Sovereign - 1855 to 1887 - Price Guide
By the mid-1850's the Government decided that it was about time that an official mint should be set up to convert the plentiful gold stocks into coins of the realm. The first Sydney Mint sovereigns were unique in the history of the British Empire. In a situation which has not been repeated since, the coins carried a design which was completely different from that of the standard British issue.
The Australian ore had a high percentage of silver while the darker tone of the British coin was due to the copper content. Soon they were being accepted with great relish in all the business houses around Australia. From 1868, they were even accepted as legal tender in Canada and Newfoundland. Britain had been accepting the coins since 1863.
In 1871 the first of the new sovereigns appeared from the presses at the Sydney Mint. Both the Shield and St. George reverse designs were struck for the sovereign, while only the Shield reverse for the half sovereign was employed until 1893.
Click on a coin to view additional values, details and varieties about it.
- Circulated
- Uncirculated
| Variety | MS-60 | MS-62 | MS-63 | MS-64 | MS-65 | MS-66 | MS-67 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1855 | $53,100 | $102,600 | $127,300 | $152,000 | $209,000 | - | - |
| 1856 | $53,100 | $102,600 | $127,300 | $152,000 | $209,000 | - | - |
| 1857 | $6,400 | $14,100 | $18,400 | $28,700 | $30,400 | - | - |
| 1858 | $13,600 | $21,300 | $35,200 | $41,800 | $66,500 | - | - |
| 1859 | $4,940 | $12,700 | $16,700 | $20,700 | $28,300 | - | - |
| 1860 | $12,800 | $27,000 | $47,900 | $60,800 | $68,400 | - | - |
| 1860 - 6/5 | $33,200 | $39,500 | $54,000 | $68,400 | $76,000 | - | - |
| 1861 | $3,550 | $9,500 | $12,500 | $15,600 | $20,100 | - | - |
| 1861 - 1/0 | $28,900 | $37,200 | $51,700 | $66,100 | - | - | - |
| 1862 | $8,500 | $12,100 | $19,200 | $23,900 | $33,400 | - | - |
| 1863 | $3,490 | $8,600 | $13,300 | $16,300 | $23,600 | - | - |
| 1864 | $1,680 | $4,430 | $5,900 | $13,500 | - | - | - |
| 1865 | $3,860 | $9,000 | $14,100 | $17,500 | $24,700 | - | - |
| 1865 - 5/4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1866 | $1,450 | $2,760 | $4,130 | $5,800 | $7,500 | - | - |
| 1867 | $1,400 | $3,470 | $5,100 | $5,800 | $7,700 | - | - |
| 1868 | $1,510 | $3,300 | $4,670 | $6,100 | $7,700 | - | - |
| 1868 - 8/6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1870 | $1,240 | $2,210 | $3,780 | $4,990 | $5,900 | - | - |
| 1871 - Shield - Raised W.W. | $871 | $1,620 | $2,460 | $3,190 | $4,680 | - | - |
| 1871 - Shield - Incuse W.W. | $871 | $1,560 | $2,560 | $3,190 | $4,680 | - | - |
| 1871 - St. George - Small BP | $3,830 | $6,700 | $10,000 | $13,300 | $16,900 | - | - |
| 1871 - St. George - Large BP | $4,680 | $8,400 | $11,400 | $14,400 | $20,500 | - | - |
| 1872 - Shield - Sydney | $1,060 | $2,820 | $4,030 | $4,790 | $6,500 | - | - |
| 1872 - St. George - Sydney | $935 | $3,060 | $5,000 | $6,500 | $8,600 | - | - |
| 1872 - Shield - Melbourne | $1,040 | $2,530 | $4,200 | $4,500 | $6,200 | - | - |
| 1872 - St. George - Melbourne | $4,890 | $9,500 | $14,700 | $20,000 | $23,800 | - | - |
| 1872 - Shield - Melbourne - 2/1 | $5,100 | $8,100 | $10,000 | $12,900 | $16,200 | - | - |
| 1873 - St. George - Sydney | $968 | $3,000 | $4,820 | $6,400 | $9,100 | - | - |
| 1873 - Shield | $871 | $2,020 | $3,140 | $3,900 | $5,200 | - | - |
| 1873 - St. George - Melbourne | $871 | $1,970 | $2,860 | $4,660 | $7,400 | - | - |
