1852 Adelaide Pound

The 1852 Adelaide Pound is the nation’s first gold coin, struck at the Government Assay Office in Adelaide from 22 carat gold brought from the Victorian goldfields.

For most Australian rare coin collectors, acquiring an Adelaide Pound fulfils a lifetime’s ambition.

Its historical standing, as Australia's first gold coin, ensures that it will always be sought after and preserves its investment value.

The prime rule in selecting an Adelaide Pound is to pick a coin that is visually very attractive. Acquire a piece that you would be proud to show your family and friends, one that has an heirloom feel about it.

The coin that we have for sale fits those protocols perfectly and is as per the photographs shown above.

The aesthetics, the look of an Adelaide Pound to the naked eye, is an important part of the selection process.

The Adelaide Assay Office was opened 165 years ago as a refinery to strike gold ingots. Except for ensuring the accuracy of the weight and purity of gold in the coin, there was minimal care regarding the overall striking and the eye appeal of the coin. The coins were to be used as currency, traded in commerce. Not preserved as collectibles.

Gold also is a relatively soft metal and the rigours of circulation have treated many Adelaide Pounds harshly.

This particular Adelaide Pound passes our selection criteria in every respect.

• The coin is graded Good Extremely Fine which indicates that it has undergone nominal circulation. There is just a hint of wear to the high points.
• The coin has strength in the edges. And the legend 'Government Assay office' is strong. History records that the striking of the Adelaide Pound was fraught with problems. Pressure cracked the first die. Relaxing the pressure on the second die, while it increased the design detail in the crown, interfered with the execution of the edges and the legend 'Assay Office'. Many examples struck with the second die show weakness in the edges, with some areas of the legend almost non-existent.
• The final scrutiny involves the fields. There are minimal marks in the fields in this coin.

This 1852 Adelaide Pound is accurately graded Good Extremely Fine and follows our rule that it is "a coin that you would be proud to show your family and friends".