Coins and Australia - Sovereign 1855 to 1887 - Australian coins price guide and values

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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.

Slide

Variety G-4 VG-8 F-12 VF-20 EF-40 AU-50
1855 -$1,080$1,420$2,940$3,600$12,200
1856 -$1,080$1,080$2,560$3,910$12,200
1857 --$1,080$1,080$1,080$2,030
1858 -$1,080$1,080$1,080$1,140$3,000
1859 ---$1,080$1,080$1,750
1860 --$1,080$1,080$1,340$3,050
1860 - 6/5 --$1,080$1,080$2,050$9,300
1861 --$1,080$1,080$1,080$1,410
1861 - 1/0 --$1,710$2,580$6,200$12,500
1862 --$1,080$1,080$1,080$2,280
1863 ---$1,080$1,080$1,380
1864 ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1865 ---$1,080$1,080$1,260
1865 - 5/4 ----$8,900$10,000
1866 ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1867 ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1868 ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1868 - 8/6 ------
1870 ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1871 - Shield - Raised W.W. ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1871 - Shield - Incuse W.W. ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1871 - St. George - Small BP --$1,080$1,080$1,080$1,240
1871 - St. George - Large BP --$1,080$1,080$1,080$1,600
1872 - Shield - Sydney ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1872 - St. George - Sydney ----$1,080$1,080
1872 - Shield - Melbourne ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1872 - St. George - Melbourne --$1,080$1,080$1,080$1,820
1872 - Shield - Melbourne - 2/1 ---$1,080$1,580$2,600
1873 - St. George - Sydney ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1873 - Shield ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1873 - St. George - Melbourne ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1874 - St. George - Sydney ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1874 - St. George - Melbourne ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1874 - Shield ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1875 - St. George - Sydney ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1875 - Shield ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ------
1876 - St. George - Sydney ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1876 - St. George - Melbourne ----$1,080$1,080
1877 - Shield ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1877 - St. George - Long Tail ----$1,080$1,080
1877 - St. George - Medium Tail ------
1878 - Shield ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1878 - St. George ----$1,080$1,080
1879 - St. George - Sydney --$1,080$1,080$1,080$1,500
1879 - Shield ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1879 - Shield - C/O -----$6,300
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1880 - Shield - Sydney ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1880 - Shield - Sydney - Inverted A/V ---$2,850$6,000$6,100
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - BP ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - No BP --$1,080$1,080$1,080$2,660
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - BP -----$1,080
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - No BP --$1,080$1,080$1,080$1,080
1880 - Shield - Melbourne ---$1,080$2,470$4,750
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1881 - Shield - Sydney ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1881 - Shield - Melbourne ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Short Tail ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1882 - Shield - Sydney ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1882 - St. George - Sydney - BP ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1882 - St. George - Sydney - No BP ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1882 - Shield - Melbourne ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head --$1,080$1,080$1,080$1,080
1883 - Shield - Sydney ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1883 - St. George - Sydney ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1883 - Shield - Melbourne ---$1,080$1,080$1,270
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP --$1,080$1,080$1,080$1,080
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1884 - Shield - Sydney ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1884 - St. George - Sydney ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1884 - Shield - Melbourne ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP --$1,080$1,080$1,080$1,080
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP ------
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head -----$1,080
1885 - Shield - Sydney ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1885 - St. George - Sydney --$1,080$1,080$1,080$1,080
1885 - Shield - Melbourne ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP --$1,080$1,080$1,080$1,080
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP --$1,080$1,080$1,080$1,080
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - BP ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - No BP ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1886 - Shield - Sydney ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1886 - St. George - Sydney ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1886 - Shield - Melbourne ---$4,180$7,800$13,500
1886 - St. George - Melbourne ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1887 - Shield - Sydney ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1887 - St. George - Sydney ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - SS JEB ----$1,080$1,080
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Normal JEB ---$1,080$1,080$1,600
