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.

AUD $USD $EUR €

Slide

  • Circulated
  • Uncirculated
Variety G-4 VG-8 F-12 VF-20 EF-40 AU-50
1855 -£456£742£1,540£1,880£6,400
1856 -£456£456£1,340£2,050£6,400
1857 --£456£456£456£1,060
1858 -£456£456£456£596£1,570
1859 ---£456£456£915
1860 --£456£456£701£1,590
1860 - 6/5 --£456£456£1,070£4,870
1861 --£456£456£456£740
1861 - 1/0 --£895£1,350£3,220£6,600
1862 --£456£456£456£1,190
1863 ---£456£456£724
1864 ---£456£456£456
1865 ---£456£456£660
1865 - 5/4 ----£4,670£9,100
1866 ---£456£456£456
1867 ---£456£456£456
1868 ---£456£456£456
1868 - 8/6 ------
1870 ---£456£456£456
1871 - Shield - Raised W.W. ---£456£456£456
1871 - Shield - Incuse W.W. ---£456£456£456
1871 - St. George - Small BP --£456£456£456£646
1871 - St. George - Large BP --£456£456£456£835
1872 - Shield - Sydney ---£456£456£456
1872 - St. George - Sydney ----£456£456
1872 - Shield - Melbourne ---£456£456£456
1872 - St. George - Melbourne --£456£456£456£954
1872 - Shield - Melbourne - 2/1 ---£557£825£1,360
1873 - St. George - Sydney ---£456£456£456
1873 - Shield ---£456£456£456
1873 - St. George - Melbourne ---£456£456£456
1874 - St. George - Sydney ---£456£456£456
1874 - St. George - Melbourne ---£456£456£456
1874 - Shield ---£456£456£456
1875 - St. George - Sydney ---£456£456£456
1875 - Shield ---£456£456£456
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---£456£456£456
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ------
1876 - St. George - Sydney ---£456£456£456
1876 - St. George - Melbourne ----£456£456
1877 - Shield ---£456£456£456
1877 - St. George - Long Tail ----£456£456
1877 - St. George - Medium Tail ------
1878 - Shield ---£456£456£456
1878 - St. George ----£456£456
1879 - St. George - Sydney --£456£456£456£787
1879 - Shield ---£456£456£456
1879 - Shield - C/O -----£3,280
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---£456£456£456
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ---£456£456£456
1880 - Shield - Sydney ---£456£456£456
1880 - Shield - Sydney - Inverted A/V ---£1,490£3,140£3,200
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - BP ---£456£456£456
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - No BP --£456£456£456£1,390
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - BP -----£456
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - No BP --£456£456£456£497
1880 - Shield - Melbourne ---£567£1,290£2,200
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---£456£456£456
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ---£456£456£456
1881 - Shield - Sydney ---£456£456£456
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head ---£456£456£456
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head ---£456£456£456
1881 - Shield - Melbourne ---£456£456£456
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---£456£456£456
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ---£456£456£456
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Short Tail ---£456£456£456
1882 - Shield - Sydney ---£456£456£456
1882 - St. George - Sydney - BP ---£456£456£456
1882 - St. George - Sydney - No BP ---£456£456£456
1882 - Shield - Melbourne ---£456£456£456
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP ---£456£456£456
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP ---£456£456£456
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head --£456£456£456£456
1883 - Shield - Sydney ---£456£456£456
1883 - St. George - Sydney ---£456£456£456
1883 - Shield - Melbourne ---£456£456£664
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP ---£456£456£456
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP --£456£456£456£517
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head ---£456£456£456
1884 - Shield - Sydney ---£456£456£456
1884 - St. George - Sydney ---£456£456£456
1884 - Shield - Melbourne ---£456£456£456
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP --£456£456£456£456
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP ------
