Current Inventory of the 1852 Adelaide Pound

The first gold coin for the nation was struck at the Government Assay Office Adelaide on 26 November 1852. We know it today as the 1852 Adelaide Pound and it is our most popular gold coin, sought after at all quality levels.

The nation’s first gold coin was produced over two production runs, so collectors have a choice. The same obverse design was used throughout featuring the legend 'Government Assay Office Adelaide', a crown and the date '1852'. But each production run used differently designed reverse dies. 

The first run used a die with stylish lettering and an elegant beaded inner circle and are referred to as Type I Adelaide Pounds. The second die had plain lettering and a scalloped inner circle and are referred to as Type II Adelaide Pounds.

Irrespective of the production run, the Adelaide Pound is a scarce coin with perhaps forty examples of the Type I available to collectors, and approximately two hundred and fifty of the Type II. 

So which coin to choose?