| 1874 - St. George - Sydney | $978 | $3,420 | $4,790 | $6,200 | $9,000 | - | - |
| 1874 - St. George - Melbourne | $871 | $2,520 | $3,300 | $5,200 | $7,800 | - | - |
| 1874 - Shield | $1,450 | $2,700 | $3,650 | $5,200 | $7,300 | - | - |
| 1875 - St. George - Sydney | $871 | $2,990 | $4,720 | $5,900 | $8,700 | - | - |
| 1875 - Shield | $871 | $1,720 | $2,630 | $3,360 | $4,840 | - | - |
| 1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail | $871 | $1,380 | $2,090 | $2,790 | $4,200 | - | - |
| 1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail | $871 | $1,360 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1876 - St. George - Sydney | $871 | $1,770 | $2,880 | $3,800 | $5,000 | - | - |
| 1876 - St. George - Melbourne | $871 | $1,730 | $1,760 | $2,750 | $3,580 | - | - |
| 1877 - Shield | $871 | $1,170 | $1,830 | $2,870 | $4,050 | - | - |
| 1877 - St. George - Long Tail | $871 | $1,190 | $1,720 | $2,540 | $3,720 | - | - |
| 1877 - St. George - Medium Tail | - | $995 | $1,140 | - | - | - | - |
| 1878 - Shield | $871 | $1,210 | $2,050 | $3,110 | $4,050 | - | - |
| 1878 - St. George | $871 | $1,240 | $1,830 | $2,600 | $3,720 | - | - |
| 1879 - St. George - Sydney | $3,510 | $5,100 | $7,500 | $10,500 | $17,200 | - | - |
| 1879 - Shield | $871 | $1,250 | $2,740 | $2,870 | $4,050 | - | - |
| 1879 - Shield - C/O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail | $871 | $1,050 | $1,540 | $1,950 | $3,480 | - | - |
| 1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail | $871 | $1,220 | $1,740 | $3,040 | $3,840 | - | - |
| 1880 - Shield - Sydney | $871 | $1,990 | $2,320 | $3,460 | $4,850 | - | - |
| 1880 - Shield - Sydney - Inverted A/V | $14,900 | $18,200 | $22,400 | $26,600 | $32,300 | - | - |
| 1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - BP | $871 | $2,080 | $3,630 | $4,850 | $6,300 | - | - |
| 1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - No BP | $5,500 | $6,800 | $9,600 | $12,400 | $15,900 | - | - |
| 1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - BP | $1,700 | $2,340 | $3,340 | $4,030 | $5,200 | - | - |
| 1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - No BP | $3,830 | $5,500 | $7,700 | $9,900 | $12,200 | - | - |
| 1880 - Shield - Melbourne | $8,600 | $13,900 | $18,100 | $22,200 | $26,900 | - | - |
| 1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail | $871 | $1,140 | $1,690 | $2,470 | $3,630 | - | - |
| 1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail | $871 | $1,240 | $2,150 | $3,080 | $3,800 | - | - |
| 1881 - Shield - Sydney | $871 | $1,740 | $2,450 | $3,670 | $4,920 | - | - |
| 1881 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head | $871 | $2,220 | $3,020 | $3,820 | $5,200 | - | - |
| 1881 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head | $871 | $1,640 | $2,100 | $3,450 | $4,370 | - | - |
| 1881 - Shield - Melbourne | $1,760 | $4,130 | $6,200 | $7,200 | $10,900 | - | - |
| 1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail | $871 | $1,200 | $1,790 | $2,850 | $3,860 | - | - |
| 1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail | $871 | $1,740 | $3,140 | $3,880 | $4,880 | - | - |
| 1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Short Tail | $871 | $1,210 | $1,830 | $3,040 | $4,090 | - | - |
| 1882 - Shield - Sydney | $893 | $2,200 | $3,280 | $4,050 | $5,300 | - | - |
| 1882 - St. George - Sydney - BP | $871 | $986 | $1,630 | $2,470 | $3,560 | - | - |
| 1882 - St. George - Sydney - No BP | $871 | $938 | $1,400 | $2,660 | $3,420 | - | - |
| 1882 - Shield - Melbourne | $893 | $2,450 | $3,490 | $4,140 | $5,500 | - | - |
