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 -£513£676£1,400£1,720£5,800
1856 -£513£513£1,220£1,860£5,800
1857 --£513£513£513£966
1858 -£513£513£513£543£1,430
1859 ---£513£513£833
1860 --£513£513£639£1,450
1860 - 6/5 --£513£513£978£4,440
1861 --£513£513£513£674
1861 - 1/0 --£815£1,230£2,930£6,000
1862 --£513£513£513£1,090
1863 ---£513£513£660
1864 ---£513£513£513
1865 ---£513£513£602
1865 - 5/4 ----£4,260£4,770
1866 ---£513£513£513
1867 ---£513£513£513
1868 ---£513£513£513
1868 - 8/6 ------
1870 ---£513£513£513
1871 - Shield - Raised W.W. ---£513£513£513
1871 - Shield - Incuse W.W. ---£513£513£513
1871 - St. George - Small BP --£513£513£513£589
1871 - St. George - Large BP --£513£513£513£761
1872 - Shield - Sydney ---£513£513£513
1872 - St. George - Sydney ----£513£513
1872 - Shield - Melbourne ---£513£513£513
1872 - St. George - Melbourne --£513£513£513£869
1872 - Shield - Melbourne - 2/1 ---£513£751£1,240
1873 - St. George - Sydney ---£513£513£513
1873 - Shield ---£513£513£513
1873 - St. George - Melbourne ---£513£513£513
1874 - St. George - Sydney ---£513£513£513
1874 - St. George - Melbourne ---£513£513£513
1874 - Shield ---£513£513£513
1875 - St. George - Sydney ---£513£513£513
1875 - Shield ---£513£513£513
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---£513£513£513
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ------
1876 - St. George - Sydney ---£513£513£513
1876 - St. George - Melbourne ----£513£513
1877 - Shield ---£513£513£513
1877 - St. George - Long Tail ----£513£513
1877 - St. George - Medium Tail ------
1878 - Shield ---£513£513£513
1878 - St. George ----£513£513
1879 - St. George - Sydney --£513£513£513£717
1879 - Shield ---£513£513£513
1879 - Shield - C/O -----£2,990
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---£513£513£513
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ---£513£513£513
1880 - Shield - Sydney ---£513£513£513
1880 - Shield - Sydney - Inverted A/V ---£1,360£2,860£2,910
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - BP ---£513£513£513
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - No BP --£513£513£513£1,270
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - BP -----£513
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - No BP --£513£513£513£513
1880 - Shield - Melbourne ---£516£1,180£2,260
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---£513£513£513
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ---£513£513£513
1881 - Shield - Sydney ---£513£513£513
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head ---£513£513£513
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head ---£513£513£513
1881 - Shield - Melbourne ---£513£513£513
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---£513£513£513
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ---£513£513£513
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Short Tail ---£513£513£513
1882 - Shield - Sydney ---£513£513£513
1882 - St. George - Sydney - BP ---£513£513£513
1882 - St. George - Sydney - No BP ---£513£513£513
1882 - Shield - Melbourne ---£513£513£513
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP ---£513£513£513
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP ---£513£513£513
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head --£513£513£513£513
1883 - Shield - Sydney ---£513£513£513
1883 - St. George - Sydney ---£513£513£513
1883 - Shield - Melbourne ---£513£513£605
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP ---£513£513£513
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP --£513£513£513£513
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head ---£513£513£513
1884 - Shield - Sydney ---£513£513£513
1884 - St. George - Sydney ---£513£513£513
1884 - Shield - Melbourne ---£513£513£513
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP --£513£513£513£513
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP ------
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head -----£513
