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1852 Cracked Die Adelaide Pound


1852 Adelaide Pound Cracked Die about EF obv Large August 2018
1852 Adelaide Pound Cracked Die about EF Large rev August 2018
1852 Cracked Die Adelaide Pound
COIN
1852 Cracked Die Adelaide Pound
PRICE
$85,000
STATUS
Sold August 2018
QUALITY
Good Very Fine / About Extremely Fine
PROVENANCE
Private Collection Melbourne
COMMENTS
The 1852 Cracked Die Adelaide Pound is Australia’s very first gold coin and is an iconic Australian numismatic rarity. The Cracked Die is as famous as it is rare with less than 40 examples known. So celebrated and so rare that procuring a Cracked Die below $100,000 is nigh on a fluke, a chance occurrence. Once sold we sense that this coin will almost be impossible to replace.
1852 Adelaide Pound Cracked Die about EF Large rev August 2018
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The 1852 Cracked Die Adelaide Pound is an iconic Australian numismatic rarity. As is the 1930 Penny, the 1813 Holey Dollar, the 1813 Dump and the Square Penny.

Now compare the availability of the Cracked Die (with less than 40 known examples) to the '30 Penny and Square Penny, the Holey Dollar and the Dump and you have a genuine feel of the profound rarity of the Cracked Die.

And the extreme value this coin presents at $85,000.

The 1852 Cracked Die Adelaide Pound holds a very special place in Australia's history as the nation's first gold coin struck from 22 carat gold brought from the Victorian goldfields. The coin was minted at the Government Assay Office in Adelaide.

History records that the striking of the Adelaide Pound at the Assay Office was plagued with problems.

Excessive pressure exerted during the minting process cracked the first reverse die.

The crack that developed in the first die during the striking of Australia’s first gold coin was quite obviously a major source of aggravation.

Perhaps it had been anticipated because die sinker and engraver Joshua Payne, working in the Adelaide Assay Office, confirmed in an interview that he had indeed prepared two reverse dies with different designs. Just in case.

The first die featured a beaded inner circle. The second die featured a crenelated inner circle.

What is known is that the striking had just begun with only 40 coins struck when the die started to disintegrate. It was replaced with a second reverse die that went on to strike a further 24,600+ coins.

The disintegration of the first die and its replacement with a second was a great moment in “numismatic time” for it created one of Australia’s great coin rarities. The 1852 Cracked Die Adelaide Pound.

Adelaide Pound Type 1 TECH July 2018

The first reverse die featured a beaded inner circle.

Adelaide Pound Type 2 TECH July 2018

The second reverse die featured a crenelated inner circle.

1852 Adelaide Pound Cracked Die

A crack developed in the ‘DWT’ section of the legend during the striking of the first 40 coins, creating the famous 'Cracked Die' Adelaide Pound.

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