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 -€440€857€1,770€2,180€7,400
1856 -€440€505€1,550€2,360€7,400
1857 --€440€440€468€1,220
1858 -€440€440€440€689€1,810
1859 ---€440€440€1,060
1860 --€440€440€810€1,840
1860 - 6/5 --€440€505€1,240€5,600
1861 --€440€440€440€855
1861 - 1/0 --€1,030€1,560€3,720€7,600
1862 --€440€440€467€1,380
1863 ---€440€440€836
1864 ---€440€440€507
1865 ---€440€440€763
1865 - 5/4 ----€5,400€10,600
1866 ---€440€440€440
1867 ---€440€440€440
1868 ---€440€440€442
1868 - 8/6 ------
1870 ---€440€440€440
1871 - Shield - Raised W.W. ---€440€440€440
1871 - Shield - Incuse W.W. ---€440€440€440
1871 - St. George - Small BP --€440€440€440€746
1871 - St. George - Large BP --€440€440€440€964
1872 - Shield - Sydney ---€440€440€440
1872 - St. George - Sydney ----€440€440
1872 - Shield - Melbourne ---€440€440€440
1872 - St. George - Melbourne --€440€440€440€1,100
1872 - Shield - Melbourne - 2/1 ---€643€953€1,570
1873 - St. George - Sydney ---€440€440€440
1873 - Shield ---€440€440€440
1873 - St. George - Melbourne ---€440€440€440
1874 - St. George - Sydney ---€440€440€440
1874 - St. George - Melbourne ---€440€440€440
1874 - Shield ---€440€440€440
1875 - St. George - Sydney ---€440€440€440
1875 - Shield ---€440€440€440
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---€440€440€440
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ------
1876 - St. George - Sydney ---€440€440€440
1876 - St. George - Melbourne ----€440€440
1877 - Shield ---€440€440€440
1877 - St. George - Long Tail ----€440€440
1877 - St. George - Medium Tail ------
1878 - Shield ---€440€440€440
1878 - St. George ----€440€440
1879 - St. George - Sydney --€440€440€440€909
1879 - Shield ---€440€440€440
1879 - Shield - C/O -----€3,790
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---€440€440€440
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ---€440€440€440
1880 - Shield - Sydney ---€440€440€440
1880 - Shield - Sydney - Inverted A/V ---€1,720€3,620€3,690
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - BP ---€440€440€440
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - No BP --€440€440€440€1,610
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - BP -----€440
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - No BP --€440€440€440€574
1880 - Shield - Melbourne ---€654€1,490€2,540
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---€440€440€440
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ---€440€440€440
1881 - Shield - Sydney ---€440€440€440
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head ---€440€440€440
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head ---€440€440€440
1881 - Shield - Melbourne ---€440€440€440
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail ---€440€440€440
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail ---€440€440€440
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Short Tail ---€440€440€440
1882 - Shield - Sydney ---€440€440€440
1882 - St. George - Sydney - BP ---€440€440€440
1882 - St. George - Sydney - No BP ---€440€440€440
1882 - Shield - Melbourne ---€440€440€440
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP ---€440€440€440
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP ---€440€440€440
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head --€440€440€440€440
1883 - Shield - Sydney ---€440€440€440
1883 - St. George - Sydney ---€440€440€440
1883 - Shield - Melbourne ---€440€440€767
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP ---€440€440€440
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP --€440€440€440€597
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head ---€440€440€440
1884 - Shield - Sydney ---€440€440€440
1884 - St. George - Sydney ---€440€440€440
1884 - Shield - Melbourne ---€440€440€440
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP --€440€440€440€440
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP ------
