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THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
SOVEREIGN HOARD!
THE COINS OF THE
Springing into life as a direct consequence of the
1850s Gold Rush, Sydney won the right to establish
Australia’s first Mint when legislation passed
through the British Parliament in August 1853.
A branch of the Royal Mint, the Sydney Mint struck
its first sovereigns in June 1855. Superbly designed,
the Sydney Mint Sovereign is one of our most
distinctive coins, with ‘SYDNEY MINT’, ‘AUSTRALIA’
and ‘ONE SOVEREIGN’ proudly emblazoned on the
reverse. Intended to be legal tender in New South
Wales only, and yet quickly accepted as far afield as
Hong Kong, Ceylon and Newfoundland, the 1855-70
Sydney Mint Sovereign was actually a victim of its
own popularity! British authorities were shocked to
find that the ‘inferior’ colonial issues were actually
preferred to Royal Mint Sovereigns!
Although supplanted by standard British designs
from 1871 as a result, the Sydney Mint Sovereign
would forever hold a crucial place in Australian
history. Indeed, more than just a coin, the Sydney
Mint Sovereign is living history – physical evidence
of the Gold Rush that gripped the colony in the
1850s, and inspired the march to Federation in 1901.
2
765
12509
1866 SYDNEY MINT TYPE II
SOVEREIGN F-VF
$
1868 SYDNEY MINT TYPE II
SOVEREIGN F-VF
$
845
12508
BLUE MOUNTAINS SOVEREIGN HOARD!
A rare, fresh hoard find, we are delighted to present
the Blue Mountains Sovereign Hoard – a stash of
over ONE HUNDRED Gold Sovereigns almost
certainly hidden away in the 1880s!
Desirable in any condition, the Sydney Mint Sovereign
represents one of the peaks of collecting in this
country. Nowhere in Australian numismatics is there
to be found a greater combination of beauty, history
and rarity. Held by the same family for generations,
the Blue Mountains Sovereign Hoard comprised a
significant number of this crucial Australian coin.
1867 SYDNEY MINT TYPE II
SOVEREIGN F-VF
Featuring other types, including the 1871S
St George & Shield on page 4, the hoard was
dominated by later Sydney Mint Sovereign Type II
dates. Sovereigns dated 1866, 1867, 1868 and
1870 were all discovered, with the last-mentioned
found in substantial quantity. The last four dates of
the series, with no sovereigns struck in 1869,
these coins are in Fine to Very Fine.
895
12582
$
A fantastic opportunity, the 1866, 1867, 1868 and
1870 Sydney Mint Sovereigns are very affordable
individually. Buy all four and save $255!
BUY ALL 4
2,995
$
SAVE $255
1870 SYDNEY MINT TYPE II
SOVEREIGN F-VF
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745
AK158
$
Each presentation is set in a timber case with a Certificate of Authenticity
3
To order
1300 788 358
From the Blue Mountains Sovereign Hoard!
Distinguished by one of the
world’s most famous coin
motifs, created by Italian
master craftsman Benedetto
Pistrucci for the introduction of
the modern sovereign in 1817,
a handful of 1871S St George
Sovereigns were also found
as part of the Blue Mountains
Sovereign Hoard.
The Sydney Mint kept a
record of only the number
of sovereigns struck in a
particular year, with no
distinction on the basis of
design. Although it is unknown
how many of the 2.8m-coin
1871S Shield-St George
mintage was of the latter type,
it is clear that the 1871S St
George is significantly scarcer
than the 1871S Shield offered
below. Just a few available –
graded Fine.
$
1871S YOUNG HEAD
ST GEORGE SOVEREIGN FINE
795
AS238
BUY BOTH
AND SAVE
The first Sydney Mint Shield
Also discovered as part of this
significant hoard find, we have
a number of the first Sydney
Mint Shield Sovereign in stock
– the 1871S!
The 1871S Shield Sovereign
came into existence when
authorities in London directed
the Sydney Mint to replace the
uniquely Australian design it
used from 1855 to 1870. The
Mint had the right to choose
either the St George or the
100
$
Shield design – or both –
and ultimately chose to strike
both types.
Defined by the armorial
magnificence of the reverse, and
very scarce with so many melted
for the intrinsic value in the
140+ years since struck, the few
1871S Shield Gold Sovereigns
in stock are in Very Fine.
1871S YOUNG HEAD
SHIELD SOVEREIGN VF
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795
11434
$
4
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The last of its kind…
One of Australia’s key
sovereign dates, the
Melbourne Mint’s 1887M
St George Sovereign was the
very last issue of the 18711887 Young Head St George
Series. A low-mintage issue,
and increasingly elusive in
premium grade, we have this
important date in Extremely
Fine to good Extremely Fine!
the Queen was eventually
supplanted by the Golden
Jubilee portrait in 1887 –
created to celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the Queen’s
reign. Naturally highly
sought after as ‘the last of its
kind’, the 1887M St George
Sovereign is a must-have in
this lovely, lustrous quality.
Employed for half a century,
the youthful portrayal of
$
1887M YOUNG HEAD
ST GEORGE SOVEREIGN EF-gEF AP292
795
Superb Uncirculated quality!
