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1885 Victoria Gold Full Sovereign Melbourne Mint Saint George Coin

1885 Victoria Gold Full Sovereign Melbourne Mint Saint George Coin Reverse

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1885 Victoria Gold Full Sovereign Melbourne Mint Saint George Coin Reverse
1885 Victoria Gold Full Sovereign Melbourne Mint Saint George Coin Obverse

Buy a 1885-M Sovereign St George

Collectable 1885 Melbourne mint gold Sovereign with Saint George reverse (S 3857, Marsh 107). The Melbourne branch of the Royal Mint struck 2,967,143 'full' Sovereigns in 1885. Some of these 22-carat gold coins featured the classic shield reverse, while others display Benedetto Pistrucci's popular Saint George design, originally created to adorn gold Sovereigns in 1817. These Australian coins can be distinguished from their Sydney and London mint counterparts by a tiny 'M' mintmark that appears below the portrait of Queen Victoria, seen on the obverse. William Wyon's Young Head was, by 1885, a fairly inaccurate depiction of the Queen, who was then in her 60s but was used on British and Australian coins for decades.
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Description Specification Summary

Portrait Of Victoria With 'M' Mintmark

The obverse of these Melbourne mint gold coins displays the Young Head portrait of Queen Victoria by William Wyon, used on her currency for more than half of her reign. The artist's initials are shown on the truncation with an 'M' mintmark below and a legend inscribed around which reads 'VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:'.

Benedetto Pistrucci's Saint George

The instantly recognisable image of St George slaying a winged dragon can be found on the reverse of these coins, designed during the reign of George III by Benedetto Pistrucci. The horse on which England's patron saint is riding is generally shown with a short tail but is also known with a medium or moderate tail. The date (1885) appears below with the artist's 'B.P.' initials to the right.

Melbourne St George Sovereign Specifications

These coins weigh approximately 7.98 grams and are composed of 22-carat gold. Measurign just over 22 millimetres from milled edge to milled edge, they conform to a specification established in 1817.

1885-M St George Sovereign Mintage Figures

The Melbourne mint issued 2,967,143 gold Sovereigns in 1885. This number includes both coins with the St George reverse and coins with a shield-back design.

Historic Branch Mint Gold Sovereigns

Collecting Sovereigns from the Melbourne mint is a rewarding endeavour, particularly the issues of the 1870s and 1880s which are richly varied, providing a challenge to any numismatist who wants to complete a full set. An 1855 date is a key acquisition and ours are ready to add to your Sovereign collection today.

Browse the range: Melbourne Mint Gold Sovereigns