1885 - Shield - Sydney ---£513£513£513
1885 - St. George - Sydney --£513£513£513£513
1885 - Shield - Melbourne ---£513£513£513
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP --£513£513£513£513
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP --£513£513£513£513
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - BP ---£513£513£513
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - No BP ---£513£513£513
1886 - Shield - Sydney ---£513£513£513
1886 - St. George - Sydney ---£513£513£513
1886 - Shield - Melbourne ---£1,990£3,710£6,400
1886 - St. George - Melbourne ---£513£513£513
1887 - Shield - Sydney ---£513£513£513
1887 - St. George - Sydney ---£513£513£513
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - SS JEB ----£513£513
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Normal JEB ---£513£513£762
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Long JEB ---£513£513£724
1887 - Shield - Melbourne ---£513£1,270£2,540
1887 - St. George - Melbourne ---£513£513£513
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - SS JEB -----£513
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - Normal JEB - Near G ----£513£513
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - Normal JEB - Far G -----£513
Variety MS-60 MS-62 MS-63 MS-64 MS-65 MS-66 MS-67
1855 £25,300£48,900£60,700£72,400£99,600--
1856 £25,300£48,900£60,700£72,400£99,600--
1857 £3,040£6,700£8,800£13,700£14,500--
1858 £6,500£10,100£16,800£19,900£31,700--
1859 £2,350£6,100£8,000£9,900£13,500--
1860 £6,100£12,900£22,800£29,000£32,600--
1860 - 6/5 £15,800£18,800£25,700£32,600£36,200--
1861 £1,690£4,530£6,000£7,400£9,600--
1861 - 1/0 £13,800£17,700£18,100£18,600£19,100--
1862 £4,050£5,800£9,100£11,400£15,900--
1863 £1,670£4,080£6,300£7,800£11,200--
1864 £801£2,110£2,830£6,400---
1865 £1,840£4,280£6,700£8,300£11,800--
1865 - 5/4 -------
1866 £692£1,350£1,980£2,780£3,580--
1867 £668£1,650£2,440£2,760£3,670--
1868 £718£1,590£2,220£2,900£3,670--
1868 - 8/6 -------
1870 £589£1,100£1,800£2,380£2,810--
1871 - Shield - Raised W.W. £513£774£1,170£1,520£2,230--
1871 - Shield - Incuse W.W. £513£748£1,220£1,520£2,230--
1871 - St. George - Small BP £1,820£3,210£4,780£6,300£8,100--
1871 - St. George - Large BP £2,230£3,980£5,400£6,900£9,800--
1872 - Shield - Sydney £513£1,350£1,920£2,280£3,090--
1872 - St. George - Sydney £513£1,530£2,400£3,080£4,120--
1872 - Shield - Melbourne £513£1,210£2,000£2,150£2,970--
1872 - St. George - Melbourne £2,330£4,530£7,000£9,500£11,400--
1872 - Shield - Melbourne - 2/1 £2,450£3,760£4,760£6,200£7,700--
1873 - St. George - Sydney £513£1,430£2,300£3,030£4,320--
1873 - Shield £513£964£1,490£1,860£2,470--
1873 - St. George - Melbourne £513£930£1,360£2,220£3,510--
1874 - St. George - Sydney £513£1,630£1,910£2,930£4,270--
1874 - St. George - Melbourne £513£1,200£1,600£2,490£3,730--
1874 - Shield £689£1,290£1,740£2,490£3,460--
1875 - St. George - Sydney £513£1,410£2,250£2,810£4,160--
1875 - Shield £513£822£1,250£1,600£2,300--
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail £513£656£986£1,330£2,000--
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail £513£639£680----
1876 - St. George - Sydney £513£856£1,370£1,810£2,400--
1876 - St. George - Melbourne £513£837£845£1,310£1,710--
1877 - Shield £513£581£873£1,370£1,930--
1877 - St. George - Long Tail £513£566£820£1,210£1,770--
1877 - St. George - Medium Tail £513£513£657----
1878 - Shield £513£579£977£1,480£1,930--
1878 - St. George £513£598£870£1,240£1,770--
1879 - St. George - Sydney £1,670£2,420£3,560£5,000£8,200--
1879 - Shield £513£594£1,310£1,370£1,930--
1879 - Shield - C/O -------
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail £513£513£734£929£1,660--
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail £513£601£831£1,450£1,830--
1880 - Shield - Sydney £513£949£1,100£1,650£2,310--
1880 - Shield - Sydney - Inverted A/V £7,100£8,700£10,700£12,700£15,400--
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - BP £513£989£1,730£2,310£3,010--
