What is the value of an 1865 Australian Sovereign?

Answer 1

An Australia - Sydney Mint 1856 Sovereign, uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $135,000 AUD. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from $2,500 to $18,500 AUD.

An Australia - Sydney Mint 1856 Sovereign (Proof), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $400,000 AUD. There is only one known to exist.

A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation.

Answer 2

A "Sydney Mint Australia" 1864 22 carat gold Sovereign (Victoria), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $6,200 AUD. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from $450 to $1,300 AUD.

Mintage figures are unknown.

A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation.

These coins are difficult to explain. In the 19th century, Australia did not yet exist as a country, it was only a loose affiliation of Colonies governed from Britain.

Rather than send the gold back on a perilous voyage to England for minting into coins and then sending the coins back to the Colonies, the coins were minted, as was often the case, where the gold was mined from. Other than for the reverse of these coins, they are minted to the British pattern and specifications.

Answer 3

A "Sydney Mint - Australia" 1865 Half-Sovereign, uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $45,000 AUD. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from $500 to $12,500 AUD.

Mintage figures are unknown.

A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation.

Answer 4

Sovereigns are not gold plated, they are 22 carat gold.

An Australia - Sydney Mint 1855 Sovereign, uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $135,000 AUD. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from $2,500 to $18,500 AUD.

An Australia - Sydney Mint 1856 Sovereign (Proof), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $400,000 AUD. There is only one known to exist.

A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation.

Answer 5

An Australia - Sydney Mint 1857 gold Half-Sovereign (Type 2)(QV), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $25,000 AUD. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from $400 to $7,500 AUD.

A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation.

These coins are minted to the British standard for Sovereign coinage. They are not really considered to be Australian Coins, although they only circulated in the Australian Colonies, since Australia did not exist at the time and the Australian Colonies were using the British currency. The Sydney mint was operating as an outpost of the Royal Mint London.

Answer 6

An Australia - Sydney Mint - 1856 22 carat gold Half-Sovereign (Type 1/2)(Victoria)(hair high on back of head - no dot or berry above "L" of "HALF"), are not known to exist in uncirculated condition. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from $3,250 to $70,000 AUD.

An Australia - Sydney Mint - 1856 22 carat gold Half-Sovereign (Type 1/3)(Victoria)(hair high on back of head - dot above "L" of "HALF"), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $55,000 AUD. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from $350 to $20,000 AUD.

An Australia - Sydney Mint - 1856 22 carat gold Half-Sovereign (Type 2/3)(Victoria)(hair lower on back of head - dot above "L" of "HALF"), were possibly only struck as a pattern coin.

A reputable coin dealer will be able to positively identify the coin and give a more accurate valuation.

These coins are minted to the British standard for Sovereign coinage. They are not really considered to be Australian coins, although they only circulated in the Australian Colonies, since Australia did not exist at the time and the Australian Colonies were using the British currency. The Sydney mint was operating as an outpost of the Royal Mint London.

Answer 7

An Australia - Sydney Mint 1866 gold Sovereign (Type 2)(Victoria), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $4,000 AUD. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from $400 to $950 AUD.

An Australia - Sydney Mint 1866 gold Sovereign (Type 2)(Victoria)(Proof), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $175,000 AUD.

A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation.

These coins are minted to the British standard for Sovereign coinage. They are not really considered to be Australian coins, although they only circulated in the Australian Colonies, since Australia did not exist at the time and the Australian Colonies were using the British currency. The Sydney mint was operating as an outpost of the Royal Mint London.

Answer 8

A "Sydney Mint - Australia" 1865 22 carat gold Sovereign (Victoria), uncirculated and in absolute mint condition could fetch up to $13,500 AUD. If it has been circulated but still in good condition, it might fetch anything from $500 to $3,000 AUD.

Mintage is unknown.

A reputable coin dealer will be able to give a more accurate valuation.

What is often referred to as an "Australian" Sovereign or Half-Sovereign is a problem of categorisation.

British Sovereigns were minted at the Melbourne, Perth and Sydney Mints to the British pattern from 1871 to 1931 and have a Melbourne, Perth or Sydney Mint mintmark on them. These are definitely British Sovereigns, but minted in Australia (where the gold was mined from).

Sovereigns and Half-Sovereigns minted at the Sydney Mint for local use from 1853 to 1870 had "Sydney Mint" and "Australia" inscribed on them, but Australia did not exist as much more than a loose affiliation of British colonies. The loose affiliation got a little tighter in the 1890's, until Federation in 1901.