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 -€599€791€1,640€2,010€6,800
1856 -€599€599€1,430€2,180€6,800
1857 --€599€599€599€1,130
1858 -€599€599€599€635€1,670
1859 ---€599€599€974
1860 --€599€599€746€1,700
1860 - 6/5 --€599€599€1,140€5,200
1861 --€599€599€599€788
1861 - 1/0 --€952€1,440€3,430€7,000
1862 --€599€599€599€1,270
1863 ---€599€599€771
1864 ---€599€599€599
1865 ---€599€599€703
1865 - 5/4 ----€4,970€5,600
1866 ---€599€599€599
1867 ---€599€599€599
1868 ---€599€599€599
1868 - 8/6 ------
1870 ---€599€599€599
1871 - Shield - Raised W.W. ---€599€599€599
1871 - Shield - Incuse W.W. ---€599€599€599
1871 - St. George - Small BP --€599€599€599€688
1871 - St. George - Large BP --€599€599€599€889
1872 - Shield - Sydney ---€599€599€599
1872 - St. George - Sydney ----€599€599
1872 - Shield - Melbourne ---€599€599€599
1872 - St. George - Melbourne --€599€599€599€1,020
1872 - Shield - Melbourne - 2/1 ---€599€878€1,450
1873 - St. George - Sydney ---€599€599€599
1873 - Shield ---€599€599€599
1873 - St. George - Melbourne ---€599€599€599
1874 - St. George - Sydney ---€599€599€599
1874 - St. George - Melbourne ---€599€599€599
1874 - Shield ---€599€599€599
1875 - St. George - Sydney ---€599€599€599
1875 - Shield ---€599€599€599
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---€599€599€599
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ------
1876 - St. George - Sydney ---€599€599€599
1876 - St. George - Melbourne ----€599€599
1877 - Shield ---€599€599€599
1877 - St. George - Long Tail ----€599€599
1877 - St. George - Medium Tail ------
1878 - Shield ---€599€599€599
1878 - St. George ----€599€599
1879 - St. George - Sydney --€599€599€599€838
1879 - Shield ---€599€599€599
1879 - Shield - C/O -----€3,490
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---€599€599€599
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ---€599€599€599
1880 - Shield - Sydney ---€599€599€599
1880 - Shield - Sydney - Inverted A/V ---€1,590€3,340€3,400
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - BP ---€599€599€599
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - No BP --€599€599€599€1,480
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - BP -----€599
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - No BP --€599€599€599€599
1880 - Shield - Melbourne ---€603€1,380€2,650
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---€599€599€599
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ---€599€599€599
1881 - Shield - Sydney ---€599€599€599
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head ---€599€599€599
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head ---€599€599€599
1881 - Shield - Melbourne ---€599€599€599
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---€599€599€599
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ---€599€599€599
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Short Tail ---€599€599€599
1882 - Shield - Sydney ---€599€599€599
1882 - St. George - Sydney - BP ---€599€599€599
1882 - St. George - Sydney - No BP ---€599€599€599
1882 - Shield - Melbourne ---€599€599€599
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP ---€599€599€599
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP ---€599€599€599
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head --€599€599€599€599
1883 - Shield - Sydney ---€599€599€599
1883 - St. George - Sydney ---€599€599€599
1883 - Shield - Melbourne ---€599€599€707
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP ---€599€599€599
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP --€599€599€599€599
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head ---€599€599€599
1884 - Shield - Sydney ---€599€599€599
1884 - St. George - Sydney ---€599€599€599
1884 - Shield - Melbourne ---€599€599€599
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP --€599€599€599€599
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP ------
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head -----€599
1885 - Shield - Sydney ---€599€599€599
