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 -$637$1,240$2,570$3,150$10,600
1856 -$637$730$2,240$3,420$10,700
1857 --$637$637$676$1,770
1858 -$637$637$637$996$2,620
1859 ---$637$637$1,530
1860 --$637$637$1,170$2,660
1860 - 6/5 --$637$730$1,790$8,100
1861 --$637$637$637$1,240
1861 - 1/0 --$1,490$2,260$5,400$11,000
1862 --$637$637$675$1,990
1863 ---$637$637$1,210
1864 ---$637$637$734
1865 ---$637$637$1,100
1865 - 5/4 ----$7,800$15,300
1866 ---$637$637$637
1867 ---$637$637$637
1868 ---$637$637$640
1868 - 8/6 ------
1870 ---$637$637$637
1871 - Shield - Raised W.W. ---$637$637$637
1871 - Shield - Incuse W.W. ---$637$637$637
1871 - St. George - Small BP --$637$637$637$1,080
1871 - St. George - Large BP --$637$637$637$1,390
1872 - Shield - Sydney ---$637$637$637
1872 - St. George - Sydney ----$637$637
1872 - Shield - Melbourne ---$637$637$637
1872 - St. George - Melbourne --$637$637$637$1,590
1872 - Shield - Melbourne - 2/1 ---$929$1,380$2,270
1873 - St. George - Sydney ---$637$637$637
1873 - Shield ---$637$637$637
1873 - St. George - Melbourne ---$637$637$637
1874 - St. George - Sydney ---$637$637$637
1874 - St. George - Melbourne ---$637$637$637
1874 - Shield ---$637$637$637
1875 - St. George - Sydney ---$637$637$637
1875 - Shield ---$637$637$637
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---$637$637$637
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ------
1876 - St. George - Sydney ---$637$637$637
1876 - St. George - Melbourne ----$637$637
1877 - Shield ---$637$637$637
1877 - St. George - Long Tail ----$637$637
1877 - St. George - Medium Tail ------
1878 - Shield ---$637$637$637
1878 - St. George ----$637$637
1879 - St. George - Sydney --$637$637$637$1,310
1879 - Shield ---$637$637$637
1879 - Shield - C/O -----$5,500
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---$637$637$637
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ---$637$637$637
1880 - Shield - Sydney ---$637$637$637
1880 - Shield - Sydney - Inverted A/V ---$2,490$5,200$5,300
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - BP ---$637$637$637
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - No BP --$637$637$637$2,320
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - BP -----$637
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - No BP --$637$637$637$830
1880 - Shield - Melbourne ---$946$2,160$3,670
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---$637$637$637
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ---$637$637$637
1881 - Shield - Sydney ---$637$637$637
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head ---$637$637$637
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head ---$637$637$637
1881 - Shield - Melbourne ---$637$637$637
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---$637$637$637
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ---$637$637$637
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Short Tail ---$637$637$637
1882 - Shield - Sydney ---$637$637$637
1882 - St. George - Sydney - BP ---$637$637$637
1882 - St. George - Sydney - No BP ---$637$637$637
1882 - Shield - Melbourne ---$637$637$637
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP ---$637$637$637
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP ---$637$637$637
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head --$637$637$637$637
1883 - Shield - Sydney ---$637$637$637
1883 - St. George - Sydney ---$637$637$637
1883 - Shield - Melbourne ---$637$637$1,110
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP ---$637$637$637
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP --$637$637$637$863
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head ---$637$637$637
1884 - Shield - Sydney ---$637$637$637
1884 - St. George - Sydney ---$637$637$637
1884 - Shield - Melbourne ---$637$637$637
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP --$637$637$637$637
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP ------
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head ------