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head ------
1885 - Shield - Sydney ---€440€440€440
1885 - St. George - Sydney --€440€440€440€440
1885 - Shield - Melbourne ---€440€440€440
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP --€440€440€440€440
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP --€440€440€440€620
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - BP ---€440€440€440
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - No BP ---€440€440€440
1886 - Shield - Sydney ---€440€440€440
1886 - St. George - Sydney ---€440€440€440
1886 - Shield - Melbourne ---€2,530€4,710€8,200
1886 - St. George - Melbourne ---€440€440€440
1887 - Shield - Sydney ---€440€440€440
1887 - St. George - Sydney ---€440€440€440
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - SS JEB ----€440€440
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Normal JEB ---€440€505€967
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Long JEB ---€440€505€921
1887 - Shield - Melbourne ---€631€1,610€3,210
1887 - St. George - Melbourne ---€440€440€440
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - SS JEB -----€440
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - Normal JEB - Near G ----€440€440
Variety MS-60 MS-62 MS-63 MS-64 MS-65 MS-66 MS-67
1855 €32,100€62,000€76,900€91,800€126,300--
1856 €32,100€62,000€76,900€91,800€126,300--
1857 €3,850€8,500€11,100€17,300€18,400--
1858 €8,200€12,800€21,200€25,300€40,200--
1859 €2,980€7,700€10,100€12,500€17,100--
1860 €7,700€16,300€28,900€36,700€41,300--
1860 - 6/5 €20,000€23,900€32,600€41,300€45,900--
1861 €2,150€5,700€7,600€9,400€12,200--
1861 - 1/0 €17,500€22,500€31,200€39,900---
1862 €5,100€7,300€11,600€14,500€20,200--
1863 €2,110€5,200€8,000€9,900€14,200--
1864 €1,020€2,670€3,590€8,200---
1865 €2,330€5,400€8,500€10,600€14,900--
1865 - 5/4 -------
1866 €878€1,670€2,500€3,520€4,530--
1867 €847€2,100€3,090€3,500€4,650--
1868 €910€2,000€2,820€3,670€4,650--
1868 - 8/6 -------
1870 €747€1,340€2,280€3,020€3,560--
1871 - Shield - Raised W.W. €440€981€1,490€1,930€2,830--
1871 - Shield - Incuse W.W. €440€945€1,550€1,930€2,830--
1871 - St. George - Small BP €2,310€4,070€6,100€8,000€10,200--
1871 - St. George - Large BP €2,820€5,100€6,900€8,700€12,400--
1872 - Shield - Sydney €642€1,710€2,430€2,890€3,910--
1872 - St. George - Sydney €565€1,850€3,040€3,900€5,200--
1872 - Shield - Melbourne €629€1,530€2,540€2,720€3,770--
1872 - St. George - Melbourne €2,950€5,700€8,900€12,100€14,400--
1872 - Shield - Melbourne - 2/1 €3,110€4,870€6,000€7,800€9,800--
1873 - St. George - Sydney €585€1,810€2,910€3,840€5,500--
1873 - Shield €513€1,220€1,890€2,350€3,130--
1873 - St. George - Melbourne €475€1,190€1,730€2,810€4,450--
1874 - St. George - Sydney €590€2,070€2,890€3,720€5,400--
1874 - St. George - Melbourne €488€1,520€1,990€3,160€4,730--
1874 - Shield €873€1,630€2,200€3,160€4,390--
1875 - St. George - Sydney €526€1,800€2,850€3,560€5,300--
1875 - Shield €475€1,040€1,590€2,030€2,920--
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail €440€831€1,260€1,690€2,540--
1875 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail €451€822-----
1876 - St. George - Sydney €440€1,070€1,740€2,300€3,040--
1876 - St. George - Melbourne €440€1,050€1,060€1,660€2,160--
1877 - Shield €440€706€1,110€1,730€2,440--
1877 - St. George - Long Tail €440€718€1,040€1,530€2,250--
1877 - St. George - Medium Tail -€601€688----
1878 - Shield €440€734€1,240€1,880€2,440--
1878 - St. George €440€747€1,100€1,570€2,250--
1879 - St. George - Sydney €2,120€3,070€4,520€6,400€10,400--
1879 - Shield €440€753€1,660€1,730€2,440--
1879 - Shield - C/O -------
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail €440€637€931€1,180€2,100--
1879 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail €513€739€1,050€1,840€2,320--
1880 - Shield - Sydney €526€1,200€1,400€2,090€2,930--
1880 - Shield - Sydney - Inverted A/V €9,000€11,000€13,500€16,100€19,500--
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - BP €488€1,250€2,190€2,930€3,820--