1885 - St. George - Sydney --€599€599€599€599
1885 - Shield - Melbourne ---€599€599€599
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP --€599€599€599€599
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP --€599€599€599€599
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - BP ---€599€599€599
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - No BP ---€599€599€599
1886 - Shield - Sydney ---€599€599€599
1886 - St. George - Sydney ---€599€599€599
1886 - Shield - Melbourne ---€2,330€4,340€7,500
1886 - St. George - Melbourne ---€599€599€599
1887 - Shield - Sydney ---€599€599€599
1887 - St. George - Sydney ---€599€599€599
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - SS JEB ----€599€599
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Normal JEB ---€599€599€891
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Long JEB ---€599€599€847
1887 - Shield - Melbourne ---€599€1,480€2,960
1887 - St. George - Melbourne ---€599€599€599
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - SS JEB -----€599
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - Normal JEB - Near G ----€599€599
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - Normal JEB - Far G -----€599
Variety MS-60 MS-62 MS-63 MS-64 MS-65 MS-66 MS-67
1855 €29,600€57,100€70,900€84,700€116,400--
1856 €29,600€57,100€70,900€84,700€116,400--
1857 €3,550€7,800€10,300€16,000€16,900--
1858 €7,600€11,800€19,600€23,300€37,000--
1859 €2,750€7,100€9,300€11,500€15,800--
1860 €7,100€15,000€26,700€33,900€38,100--
1860 - 6/5 €18,500€22,000€30,100€38,100€42,300--
1861 €1,980€5,300€7,000€8,700€11,200--
1861 - 1/0 €16,100€20,700€21,200€21,700€22,300--
1862 €4,730€6,800€10,700€13,300€18,600--
1863 €1,950€4,770€7,400€9,100€13,100--
1864 €936€2,470€3,310€7,500---
1865 €2,150€5,000€7,800€9,700€13,800--
1865 - 5/4 -------
1866 €809€1,580€2,310€3,250€4,180--
1867 €781€1,930€2,850€3,230€4,290--
1868 €839€1,860€2,600€3,390€4,290--
1868 - 8/6 -------
1870 €688€1,280€2,100€2,780€3,280--
1871 - Shield - Raised W.W. €599€904€1,370€1,780€2,610--
1871 - Shield - Incuse W.W. €599€874€1,430€1,780€2,610--
1871 - St. George - Small BP €2,130€3,760€5,600€7,400€9,400--
1871 - St. George - Large BP €2,600€4,660€6,300€8,000€11,400--
1872 - Shield - Sydney €599€1,570€2,240€2,670€3,610--
1872 - St. George - Sydney €599€1,780€2,800€3,600€4,820--
1872 - Shield - Melbourne €599€1,410€2,340€2,510€3,480--
1872 - St. George - Melbourne €2,720€5,300€8,200€11,100€13,300--
1872 - Shield - Melbourne - 2/1 €2,860€4,400€5,600€7,200€9,000--
1873 - St. George - Sydney €599€1,670€2,680€3,550€5,100--
1873 - Shield €599€1,130€1,750€2,170€2,880--
1873 - St. George - Melbourne €599€1,090€1,590€2,590€4,100--
1874 - St. George - Sydney €599€1,900€2,230€3,430€5,000--
1874 - St. George - Melbourne €599€1,400€1,870€2,910€4,370--
1874 - Shield €805€1,500€2,030€2,910€4,050--
1875 - St. George - Sydney €599€1,650€2,630€3,280€4,870--
1875 - Shield €599€960€1,470€1,870€2,690--
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail €599€766€1,150€1,560€2,340--
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail €599€747€795----
1876 - St. George - Sydney €599€1,000€1,600€2,120€2,800--
1876 - St. George - Melbourne €599€978€987€1,530€1,990--
1877 - Shield €599€679€1,020€1,600€2,250--
1877 - St. George - Long Tail €599€662€958€1,410€2,070--
1877 - St. George - Medium Tail €599€599€767----
1878 - Shield €599€676€1,140€1,730€2,250--
1878 - St. George €599€699€1,020€1,450€2,070--
1879 - St. George - Sydney €1,950€2,830€4,170€5,900€9,600--
1879 - Shield €599€694€1,530€1,600€2,250--
1879 - Shield - C/O -------
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail €599€599€858€1,090€1,940--
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail €599€703€971€1,690€2,140--
1880 - Shield - Sydney €599€1,110€1,290€1,930€2,700--
1880 - Shield - Sydney - Inverted A/V €8,300€10,200€12,500€14,800€18,000--
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - BP €599€1,160€2,020€2,700€3,520--