A fantastic opportunity for just a
few of our clients, Downies
is delighted to present the
1882S St George Sovereign
Type I – in magnificent
Uncirculated condition!
Blessed with sharp detail
in the designs, and smooth
lustrous fields, we have
seldom had the chance to
present this scarce type in
such impressive condition.
Clearly stashed away at issue,
and distinguished by the fact
that Pistrucci’s initials are
missing from the exergue to the
right of the date, these pristine
133-year-old gold sovereigns
are a true feast for the eyes.
With just six strictly
Uncirculated examples
available, we recommend
immediate action!
995
1882S ST GEORGE SOVEREIGN $
TYPE I UNC (NO BP)
AU942
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5
To order
1300 788 358
The Complete 33-Coin Perth Mint Sovereign Collection
From the 1899P to the 1931P, and EVERY coin in
between, this utterly comprehensive collection gives
you the extremely rare opportunity to secure an example
of each Perth Mint sovereign date – in better-thanusually-seen Very Fine to Uncirculated quality!
Issued during the reigns of Queen Victoria (18991901), Edward VII (1902-10) and George V (1911-31),
this inspiring presentation comprises 33 sovereigns.
Headlined by one of the key coins in the entire
Commonwealth Sovereign series, the rare 1926P, the
series also features the 1899P (3rd lowest mintage
sovereign from 1855-1919; just 691,000 struck!), as well
as the scarce 1925P, 1927P and 1929P. These desirable
dates are all included – as well as such crucial coins as
the scarce WWI 1916P and 1917P, low mintage 1928P
(just 133,000 struck!) and last issue 1931P.
Providing long-term protection, each sovereign is set in a
capsule, which fits neatly within the plush, custom-made
coin trays found within the lavish, lockable, high-gloss
timber case. Guaranteeing the precise weight and purity
of each coin, a Certificate of Authenticity is also included.
Whether you pay right now, or take advantage of our
convenient layby terms, we highly recommend you grasp
this seldom seen opportunity immediately. We have
just three complete 1899-1931 Perth Mint Sovereign
Collections available!
1899-1931 COMPLETE PERTH MINT
SOVEREIGN COLLECTION
28,995
SH142
$
6
The First & the Last…
Drawing together two of the most important elements
of the Australian Sovereign Series, this prestigious
presentation unites the very first and the very last
sovereign dates struck at the Perth Mint – 1899
and 1931.
The dawn of a new era in Australian gold production,
the Perth Mint struck its first coins in 1899 –
specifically, the 1899 Sovereign. Hotly pursued as the
first in the Perth Mint series, this coin also embodies
the final days of the long reign of Queen Victoria, with
the Veiled Head portrait gracing the obverse. The lowest
mintage Perth Mint sovereign, with just 691,000 struck,
the 1899P Gold Sovereign is a key to the Australian
1855-1931 Sovereign Series.
Issued toward the end of the reign of George V, the
1931P was the last date struck at the Perth Mint – and
the last date of the Australian Sovereign Series. Like the
1899P, the 1931P featured the St George & the Dragon
design. An historic, short-lived issue, the 1931P was
the third of a three-year-only type, with the Modified
Portrait of George V employed only from 1929 to 1931.
United within a timber case with a Certificate of
Authenticity, the first and last Perth Mint sovereigns
encapsulate the history of gold coin production in the
west, and form an enthralling journey to the heart of
Australia’s glorious golden heritage.
1899 & 1931 PERTH MINT SOVEREIGN PAIR
1,795
SH082
$
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7
To order
1300 788 358
Australia’s first gold coin
Australia’s first gold coin, struck
as a result of the 1850s Gold
Rush, the tremendously rare
1852 Adelaide £1 is one of the
most prestigious acquisitions
the collector can make.
The mintage of the 1852
Adelaide £1 was closed at
24,648, but, following a
dramatic rise in the price
of gold, almost all were
melted down for the intrinsic
value. Indeed, it is estimated
that a mere 200 examples
exist today! Sought after
by investors as much as
collectors, and exceedingly
rare in any condition, we have
one example in Very Fine.
1852 ADELAIDE POUND
TYPE II VF
19,950
AT709
$
Among Australia’s greatest rarities…
Australia’s first sovereign, struck
at the nation’s first official
Mint, the 1855 Sydney Mint
Sovereign Type I is excessively
rare in premium grade.
An original, important artefact
of the Australian Gold Rush,
bearing the famous ‘wreath’
reverse motif, just 502,000
examples of the 1855 Sydney
Mint Sovereign Type I were
struck. With a vast majority
of coins lost or destroyed
for the gold in the nearly
160 years since issued, this
revered date is a rarity of the
highest order when found in
Very Fine, as here.
1855 SYDNEY MINT
SOVEREIGN TYPE I VF
5,995
AL491
$
MAIL
PO Box 3131
Nunawading, Vic 3131
T: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
1300 788 358
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E: [email protected]
F: (03) 8456 8401
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the internationally recognised standard to Environmental Management. All items offered are subject to being sold out prior to receipt of order. Products may be pictured not at actual size. Some items in this magazine may not
be immediately available from our retail outlets. This list cancels all previous direct selling lists. All prices in Australian dollars. Prices shown are subject to change without notice. Prices may include GST.
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