| 1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP | $871 | $1,450 | $2,230 | $3,040 | $4,000 | - | - |
| 1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP | $871 | $2,010 | $3,000 | $3,990 | $5,000 | - | - |
| 1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head | $1,320 | $1,840 | $3,440 | $4,410 | $5,600 | - | - |
| 1883 - Shield - Sydney | $871 | $1,400 | $2,210 | $3,140 | $4,040 | - | - |
| 1883 - St. George - Sydney | $1,590 | $2,720 | $3,840 | $5,400 | $6,800 | - | - |
| 1883 - Shield - Melbourne | $2,870 | $4,900 | $7,300 | $8,200 | $11,200 | - | - |
| 1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP | $871 | $940 | $1,430 | $1,960 | $2,930 | - | - |
| 1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP | $2,130 | $3,990 | $5,100 | $6,300 | $8,000 | - | - |
| 1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head | $1,080 | $1,160 | $1,950 | $2,360 | $2,810 | - | - |
| 1884 - Shield - Sydney | $871 | $1,580 | $1,820 | $3,670 | $3,710 | - | - |
| 1884 - St. George - Sydney | $871 | $1,170 | $1,780 | $2,850 | $3,850 | - | - |
| 1884 - Shield - Melbourne | $871 | $1,080 | $1,920 | $3,420 | $3,710 | - | - |
| 1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP | $871 | $1,080 | $1,750 | $2,930 | $3,300 | - | - |
| 1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head | $871 | $888 | $1,520 | $4,070 | - | - | - |
| 1885 - Shield - Sydney | $871 | $1,130 | $1,750 | $2,480 | $3,710 | - | - |
| 1885 - St. George - Sydney | $871 | $1,130 | $1,810 | $2,820 | $3,380 | - | - |
| 1885 - Shield - Melbourne | $871 | $1,080 | $2,090 | $2,800 | $3,830 | - | - |
| 1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP | $871 | $1,790 | $2,600 | $3,420 | $4,700 | - | - |
| 1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP | $4,080 | $6,100 | $8,700 | $11,400 | $14,300 | - | - |
| 1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - BP | $871 | $941 | $1,420 | $2,280 | $2,470 | - | - |
| 1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - No BP | $871 | $915 | $1,130 | $1,900 | $2,470 | - | - |
| 1886 - Shield - Sydney | $871 | $1,260 | $2,160 | $4,010 | $4,680 | - | - |
| 1886 - St. George - Sydney | $871 | $1,160 | $1,850 | $2,690 | $3,410 | - | - |
| 1886 - Shield - Melbourne | $28,100 | $46,900 | $56,300 | $65,700 | $77,900 | - | - |
| 1886 - St. George - Melbourne | $871 | $994 | $1,390 | $2,200 | $4,250 | - | - |
| 1887 - Shield - Sydney | $956 | $2,500 | $3,450 | $4,600 | $5,400 | - | - |
| 1887 - St. George - Sydney | $871 | $1,170 | $2,050 | $2,770 | $3,950 | - | - |
| 1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - SS JEB | $2,000 | $4,000 | $7,000 | $9,100 | $13,300 | $23,900 | - |
| 1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Normal JEB | $2,910 | $7,800 | $12,100 | $16,300 | $21,900 | - | - |
| 1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Long JEB | $4,080 | $4,240 | $12,100 | $16,300 | $21,900 | $24,800 | - |
| 1887 - Shield - Melbourne | $9,600 | $12,800 | $14,200 | $17,700 | $29,800 | - | - |
| 1887 - St. George - Melbourne | $871 | $1,170 | $1,860 | $2,200 | $3,480 | - | - |
| 1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - SS JEB | $871 | $1,280 | $1,580 | $2,200 | $3,480 | - | - |
| 1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - Normal JEB - Near G | $871 | $926 | $1,860 | $2,660 | $3,760 | - | - |
View the grading section to identify grades (G-4, F-12, AU-50, MS,..). You can switch the grades and values to ANDA adjectival standard.