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head ------
1885 - Shield - Sydney ---£456£456£456
1885 - St. George - Sydney --£456£456£456£456
1885 - Shield - Melbourne ---£456£456£456
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP --£456£456£456£456
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP --£456£456£456£537
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - BP ---£456£456£456
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - No BP ---£456£456£456
1886 - Shield - Sydney ---£456£456£456
1886 - St. George - Sydney ---£456£456£456
1886 - Shield - Melbourne ---£2,190£4,080£7,100
1886 - St. George - Melbourne ---£456£456£456
1887 - Shield - Sydney ---£456£456£456
1887 - St. George - Sydney ---£456£456£456
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - SS JEB ----£456£456
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Normal JEB ---£456£456£837
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Long JEB ---£456£456£795
1887 - Shield - Melbourne ---£547£1,390£2,780
1887 - St. George - Melbourne ---£456£456£456
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - SS JEB -----£456
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - Normal JEB - Near G ----£456£456
Variety MS-60 MS-62 MS-63 MS-64 MS-65 MS-66 MS-67
1855 £27,800£53,700£66,600£79,500£109,300--
1856 £27,800£53,700£66,600£79,500£109,300--
1857 £3,330£7,400£9,600£15,000£15,900--
1858 £7,100£11,100£18,400£21,900£34,800--
1859 £2,580£6,700£8,700£10,800£14,800--
1860 £6,700£14,100£25,000£31,800£35,800--
1860 - 6/5 £17,300£20,700£28,200£35,800£39,800--
1861 £1,860£4,970£6,600£8,200£10,500--
1861 - 1/0 £15,100£19,500£27,000£34,600---
1862 £4,450£6,400£10,000£12,500£17,500--
1863 £1,830£4,480£7,000£8,500£12,300--
1864 £879£2,320£3,110£7,100---
1865 £2,020£4,700£7,400£9,100£12,900--
1865 - 5/4 -------
1866 £760£1,440£2,160£3,050£3,930--
1867 £734£1,810£2,670£3,030£4,030--
1868 £788£1,730£2,440£3,180£4,030--
1868 - 8/6 -------
1870 £646£1,160£1,980£2,610£3,080--
1871 - Shield - Raised W.W. £456£849£1,290£1,670£2,450--
1871 - Shield - Incuse W.W. £456£818£1,340£1,670£2,450--
1871 - St. George - Small BP £2,000£3,530£5,200£7,000£8,800--
1871 - St. George - Large BP £2,450£4,370£6,000£7,600£10,700--
1872 - Shield - Sydney £556£1,480£2,110£2,500£3,390--
1872 - St. George - Sydney £489£1,600£2,630£3,380£4,520--
1872 - Shield - Melbourne £545£1,330£2,200£2,360£3,260--
1872 - St. George - Melbourne £2,560£4,970£7,700£10,400£12,500--
1872 - Shield - Melbourne - 2/1 £2,690£4,210£5,200£6,800£8,500--
1873 - St. George - Sydney £507£1,570£2,520£3,330£4,750--
1873 - Shield £456£1,060£1,640£2,040£2,710--
1873 - St. George - Melbourne £456£1,030£1,500£2,440£3,850--
1874 - St. George - Sydney £511£1,790£2,500£3,220£4,690--
1874 - St. George - Melbourne £456£1,320£1,720£2,730£4,100--
1874 - Shield £756£1,410£1,910£2,730£3,800--
1875 - St. George - Sydney £456£1,560£2,470£3,080£4,570--
1875 - Shield £456£902£1,380£1,760£2,530--
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail £456£720£1,090£1,460£2,200--
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail £456£712-----
1876 - St. George - Sydney £456£924£1,510£1,990£2,630--
1876 - St. George - Melbourne £456£906£920£1,440£1,870--
1877 - Shield £456£612£958£1,500£2,120--
1877 - St. George - Long Tail £456£622£900£1,330£1,950--
1877 - St. George - Medium Tail -£520£596----
1878 - Shield £456£635£1,070£1,630£2,120--
1878 - St. George £456£647£955£1,360£1,950--
1879 - St. George - Sydney £1,830£2,650£3,910£5,500£9,000--
1879 - Shield £456£652£1,430£1,500£2,120--
1879 - Shield - C/O -------
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail £456£551£806£1,020£1,820--
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail £456£640£912£1,590£2,010--
1880 - Shield - Sydney £456£1,040£1,210£1,810£2,540--
1880 - Shield - Sydney - Inverted A/V £7,800£9,500£11,700£13,900£16,900--
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - BP £456£1,090£1,900£2,530£3,300--
