydney branch of the Royal Mint in 1858. While the mintage for this date is higher than that for earlier Australian issues, 1858-S Sovereigns are still rated 'R' for rare in recent editions of Marsh's guide to these gold coins.
High-grade examples of early Sydney mint Sovereigns like this 1858 coin are notoriously difficult to acquire due to harsh circulation conditions in the Australian colonies. Collectors appreciate these historic gold coins both for their scarcity and for their connection to Australian history.
Browse the range: Sydney Mint Gold Sovereigns
