One high-quality 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign is an extremely rare offering. Two high-quality 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereigns is simply remarkable!

The Sydney Mint was the nation's first mint opening in 1855. The mint struck its first gold coin, the sovereign, in June of that year.

The 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign is today a cultural and financial icon with prestige value. And investment value. 

This offer of two high-quality 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereigns is about seizing the opportunity and selecting a piece that is in sync with your aspirations. 

The first 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign on offer is graded About Uncirculated, with some original mint bloom. Priced at $35,000, an 1855 Sovereign at this quality level might be sighted every few years. This coin is very pleasing to the naked eye, well struck on both obverse and reverse, and does not have the surface marks usually associated with coins of this metal.  

The second 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign on offer is graded Choice Uncirculated and is priced at $95,000. To our knowledge there are only five 1855 Sovereigns that occupy the upper quality levels and this coin is one of the five, ex K. J. C. Coins 2007. An 1855 Sovereign at this quality level would be offered perhaps, once in a decade. An elegant coin, visually attractive with much original mint bloom on both obverse and reverse. 

The 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign has immense historical significance and is a tangible connection to a foundational moment in Australia's history ... when our first official gold coinage was created. 

Australians celebrate our founding coins, the Holey Dollar and the Dump, struck in 1813. And our founding gold coins, the Adelaide Pound issued in 1852, and the Sydney Mint Sovereign struck in 1855. 

For Australia, each coin was the first of its kind. And an acknowledgement that the colonies were emerging as commercial hubs, requiring currency: the latter two reflecting the impact of the Gold Rush.

The Holey Dollar, Dump and Adelaide Pound were one-offs, struck in one year only as an interim measure to address a currency crisis. The coins fulfilled their purpose and are lauded for their history and the ingenuity of their creation. 

The 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign also was the first of its kind but was not a one-off. The coin was introduced for the long term and became the mainstay of commerce, regulated by currency laws. 

Australia issued sovereigns continuously between 1855 and 1931 when Australia struck its last gold sovereign.

While the appeal of the sovereign is enhanced by differing versions featuring different dates and effigies of various monarchs, no coin is as popular as the very first Australian sovereign, the 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign.

The first 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign on offer is graded About Uncirculated, with some original mint bloom. Priced at $35,000, an 1855 Sovereign at this quality level might be sighted every few years. This coin is very pleasing to the naked eye, well struck on both obverse and reverse, and does not have the surface marks usually associated with coins of this metal.

Every circulated coin has a grading level at which serious rarity kicks in. For the 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign the level at which extreme rarity cuts in is ‘About Extremely Fine’.

At Very Good, the 1855 sovereign is virtually denuded of design. At Fine, the design is recognisable but most of the significant design elements have been worn away.

At Good Very Fine, there are signs of wear and the high points are flattened. In a quality range of Very Good to Very Fine and even up to Good Very Fine, the 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign is reasonably readily available. 

A buyer could realistically expect to see several well circulated examples offered annually with prices ranging from $2000 to $6,000.

It’s at the quality level of About Extremely fine, through to Uncirculated and Brilliant Uncirculated that the going really gets tough for sovereign collectors and that prices escalate.

This coin is a prize.

It is one of the finest examples of the nation’s first sovereign, the 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign, offered in a quality of Choice Uncirculated. The coin is elegant and refined with much original mint bloom on both obverse and reverse.

To our knowledge there are only five 1855 Sovereigns that occupy the upper quality levels and this coin is one of the five, ex K. J. C. Coins 2007.

An 1855 Sovereign at this quality level would be offered perhaps, once in a decade and is far rarer than its 1852 Adelaide Pound counterpart, where at least ten would be known. 

The five top examples are as detailed below.

1.    This coin, acquired from K.J.C Coins in 2007. 

2.    Originally held by leading gold dealer (now retired) Robert Jaggard and sold to the Quartermaster Collection. Now held by a Sydney collector. 

3.    From the famed Sharps Pixley Collection sold by Spink Auctions November 1989. Acquired by Barrie Winsor and became part of the famous George Collection sold in the U.K. March 2014.  

4.    Acquired by Barrie Winsor from Knightsbridge Coins London. Sold in July 2003 to a Melbourne collector, where it is still held.

5. Ex Spink Auctions November 1985. Sold in April 2024 to a Coinworks client where it is still held.