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - No BP £2,890£3,580£5,000£6,500£8,300--
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - BP £889£1,220£1,750£2,110£2,710--
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - No BP £2,000£2,880£4,030£5,200£6,400--
1880 - Shield - Melbourne £4,500£7,300£9,400£11,600£14,100--
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail £456£596£885£1,290£1,900--
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail £456£647£1,120£1,610£1,990--
1881 - Shield - Sydney £456£912£1,280£1,920£2,570--
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head £456£1,160£1,580£2,000£2,710--
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head £456£855£1,100£1,800£2,290--
1881 - Shield - Melbourne £923£2,160£3,250£3,780£5,700--
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail £456£629£937£1,490£2,020--
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail £456£908£1,640£2,030£2,550--
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Short Tail £456£634£956£1,590£2,140--
1882 - Shield - Sydney £467£1,150£1,720£2,120£2,800--
1882 - St. George - Sydney - BP £456£516£854£1,290£1,860--
1882 - St. George - Sydney - No BP £456£490£731£1,390£1,790--
1882 - Shield - Melbourne £467£1,280£1,820£2,170£2,900--
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP £456£761£1,170£1,590£2,090--
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP £456£1,050£1,570£2,090£2,630--
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head £689£962£1,800£2,310£2,940--
1883 - Shield - Sydney £456£732£1,150£1,640£2,110--
1883 - St. George - Sydney £834£1,430£2,010£2,820£3,550--
1883 - Shield - Melbourne £1,500£2,560£3,820£4,270£5,900--
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP £456£492£749£1,020£1,530--
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP £1,110£2,090£2,680£3,280£4,170--
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head £567£605£1,020£1,230£1,470--
1884 - Shield - Sydney £456£826£955£1,920£1,940--
1884 - St. George - Sydney £456£613£931£1,490£2,010--
1884 - Shield - Melbourne £456£563£1,000£1,790£1,940--
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP £456£567£915£1,530£1,730--
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP -------
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head £456£465£796£2,130---
1885 - Shield - Sydney £456£591£918£1,300£1,940--
1885 - St. George - Sydney £456£590£949£1,480£1,770--
1885 - Shield - Melbourne £456£567£1,100£1,460£2,000--
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP £456£934£1,360£1,790£2,460--
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP £2,130£3,180£4,570£6,000£7,500--
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - BP £456£492£741£1,190£1,290--
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - No BP £456£478£594£994£1,290--
1886 - Shield - Sydney £456£660£1,130£2,100£2,450--
1886 - St. George - Sydney £456£605£967£1,410£1,780--
1886 - Shield - Melbourne £14,700£24,500£29,500£34,400£40,800--
1886 - St. George - Melbourne £456£520£726£1,150£2,220--
1887 - Shield - Sydney £500£1,310£1,810£2,410£2,820--
1887 - St. George - Sydney £456£614£1,070£1,450£2,070--
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - SS JEB £1,040£2,090£3,650£4,770£7,000£12,500-
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Normal JEB £1,520£4,080£6,300£8,500£11,400--
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Long JEB £2,130£2,220£6,300£8,500£11,400£13,000-
1887 - Shield - Melbourne £5,000£6,700£7,400£9,200£15,600--
1887 - St. George - Melbourne £456£611£975£1,150£1,820--
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - SS JEB £456£668£825£1,150£1,820--
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - Normal JEB - Near G £456£484£972£1,390£1,970--

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.

Related numismatic tools, articles and links


Most valuable sovereigns

Sovereigns and half-sovereigns gold coins.

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