Spink
Auction 23199 31 Jan 2023
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(g) Australia, Victoria (1837-1901), 'Shieldback' Sovereign, 1872 over 1 M, struck September 1872 upon dies re-engraved by Julius Hogarth, Melbourne, second larger young head W.W. in relief on truncation, rev. crowned normal shield in wreath, edge milled, 7.96g, 6h (McD 120; QM 49; Marsh 59A; Bentley 746; Spink 3854), lightly bagmarked, including to the cheek, otherwise pleasingly lustrous, a bolder very fine, the iconic overdate sought after, especially in higher grades.
According to McDonald and the Quartermaster catalogues, these overdate pieces were struck for only a few days in September 1872, when all other 1872-dated dies had been expended unexpectedly early, and before a new batch of dies could be received from England. A local engraver, Julius Hogarth, was employed to alter the unused 1871 dated dies. The new 1872 dies from England arrived in early October but, what interestingly, the former 1871 dated dies had already been to the bottom of the sea and back. They had been shipped the previous Autumn, when it had been anticipated that the Melbourne Mint would be ready for operation. However, the ship carrying the dies, The Rangoon hit rocks and sank near Galle Harbour on the last leg of the journey from Ceylon. Some of the dies were evidently salvaged and it seems Julius Hogarth made at least one usable with the overdate engraving.
Estimate: £500 - £800
According to McDonald and the Quartermaster catalogues, these overdate pieces were struck for only a few days in September 1872, when all other 1872-dated dies had been expended unexpectedly early, and before a new batch of dies could be received from England. A local engraver, Julius Hogarth, was employed to alter the unused 1871 dated dies. The new 1872 dies from England arrived in early October but, what interestingly, the former 1871 dated dies had already been to the bottom of the sea and back. They had been shipped the previous Autumn, when it had been anticipated that the Melbourne Mint would be ready for operation. However, the ship carrying the dies, The Rangoon hit rocks and sank near Galle Harbour on the last leg of the journey from Ceylon. Some of the dies were evidently salvaged and it seems Julius Hogarth made at least one usable with the overdate engraving.
Estimate: £500 - £800