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - No BP £2,630£3,260£4,570£5,900£7,600--
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - BP £810£1,080£1,590£1,920£2,470--
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - No BP £1,820£2,630£3,670£4,710£5,800--
1880 - Shield - Melbourne £4,100£6,600£8,600£10,600£12,800--
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail £513£543£806£1,180£1,730--
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail £513£616£1,020£1,470£1,810--
1881 - Shield - Sydney £513£831£1,170£1,750£2,350--
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head £513£1,060£1,440£1,820£2,470--
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head £513£779£1,000£1,640£2,080--
1881 - Shield - Melbourne £840£1,970£2,970£3,440£5,200--
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail £513£568£854£1,370£1,840--
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail £513£827£1,490£1,850£2,330--
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Short Tail £513£577£871£1,350£3,580--
1882 - Shield - Sydney £513£1,050£1,560£1,930£2,550--
1882 - St. George - Sydney - BP £513£513£787£1,180£1,700--
1882 - St. George - Sydney - No BP £513£513£666£1,270£1,630--
1882 - Shield - Melbourne £513£1,170£1,660£1,970£2,640--
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP £513£693£1,060£1,450£1,910--
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP £513£960£1,430£1,900£2,400--
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head £628£877£1,640£2,100£2,680--
1883 - Shield - Sydney £513£667£1,050£1,490£1,920--
1883 - St. George - Sydney £759£1,300£1,830£2,570£3,230--
1883 - Shield - Melbourne £1,370£2,330£3,480£3,890£5,300--
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP £513£513£682£933£1,390--
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP £1,010£1,900£2,440£2,990£3,800--
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head £516£567£931£1,120£1,340--
1884 - Shield - Sydney £513£752£870£1,750£1,770--
1884 - St. George - Sydney £513£561£848£1,360£1,830--
1884 - Shield - Melbourne £513£525£914£1,630£1,770--
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP £513£516£833£1,390£1,570--
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP -------
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head £513£513£657£1,750---
1885 - Shield - Sydney £513£545£836£1,180£1,770--
1885 - St. George - Sydney £513£547£865£1,350£1,610--
1885 - Shield - Melbourne £513£516£998£1,330£1,820--
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP £513£739£1,240£1,630£2,240--
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP £1,940£2,900£4,160£5,400£6,800--
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - BP £513£513£675£1,100£1,180--
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - No BP £513£513£541£905£1,180--
1886 - Shield - Sydney £513£602£1,030£1,910£2,230--
1886 - St. George - Sydney £513£559£881£1,280£1,620--
1886 - Shield - Melbourne £13,400£22,400£26,800£31,300£37,100--
1886 - St. George - Melbourne £513£513£662£1,050£2,020--
1887 - Shield - Sydney £513£1,190£1,940£2,190£2,570--
1887 - St. George - Sydney £513£565£979£1,920£2,140--
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - SS JEB £952£1,910£3,330£4,350£6,300£11,400-
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Normal JEB £1,390£3,710£5,700£7,800£10,400--
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Long JEB £1,940£2,020£5,700£7,800£10,400£11,800-
1887 - Shield - Melbourne £4,610£6,900£9,800£11,800£14,200--
1887 - St. George - Melbourne £513£566£863£1,050£1,660--
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - SS JEB £513£609£751£1,560£1,660--
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - Normal JEB - Near G £513£513£885£1,270£1,790--
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - Normal JEB - Far G £513£513£569£625£892--

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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