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Long JEB ---$1,080$1,080$1,520
1887 - Shield - Melbourne ---$1,080$2,660$5,300
1887 - St. George - Melbourne ---$1,080$1,080$1,080
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - SS JEB -----$1,080
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - Normal JEB - Near G ----$1,080$1,080
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - Normal JEB - Far G -----$1,080
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$38,000$39,000$40,000--
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$2,840$4,150$5,800$7,500--
1867 $1,400$3,470$5,100$5,800$7,700--
1868 $1,510$3,340$4,670$6,100$7,700--
1868 - 8/6 -------
1870 $1,240$2,300$3,780$4,990$5,900--
1871 - Shield - Raised W.W. $1,080$1,620$2,460$3,190$4,680--
1871 - Shield - Incuse W.W. $1,080$1,570$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 $1,080$2,820$4,030$4,790$6,500--
1872 - St. George - Sydney $1,080$3,200$5,000$6,500$8,600--
1872 - Shield - Melbourne $1,080$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$7,900$10,000$12,900$16,200--
1873 - St. George - Sydney $1,080$3,000$4,820$6,400$9,100--
1873 - Shield $1,080$2,020$3,140$3,900$5,200--
1873 - St. George - Melbourne $1,080$1,950$2,860$4,660$7,400--
1874 - St. George - Sydney $1,080$3,420$4,000$6,200$9,000--
1874 - St. George - Melbourne $1,080$2,520$3,360$5,200$7,800--
1874 - Shield $1,450$2,700$3,650$5,200$7,300--
1875 - St. George - Sydney $1,080$2,970$4,720$5,900$8,700--
1875 - Shield $1,080$1,720$2,630$3,360$4,840--
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail $1,080$1,380$2,070$2,790$4,200--
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail $1,080$1,340$1,430----
1876 - St. George - Sydney $1,080$1,800$2,880$3,800$5,000--
1876 - St. George - Melbourne $1,080$1,760$1,770$2,750$3,580--
1877 - Shield $1,080$1,220$1,830$2,870$4,050--
1877 - St. George - Long Tail $1,080$1,190$1,720$2,540$3,720--
1877 - St. George - Medium Tail $1,080$1,080$1,380----
1878 - Shield $1,080$1,210$2,050$3,110$4,050--
1878 - St. George $1,080$1,250$1,830$2,600$3,720--
1879 - St. George - Sydney $3,510$5,100$7,500$10,500$17,200--
1879 - Shield $1,080$1,250$2,740$2,870$4,050--
1879 - Shield - C/O -------
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail $1,080$1,080$1,540$1,950$3,480--
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail $1,080$1,260$1,740$3,040$3,840--
1880 - Shield - Sydney $1,080$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 $1,080$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$2,260$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 $1,080$1,140$1,690$2,470$3,630--
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail $1,080$1,290$2,150$3,080$3,800--
1881 - Shield - Sydney $1,080$1,740$2,450$3,670$4,920--
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head $1,080$2,220$3,020$3,820$5,200--
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head $1,080$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 $1,080$1,190$1,790$2,890$3,860--
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail $1,080$1,740$3,140$3,880$4,880--
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Short Tail $1,080$1,210$1,830$2,830$7,500--
1882 - Shield - Sydney $1,080$2,200$3,280$4,050$5,300--
1882 - St. George - Sydney - BP $1,080$1,080$1,650$2,470$3,560--
1882 - St. George - Sydney - No BP $1,080$1,080$1,400$2,660$3,420--
1882 - Shield - Melbourne $1,080$2,450$3,490$4,140$5,500--
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP $1,080$1,450$2,230$3,040$4,000--
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP $1,080$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 $1,080$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 $1,080$1,080$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$1,190$1,950$2,360$2,810--
1884 - Shield - Sydney $1,080$1,580$1,820$3,670$3,710--
1884 - St. George - Sydney $1,080$1,180$1,780$2,850$3,850--
1884 - Shield - Melbourne $1,080$1,100$1,920$3,420$3,710--
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP $1,080$1,080$1,750$2,930$3,300--
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP -------
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head $1,080$1,080$1,380$3,680---
1885 - Shield - Sydney $1,080$1,140$1,750$2,480$3,710--
1885 - St. George - Sydney $1,080$1,150$1,810$2,820$3,380--
1885 - Shield - Melbourne $1,080$1,080$2,090$2,800$3,830--
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP $1,080$1,550$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 $1,080$1,080$1,420$2,310$2,470--
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - No BP $1,080$1,080$1,130$1,900$2,470--
1886 - Shield - Sydney $1,080$1,260$2,160$4,010$4,680--
1886 - St. George - Sydney $1,080$1,170$1,850$2,690$3,410--
1886 - Shield - Melbourne $28,100$46,900$56,300$65,700$77,900--
1886 - St. George - Melbourne $1,080$1,080$1,390$2,200$4,250--
1887 - Shield - Sydney $1,080$2,500$4,060$4,600$5,400--
1887 - St. George - Sydney $1,080$1,190$2,050$4,020$4,500--
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 $9,700$14,500$20,500$24,700$29,800--
1887 - St. George - Melbourne $1,080$1,190$1,810$2,200$3,480--
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - SS JEB $1,080$1,280$1,580$3,280$3,480--
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - Normal JEB - Near G $1,080$1,080$1,860$2,660$3,760--
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - Normal JEB - Far G $1,080$1,080$1,190$1,310$1,870--

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.

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