1885 - Shield - Sydney ---$637$637$637
1885 - St. George - Sydney --$637$637$637$637
1885 - Shield - Melbourne ---$637$637$637
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP --$637$637$637$637
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP --$637$637$637$896
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - BP ---$637$637$637
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - No BP ---$637$637$637
1886 - Shield - Sydney ---$637$637$637
1886 - St. George - Sydney ---$637$637$637
1886 - Shield - Melbourne ---$3,650$6,800$11,800
1886 - St. George - Melbourne ---$637$637$637
1887 - Shield - Sydney ---$637$637$637
1887 - St. George - Sydney ---$637$637$637
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - SS JEB ----$637$637
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Normal JEB ---$637$730$1,400
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Long JEB ---$637$730$1,330
1887 - Shield - Melbourne ---$913$2,320$4,650
1887 - St. George - Melbourne ---$637$637$637
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - SS JEB -----$637
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - Normal JEB - Near G ----$637$637
Variety MS-60 MS-62 MS-63 MS-64 MS-65 MS-66 MS-67
1855 $46,400$89,600$111,200$132,800$182,600--
1856 $46,400$89,600$111,200$132,800$182,600--
1857 $5,600$12,300$16,100$25,100$26,600--
1858 $11,900$18,600$30,700$36,500$58,100--
1859 $4,320$11,100$14,600$18,100$24,700--
1860 $11,100$23,600$41,800$53,100$59,700--
1860 - 6/5 $29,000$34,500$47,100$59,700$66,400--
1861 $3,100$8,300$11,000$13,600$17,600--
1861 - 1/0 $25,200$32,500$45,100$57,800---
1862 $7,400$10,600$16,800$20,900$29,200--
1863 $3,050$7,500$11,600$14,300$20,600--
1864 $1,470$3,870$5,200$11,800---
1865 $3,370$7,800$12,300$15,300$21,600--
1865 - 5/4 -------
1866 $1,270$2,410$3,610$5,100$6,600--
1867 $1,230$3,030$4,460$5,100$6,700--
1868 $1,320$2,890$4,080$5,300$6,700--
1868 - 8/6 -------
1870 $1,080$1,930$3,300$4,360$5,100--
1871 - Shield - Raised W.W. $637$1,420$2,150$2,790$4,090--
1871 - Shield - Incuse W.W. $637$1,370$2,240$2,790$4,090--
1871 - St. George - Small BP $3,340$5,900$8,800$11,600$14,800--
1871 - St. George - Large BP $4,080$7,300$10,000$12,600$17,900--
1872 - Shield - Sydney $928$2,470$3,520$4,180$5,700--
1872 - St. George - Sydney $817$2,670$4,400$5,600$7,600--
1872 - Shield - Melbourne $910$2,210$3,670$3,930$5,500--
1872 - St. George - Melbourne $4,270$8,300$12,900$17,400$20,800--
1872 - Shield - Melbourne - 2/1 $4,490$7,000$8,700$11,300$14,200--
1873 - St. George - Sydney $846$2,620$4,210$5,600$7,900--
1873 - Shield $742$1,770$2,740$3,400$4,520--
1873 - St. George - Melbourne $687$1,720$2,500$4,070$6,400--
1874 - St. George - Sydney $854$2,990$4,180$5,400$7,800--
1874 - St. George - Melbourne $705$2,200$2,880$4,560$6,800--
1874 - Shield $1,260$2,360$3,180$4,560$6,300--
1875 - St. George - Sydney $761$2,610$4,120$5,100$7,600--
1875 - Shield $687$1,510$2,300$2,940$4,220--
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail $637$1,200$1,830$2,440$3,670--
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail $652$1,190-----
1876 - St. George - Sydney $637$1,540$2,510$3,320$4,400--
1876 - St. George - Melbourne $637$1,510$1,540$2,400$3,130--
1877 - Shield $637$1,020$1,600$2,510$3,540--
1877 - St. George - Long Tail $637$1,040$1,500$2,210$3,250--
1877 - St. George - Medium Tail -$869$994----
1878 - Shield $637$1,060$1,790$2,720$3,540--
1878 - St. George $637$1,080$1,600$2,270$3,250--
1879 - St. George - Sydney $3,060$4,430$6,500$9,200$15,000--
1879 - Shield $637$1,090$2,390$2,510$3,540--
1879 - Shield - C/O -------
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail $637$921$1,350$1,700$3,040--
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail $742$1,070$1,520$2,660$3,350--
1880 - Shield - Sydney $761$1,740$2,020$3,020$4,240--
1880 - Shield - Sydney - Inverted A/V $13,000$15,900$19,600$23,200$28,200--
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - BP $705$1,810$3,170$4,230$5,500--
