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The sovereign is not the first gold coin to be minted in Australia. The “Adelaide Pound” coins were struck in 1852. A serious die crack was noticed after the pressing of the first 50 coins. A new die was cut and around 25000 “type II” Adelaide pounds were struck. Due to the rising value of gold, it wasn’t long until it was realised that the actual value of the gold used was higher than the face value of the coins. Due to profiteering, very few of either version of the Adelaide Pound have survived.
All sovereign coins are struck from 22 carat gold. Australian sovereigns minted between 1855 and 1870 carry a unique Sydney Mint design. After this all coins minted in Australia were of the same Imperial design used throughout the British Empire, although they do carry a mint mark indicating whether they were struck in the Sydney, Melbourne or Perth mints. Due to the rising value of gold, production of sovereigns ceased throughout the Empire in the early 1930’s.The Australian coins are much rarer than the English versions and are highly collectible.
Nine distinct types of Australian sovereign can be identified, and many of those can be divided into a number of series based on different obverse and reverse combinations. The types include the early series one and two of the Sydney Mint coins, produced from 1855-1856 and 1857-1870 respectively. These were followed by the Imperial design coins as follows: Victorian Young Head Shield Reverse 1871-1887, Victorian Young Head St. George Reverse 1871-1887, Victorian Jubilee Head 1887-1893, Victorian Veil Head 1893-1901, King Edward VII 1902-1910, King George V Large Head 1911-1928 & King George V Small Head 1929-1931.
Example Values of Australian Gold Sovereigns
These prices are given as a guide only. They are examples of some coins currently found in the marketplace. Actual coin values will vary depending on quality. Coins from other years are also of value. Prices are listed in Australian Dollars.
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Australian Sovereign Coins
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Grade
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Estimated Value
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1855 Sydney Mint Type I
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EF
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16000
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1856 Sydney Mint Type I
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gVF
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6750
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1857 Sydney Mint Type II
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gEF
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3950
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1858 Sydney Mint Type II
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EF
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8000
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1860 Sydney Mint Type II
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EF
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6000
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1870 Sydney Mint Type II
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UNC
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4000
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1878 Victorian Young Head Shield
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UNC
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2750
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1881 Victorian Young Head Shield
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UNC
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4000
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1887 Victorian Young Head Shield
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UNC
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2500
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1871 Victorian Young Head St. George
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EF
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1750
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1877 Victorian Young Head St. George
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UNC
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3000
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1879 Victorian Young Head St. George
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UNC
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4750
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1887 Victorian Jubilee Head
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UNC
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1850
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1893 Victorian Jubilee Head
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UNC
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950
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1893 Victorian Veil Head
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UNC
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1200
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1895 Victorian Veil Head
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UNC
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375
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1905 King Edward VII
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UNC
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325
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1910 King Edward VII
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UNC
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325
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1924 King George V Large Head
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UNC
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3250
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1928 King George V Large Head
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UNC
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4750
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1929 King George V Small Head
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UNC
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4950
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