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - No BP €3,080€3,810€5,300€6,900€8,800--
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - BP €947€1,260€1,860€2,240€2,890--
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - No BP €2,130€3,070€4,290€5,500€6,800--
1880 - Shield - Melbourne €4,790€7,700€10,100€12,400€15,000--
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail €599€634€942€1,380€2,020--
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail €599€720€1,200€1,720€2,120--
1881 - Shield - Sydney €599€971€1,360€2,040€2,740--
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head €599€1,240€1,680€2,130€2,890--
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head €599€911€1,170€1,920€2,430--
1881 - Shield - Melbourne €982€2,300€3,470€4,020€6,100--
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail €599€664€998€1,610€2,150--
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail €599€966€1,750€2,160€2,720--
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Short Tail €599€675€1,020€1,570€4,190--
1882 - Shield - Sydney €599€1,220€1,830€2,250€2,980--
1882 - St. George - Sydney - BP €599€599€920€1,380€1,980--
1882 - St. George - Sydney - No BP €599€599€779€1,480€1,900--
1882 - Shield - Melbourne €599€1,360€1,940€2,310€3,080--
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP €599€810€1,240€1,690€2,230--
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP €599€1,120€1,670€2,220€2,800--
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head €734€1,020€1,920€2,460€3,130--
1883 - Shield - Sydney €599€779€1,230€1,750€2,250--
1883 - St. George - Sydney €888€1,520€2,140€3,010€3,780--
1883 - Shield - Melbourne €1,600€2,730€4,060€4,550€6,200--
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP €599€599€798€1,090€1,630--
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP €1,180€2,220€2,860€3,490€4,440--
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head €604€663€1,090€1,310€1,570--
1884 - Shield - Sydney €599€880€1,020€2,040€2,060--
1884 - St. George - Sydney €599€656€991€1,590€2,140--
1884 - Shield - Melbourne €599€614€1,070€1,900€2,060--
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP €599€604€974€1,630€1,840--
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP -------
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head €599€599€768€2,050---
1885 - Shield - Sydney €599€637€977€1,380€2,070--
1885 - St. George - Sydney €599€639€1,010€1,570€1,880--
1885 - Shield - Melbourne €599€604€1,170€1,560€2,130--
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP €599€864€1,450€1,900€2,620--
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP €2,270€3,390€4,870€6,300€7,900--
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - BP €599€599€789€1,290€1,380--
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - No BP €599€599€632€1,060€1,380--
1886 - Shield - Sydney €599€703€1,200€2,230€2,610--
1886 - St. George - Sydney €599€654€1,030€1,500€1,900--
1886 - Shield - Melbourne €15,600€26,100€31,400€36,600€43,400--
1886 - St. George - Melbourne €599€599€773€1,220€2,370--
1887 - Shield - Sydney €599€1,390€2,260€2,560€3,000--
1887 - St. George - Sydney €599€660€1,140€2,240€2,510--
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - SS JEB €1,110€2,230€3,890€5,100€7,400€13,300-
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Normal JEB €1,620€4,340€6,700€9,100€12,200--
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Long JEB €2,270€2,360€6,700€9,100€12,200€13,800-
1887 - Shield - Melbourne €5,400€8,100€11,400€13,800€16,600--
1887 - St. George - Melbourne €599€662€1,010€1,230€1,940--
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - SS JEB €599€712€878€1,820€1,940--
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - Normal JEB - Near G €599€599€1,030€1,480€2,100--
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - Normal JEB - Far G €599€599€665€730€1,040--

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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