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head - No BP €3,340€4,130€5,800€7,500€9,600--
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - BP €1,030€1,410€2,020€2,430€3,130--
1880 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head - No BP €2,310€3,330€4,650€6,000€7,300--
1880 - Shield - Melbourne €5,200€8,400€10,900€13,400€16,200--
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail €440€688€1,020€1,490€2,190--
1880 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail €440€747€1,300€1,860€2,300--
1881 - Shield - Sydney €481€1,050€1,480€2,220€2,970--
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 1st Head €449€1,340€1,820€2,310€3,130--
1881 - St. George - Sydney - 2nd Head €440€988€1,270€2,080€2,640--
1881 - Shield - Melbourne €1,070€2,500€3,760€4,360€6,600--
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Long Tail €440€727€1,080€1,720€2,330--
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Medium Tail €440€1,050€1,890€2,340€2,950--
1881 - St. George - Melbourne - Short Tail €440€732€1,100€1,840€2,470--
1882 - Shield - Sydney €539€1,330€1,980€2,440€3,230--
1882 - St. George - Sydney - BP €440€595€986€1,490€2,150--
1882 - St. George - Sydney - No BP €440€566€845€1,610€2,070--
1882 - Shield - Melbourne €539€1,480€2,110€2,500€3,350--
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP €440€879€1,350€1,840€2,420--
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP €513€1,220€1,810€2,410€3,040--
1882 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head €796€1,110€2,080€2,660€3,400--
1883 - Shield - Sydney €440€845€1,330€1,890€2,440--
1883 - St. George - Sydney €963€1,650€2,320€3,260€4,100--
1883 - Shield - Melbourne €1,730€2,960€4,410€4,940€6,800--
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP €440€568€865€1,180€1,770--
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP €1,280€2,410€3,100€3,790€4,820--
1883 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head €655€699€1,180€1,420€1,700--
1884 - Shield - Sydney €440€954€1,100€2,220€2,240--
1884 - St. George - Sydney €440€708€1,070€1,720€2,320--
1884 - Shield - Melbourne €440€650€1,160€2,070€2,240--
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP €440€655€1,060€1,770€1,930--
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP -------
1884 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head €440€537€919€2,460---
1885 - Shield - Sydney €440€683€1,060€1,500€2,240--
1885 - St. George - Sydney €440€682€1,100€1,710€2,040--
1885 - Shield - Melbourne €440€655€1,270€1,690€2,310--
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - BP €443€1,080€1,570€2,070€2,840--
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 1st Head - No BP €2,460€3,670€5,300€6,900€8,600--
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - BP €440€568€856€1,370€1,490--
1885 - St. George - Melbourne - 2nd Head - No BP €440€553€686€1,150€1,490--
1886 - Shield - Sydney €440€763€1,310€2,420€2,830--
1886 - St. George - Sydney €440€698€1,120€1,620€2,060--
1886 - Shield - Melbourne €16,900€28,300€34,000€39,700€47,100--
1886 - St. George - Melbourne €440€600€839€1,330€2,570--
1887 - Shield - Sydney €578€1,510€2,090€2,780€3,250--
1887 - St. George - Sydney €440€709€1,240€1,680€2,390--
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - SS JEB €1,210€2,420€4,220€5,500€8,000€14,400-
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Normal JEB €1,760€4,710€7,300€9,900€13,200--
1887 - Jubilee head - Sydney - Long JEB €2,460€2,560€7,300€9,900€13,200€15,000-
1887 - Shield - Melbourne €5,800€7,700€8,600€10,700€18,000--
1887 - St. George - Melbourne €440€705€1,130€1,330€2,100--
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - SS JEB €440€772€953€1,330€2,100--
1887 - Jubilee head - Melbourne - Normal JEB - Near G €440€559€1,120€1,610€2,270--

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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