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1881 Victoria Gold Full Sovereign Sydney Mint Saint George Coin

1881 Victoria Gold Full Sovereign Sydney Mint Saint George Coin Reverse

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1881 Victoria Gold Full Sovereign Sydney Mint Saint George Coin Reverse
1881 Victoria Gold Full Sovereign Sydney Mint Saint George Coin Obverse

Buy a 1881-S Sovereign St George

Scarce 1881 Sydney mint Saint George gold Sovereign (S 3858D, Marsh 118 - S). 1881 was the year of the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral and the year that Russian Tsar Alexander II was assassinated in St Petersberg. The future George V visited Australia in 1881 along with his older brother, Prince Albert Victor. During the royal visit, gold Sovereigns were being struck at the Sydney branch of the Royal Mint, totalling 1,360,000 in this calendar year. These 22-carat gold coins were struck with both the shield and the St George reverse design. 1881-S St George Sovereigns are notable for lacking the 'B.P.' initials usually seen to the right of the date on these 22-carat gold coins. The obverse of these 1881 coins featured the Young Head portrait of Queen Victoria by William Wyon, with a small 'S' mintmark below.
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Description Specification Summary

Young Head Portrait With 'S' Mintmark

The obverse of these 1881 coins features William Wyon's Young Head portrait of Queen Victoria, with an 'S' mintmark below for Sydney, Australia, and an inscription reading 'VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:'.

Saint George And The Dragon Reverse

The reverse shows Benedetto Pistrucci's classic depiction of the legend of Saint George and the dragon. The date (1881) appears below. The artist's 'B.P.' initials are missing the field to the right of the date on this issue.

Sydney Sovereign Struck In 22-Carat Gold

'Full' Sovereigns like these ones are struck in 22-carat gold to a strict specification, established in the early 19th century. These coins weigh approximately 7.98 grams and measure 22.05 millimetres from milled edge to milled edge.

1881-S Sovereign Mintage Figures

Records show that 1,360,000 gold Sovereigns were struck at the Sydney branch of the Royal Mint in the 1881 calendar year. The majority of these coins were issued with the Saint George design, but some rare 1881-S Sovereigns feature the royal shield design.

Collecting Branch Mint Sovereigns

Branch mint gold Sovereigns are a challenging and rewarding focus for the dedicated numismatist. Earlier Young Head issues are particularly fascinating due to the use of two distinct portraits and the number of known variants.

Browse the range: Sydney Mint Gold Sovereigns