Australasian Tokens and Coins
Australian Gold Coins
While South Australia grappled boldly with the difficulties arising from che abundant yield of gold from many fields, the other colonies were by no means idle, but evidently preferred to act in more constitutional ways. As early as December, 1851, the Legislative Council of New South Wales sent Home a petition to the Queen, asking for the establishment of a branch of the Royal Mint in Sydney. In July, 1852, the Legislative Council of Victoria presented a similar petition, asking for a Mint to coin gold in Melbourne for Victorian use only. In October the same year South Australia also petitioned for a Mint in Adelaide. The necessary delay while the Home Authorities were considering, with an accentuation of the local trouble, led to the South Australian action, as above mentioned.
The Home Authorities evidently thought the matter worthy of very grave consideration, and especially the question whether one Mint in Sydney would not be sufficient to meet the difficulty and avoid the expense of several establishments. The intention then was merely to mint gold coins to supply the local wants of Aus- tralia, and render the gold more easily marketable elsewhere, though there was no intention of making the coins legal currency outside of New South Wales. Under a Proclamation by the Queen, and an Order-in-Council dated 19th August, 1853, the Sydney Mint was decided on, though not brought into action till May, 1855. It was constituted a branch of and subordinate to the Royal Mint for the coinage of gold only-sovereigns and half-sovereigns. The Sydney coins were not accepted as legal tender outside the limits of New South Wales, and consequently much dissatisfaction and trouble was caused by their circulation in other colonies. Though assay showed that they were intrinsically worth about one-tenth part of a penny more than the produce of the London Mint, they were only received there as bullion, and each worth 198. Iod. Melbourne would only receive them at a discount of a shilling, and most of the London banks made the same charge.
The Mint was opened for the receipt of gold on 14th May, and the first issue of coins made on 23rd June, 1855. It is claimed that the very first piece struck is now in the possession of a well-known resident of Sydney. It was preserved by someone attached to the Mint as a curio.
Within a very short time a change of opinion regarding the value of the colonial product must have taken place, for the Sydney Empire newspaper, in June, 1856, shows that the fact of it being alloyed with silver instead of copper, as were the Imperial issues, was officially recognised; the balance in favour of the Sydney coin being about iod. per ounce. In July, 1857, they were made legal tender in Victoria. In this connection there is some explanation wanted. The legislation appears to have been under Section 14 of the Act 26 Vict. No. 425, dated 20th April, 1864. Under this section it is provided that
Certain gold coins called Australian sovereigns and half-sovereigns, struck at the branch of Her Majesty's Royal Mint at Sydney, in the colony of New South Wales, shall be, and shall be deemed to have been from the four- teenth day of juin, A.D. 1857, current and lawful money within Victoria, together with and in like manner as current coin of the realm.
It is difficult to understand the circumstances which would be met by the Act being made ret: spective for such a long period as seven years when dealing with transactions generally completed within a day or two. In July, 1862, a Select ommittee of the House of Commons recommended that : Gold coins issued from the branch Mint at Sydney should have as nearly as possible the same alloy, and the same quality of execution as those struck at the London Mint, and also should have currency in the British Dominions as those minted in London. Further, that they should be distinguished by a Mint mark sufficient to allow bankers and others to recognise their origin. These recommen- dations were given effect to by Imperial Proclamation, 6th February, 1867, but not carried out till 1871, since which time the London and colonial issues have been identical, except that the latter bear a Mint mark. In 1872, a second branch of the Imperial Mint was opened in Australia at Melbourne; and in 1899, a third at Perth in Western Australia. Many millions of pieces have been struck in these establish- ments, and frequently they have supplied the whole Imperial gold coinage for a year.
The dies used from the commencement have been supplied from the London Mint, those used for the first issue in 1855, being by James Wyon; the second issue in 1857, by L. C. Wyon; in 1871, by W. Wyon; in 1887, by J. Boehm; in 1893, by T. Brock; in 1902, by De Saulles; and in 1911, by Bertram Mackennal.
Since the commencement of work at the Sydney Mint, sovereigns have been issued each year, and also at Melbourne and Perth Mints since their installation. Halſ-sovereigns have not been issued every year, there at times being a gap of three or four years when none were coined. It is not uncommon when looking over a series to find pieces with dates which the detailed lists of the Mints indicate as years when none were struck. This is accounted for at times by the delay in the dies reaching Australia, and then being used perhaps after the commencement of the following year. In the detailed list which follows, every date will be indicated as far as possible, with the understanding that errors may be found due to that circumstance.
Sovereigns and Half-Sovereigns
826
Sovereign. 1855. Sydney Mint. Pl. 57.
- Obverse. Plain filleted head of Queen Victoria to left with date under. VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIAR: REGINA F: D: round.
- Reverse. AUSTRALIA under a Royal Crown, within a wreath of laurel, above SYDNEY MINT, and below, ONE SOVEREIGN. Edge milled.
A pattern of this piece with the date 1853 is in the London Mint Museum.
827
* Half-Sovereign. Sydney Mint. 1855.
- Obverse. As No. 826.
- Reverse. As No. 826, with HALF SOVEREIGN below, in place of SOVEREIGN.
In 1856, both denominations were issued with alteration of the date only.
828
* Sovereign. 1857. Sydney. (L. C. Wyon.) Pl. 57.
- Obverse. Has VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D: with the Queen's head to left wreathed with waratah round the hair, which is plaited, the date below.
- Reverse. As No. 826. Edge milled.