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - No BP $4,830$6,000$8,400$10,800$13,900--
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - BP $1,480$2,040$2,920$3,520$4,530--
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - No BP $3,340$4,810$6,700$8,600$10,600--
1880 - Shield - Melbourne $7,500$12,100$15,800$19,400$23,500--
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail $637$995$1,480$2,160$3,170--
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail $637$1,080$1,880$2,690$3,320--
1881 - Shield - Sydney $696$1,520$2,140$3,200$4,300--
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head $650$1,940$2,640$3,340$4,530--
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head $637$1,430$1,840$3,010$3,820--
1881 - Shield - Melbourne $1,540$3,610$5,400$6,300$9,500--
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail $637$1,050$1,560$2,490$3,370--
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail $637$1,520$2,740$3,390$4,270--
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Short Tail $637$1,060$1,600$2,660$3,570--
1882 - Shield - Sydney $780$1,920$2,860$3,540$4,670--
1882 - St. George - Sydney - BP $637$861$1,430$2,160$3,110--
1882 - St. George - Sydney - No BP $637$819$1,220$2,320$2,990--
1882 - Shield - Melbourne $780$2,140$3,050$3,620$4,840--
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP $637$1,270$1,950$2,660$3,490--
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP $742$1,760$2,620$3,490$4,400--
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head $1,150$1,610$3,000$3,850$4,910--
1883 - Shield - Sydney $637$1,220$1,930$2,740$3,530--
1883 - St. George - Sydney $1,390$2,380$3,350$4,710$5,900--
1883 - Shield - Melbourne $2,510$4,280$6,400$7,100$9,800--
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP $637$821$1,250$1,710$2,560--
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP $1,860$3,490$4,480$5,500$7,000--
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head $947$1,010$1,710$2,060$2,460--
1884 - Shield - Sydney $637$1,380$1,590$3,210$3,240--
1884 - St. George - Sydney $637$1,020$1,550$2,490$3,360--
1884 - Shield - Melbourne $637$941$1,680$2,990$3,240--
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP $637$947$1,530$2,560$2,800--
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP -------
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head $637$776$1,330$3,560---
1885 - Shield - Sydney $637$987$1,530$2,170$3,240--
1885 - St. George - Sydney $637$986$1,590$2,470$2,950--
1885 - Shield - Melbourne $637$947$1,830$2,440$3,340--
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP $640$1,560$2,270$2,990$4,110--
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP $3,560$5,300$7,600$10,000$12,400--
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - BP $637$822$1,240$1,990$2,160--
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - No BP $637$799$991$1,660$2,160--
1886 - Shield - Sydney $637$1,100$1,890$3,500$4,090--
1886 - St. George - Sydney $637$1,010$1,610$2,350$2,980--
1886 - Shield - Melbourne $24,500$41,000$49,200$57,400$68,000--
1886 - St. George - Melbourne $637$868$1,210$1,920$3,710--
1887 - Shield - Sydney $835$2,190$3,020$4,020$4,710--
1887 - St. George - Sydney $637$1,020$1,790$2,420$3,450--
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - SS JEB $1,740$3,490$6,100$8,000$11,600$20,900-
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Normal JEB $2,540$6,800$10,500$14,300$19,100--
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Long JEB $3,560$3,710$10,500$14,300$19,100$21,600-
1887 - Shield - Melbourne $8,400$11,200$12,400$15,400$26,100--
1887 - St. George - Melbourne $637$1,020$1,630$1,920$3,040--
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - SS JEB $637$1,120$1,380$1,930$3,040--
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - Normal JEB - Near G $637$809$1,620$2,320$3,290--

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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