St. James's Auctions
Auction 32 19 May 2015
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Victoria, sovereign, 1872M, young head l., M below, rev. St. George and the dragon (S.3857; M.94; McD.145), evenly and sharply struck with a pleasing portrait of Victoria, bold date and M mintmark, pleasing surfaces showing much lustre, choice uncirculated, rare so fine, and clearly one of the finest known examples
First issue of the Melbourne Mint, opened on 12 June 1872, the second mint established in Australia, 'under the charge of Ward', who had been transferred from Sydney. Like the earlier branch, it was equipped from England and it relied upon Tower Hill for the provision of all its sovereign and half-sovereign dies' (Challis, pp. 530-531). The building was an imposing edifice, purpose built for the coinage of native gold ore into the two denominations. The vast majority of sovereigns struck in 1872 were of the Shield reverse type, evidently reflecting use of dies shipped from London. Among dates categorized under Spink number 3857, this is by far the rarest, and being the first issue adds to its appeal.
Estimate: £2000-2500
First issue of the Melbourne Mint, opened on 12 June 1872, the second mint established in Australia, 'under the charge of Ward', who had been transferred from Sydney. Like the earlier branch, it was equipped from England and it relied upon Tower Hill for the provision of all its sovereign and half-sovereign dies' (Challis, pp. 530-531). The building was an imposing edifice, purpose built for the coinage of native gold ore into the two denominations. The vast majority of sovereigns struck in 1872 were of the Shield reverse type, evidently reflecting use of dies shipped from London. Among dates categorized under Spink number 3857, this is by far the rarest, and being the first issue adds to its appeal.
Estimate: £2000-2500