829
* Half-Sovereign. 1857. Sydney.
- Obverse. As No. 828.
- Reverse. As No. 828, with HALF SOVEREIGN.
These two issues were repeated each year till and including 1870, except that no half-sovereigns were issued in 1864, 1866, 1868, and 1870.
830
Sovereign. 1871. Sydney. (W. Wyon.) Pl. 57.
- Obverse. Filleted head of the Queen to left, with W.W. on the truncation of the neck and a minute S under. Legend, VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:
- Reverse. St. George and Dragon as designed by Bernardetto Pistrucci for the Crown of Geo. III in 1818. His initials in very small letters are under the base on the right. The date 1871 in exergue. Edge milled.
831
Sovereign. 1871. Sydney. Pl. 57.
- Obverse. As No. 830, without the Mint mark S under the head, and the legend reading VICTORIA DEI GRATIA.
- Reverse. BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID: DEF: with shield of garnished and crowned; below a minute S as Mint mark. Edge milled.
Both Nos. 830 and 831 were issued by the Sydney Mint for each year till and including 1887. The No. 831 pieces were made for export to India chiefly as the design was preferred there. Similar issues with a small Mas Mint mark were also issued by the Melbourne Mint each year from 1872, when that Mint was established.
832
Half-Sovereign. 1872. Sydney. Pl. 57.
- Obverse. As No. 830.
- Reverse. As No. 831 with the omission of the laurel wreath and rose, shamrock and thistle under.
These were issued by Sydney Mint in 1872, 1874, 1876, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1886, and 1887; by Melbourne in 1873, 1877, 1881, 1884 1885, and 1886.
833
Sovereign. Sydney. 1873.
- Obverse. As No. 830, but the Mint mark S is larger.
- Reverse. As No. 830.
834
Sovereign. 1880. Sydney.
- Obverse. As No. 830, but the Mint mark S is decidedly sınaller and more distant from the head.
- Reverse. As No. 830.
835
Sovereign. 1883. Sydney.
- Obverse. As No. 830, with the Mint mark still lower.
- Reverse. As No. 830.
836
Sovereign. 1887. Sydney. Pl. 57.
- Obverse. As No. 830, with the Mint mark very low and more to the right.
- Reverse. As No. 830.
This was issued early in the year.
837
Sovereign. 1887. Sydney. (Designed by J. E. Boehm and engraved by L. C. Wyon.) Pl. 57.
- Obverse. The well-known Jubilee head of the Queen to left with flowing veil and small crown above. J.E.B. on the truncation of the bust. VICTORIA D: G: BRITT: REG: F: D:
- Reverse. As No. 830.
These were issued yearly by Sydney till 1893, and also by the Melbourne Mint.
838
Half-Sovereign. 1887. Sydney. Pl. 57.
- Obverse. As No. 837, but reading VICTORIA DEI GRATIA.
- Reverse. A somewhat larger shield of arms with a very minute Mint mark S under the point which divides the date having 18 to left and 87 to right.
These were issued by Sydney in 1887, 1889, and 1891, and Melbourne in 1887, and 1893.
839
Sovereign. 1893. Sydney. (Designed by T. Brock, engraved by G. W. De Sauiles.) Pl. 57.
- Obverse. Veiled head of the Queen to left with T.B. under and reading VICTORIA DEI GRA: BRITT: REGINA. FID. DEF. IND. IMP.
- Reverse. As No. 830.
These were issued yearly by Sydney and Melbourne till and including 1901; by Perth from 1899, to 1901.
840
* Half-Soveregin. Sydney. 1893. Pl. 57.
- Obverse. As No. 839.
- Reverse. St. George and the Dragon as on the Sovereign, with the engraver's initials omitted.
These were issued by Sydney in 1893, 1898, 1899, and 1900 ; Melbourne in 1896, 1899, and 1900; and Perth in 1900.
841
Sovereign. 1902. Sydney. Pl. 57. (G. W. De Saulles.)
- Obverse. EDWARDUS VII D:G: BRITT : OMN : REX F:D: IND : IMP: Head of King to right uncrowned with DeS below in small letters.
- Reverse. St. George and the Dragon; below the date and BP in very small letters. Edge milled.
These were issued by Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth each year till 1910.
842
Half-Sovereign. 1902. Sydney. Pl. 57.
- Obverse. As No. 841.
- Reverse. As No. 841.
These were issued by Sydney in 1902, 1903, 1906, and 1908; by Melbourne 1906, 1908, 1909, and 1910; Perth 1904, 1908, and 1909.
843
Sovereign. George V. 1911. (Designed by Bertram Mackennal.)
- Obverse. Head of the King to left with the truncation of the neck running downwards to a sharp point. GEORGIUS V D. G. BRITT: OMN REX F. D. IND: IMP: round within the indented rim.
- Reverse. St. George and the Dragon as on previous issues, with date in the exergue.
The designer's initials B.P. in very minute letters under the base. Edge milled. The piece illustrated on Pl. 57, No. 843, is a pattern struck at the Melbourne Mint and bears the Mint mark M on the base on the reverse. Sovereigns similar excepting date have been issued by Sydney, Melbourne. and Perth each year to and including 1920.
844
Half-Sovereign. 1911. George V.
- Obverse. Similar to No. 843.
- Reverse. Similar to No. 843.
These were issued with differing dates by Sydney in 1912, 1914, 1915. and 1916; by Melbourne in 1915; and Perth in 1911, 1915, and 1919.
