The Perth Mint opened as a branch of the Royal Mint London in 1899 to support Western Australia's gold industry. The mint was Australia’s third gold coin producer following on from Melbourne in 1872 and Sydney, our first mint, nearly two decades earlier in 1855.

It is the only Australian mint still operating, the Melbourne Mint closing in 1964 prior to decimal currency changeover. And the Sydney Mint in 1926, declared unprofitable and closed by the Government. Interestingly, the Perth Mint is the oldest mint in the world that still functions out of its original heritage buildings.

The Perth Mint produced circulating sovereigns and half sovereigns for the colonial Western Australian Government lead by Lieutenant Colonel Sir Gerard Smith K.C.M.G. There were occasions when the mint created special presentation pieces, one of which was produced in 1899 and presented to Sir Gerard Smith at the official opening of the Perth Mint on 20 June 1899. The coin is still held with the mint. 

Such presentation pieces are technically referred to as 'Coins of Record'. They are 'currency with a twist' for the coins are never meant to be used. 

A Coin of Record is an artistic interpretation of coinage, a strikingly beautiful coin beyond ordinary currency. Individually crafted to a proof finish using special coining techniques to standards far exceeding that required of a circulating coin. A Coin of Record could be gifted to a monarch, a dignitary or sent to an influential collector. Or put on display at an international trade fair. 

And if the Royal Mint London requested a sovereign for its archives, it was yet another occasion when a Coin of Record would be minted. Situations where a circulation strike would simply not suffice.

Whereas production of circulating coinage was dictated by Government, Coins of Record were struck at the discretion of the mint master. The coins were not produced every year and, as they were individually created, the process was time consuming and the mintages minuscule.

The Perth Mint produced circulating gold coins from 1899 until 1931 yet produced Coins of Record in only three years out of the thirty-three. Those years were '1899', their inaugural year. Australia's Federation year, '1901'. And lastly '1931', the year Australia struck its last gold sovereign.

The mintages in each year were minuscule, two up to a maximum of five coins is the consensus.

The Perth Mint opened its doors one hundred and twenty-seven years ago. In that time, a Perth Mint gold Coin of Record has been offered at auction on only five occasions, London 1903, Sydney 1985, Sydney 1989, London 2012 and Zurich 2021. Each auction has commanded world-wide interest. 

The gold Coins of Record of the Perth Mint are a globally traded commodity. They are the crown jewels of coinage, adding glamour and exceptionality to any collection! 

To understand the motivations of the Sydney, Melbourne and Perth Mints in producing Coins of Record. And to know the numbers struck, is to recognise the outstanding qualities of the Perth Proofs.

The Perth Mint was a gold sovereign producer for thirty-three years from 1899 to 1931 and produced Coins of Record in only three of them, 1899, 1901 and 1931. 

For collectors, the pool of representative examples of Perth Mint Coins of Record is five proof sovereigns (1899, 1901 and 1931) and one proof half sovereign (1901).

The Perth Mint holds one example of the 1899 Proof Sovereign; the Museum of Victoria holds two. One example is held by a private collector, whereabouts unknown. Only one example of the 1899 Proof Half Sovereign is known. The coin surfaced in the 1940s, changing hands several times before it was acquired from Coinworks by the Perth Mint in March 2026. 

The Perth Mint does not hold any of the 1901 proofs, sovereign or half sovereign.   Two 1901 Proof Sovereigns are held by private collectors, one held in Canberra, the other overseas. The 1901 Proof Half Sovereign is known by four examples, one of which is held by a Canberra collector. The remaining three coins are held in institutions, the British Museum and the Museum of Victoria.

The Museum of Victoria holds two 1901 Proof Half Sovereigns delivered   Archival records indicate that the Perth Mint supplied the Melbourne Mint with two 1901 Proof Sovereigns and four 1901 Proof Half Sovereigns on 11 October 1901. The two sovereigns and two of the four half sovereigns were believed sold to collector, John G. Murdoch. 

Sotheby's auction catalogue records that lot 650, containing the two 1901 Proof Half Sovereigns, was acquired by legendary British collector, Reginald Huth, an acknowledgment that just two years after its striking, the half sovereign was already an acclaimed 'great' coin rarity. 

When a high profile collector targets a coin, the market, both collectors and dealers alike, take note. And search for the reasons why. The market took note in 1903 that a 'great' collector had acquired a 'great' piece, a phenomenon that still exists to this very day.

The quality of the strike, a superb FDC, would have appealed to Huth. But he would also have been familiar with its importance. 

Collecting and minting circles were very much interconnected in the twentieth century and he would have been aware that no circulating half sovereigns were struck by any of the Australian mints in 1901, due to the death of Queen Victoria early in that year (January 22, 1901). 

So, the proof strike was the only representative example of a half sovereign dated 1901, issued by the Perth Mint. 

The 1901 Proof Half Sovereign, ex Murdoch and Reginald Huth, was offered in Sydney by Spink Auctions Australia in 1985, the coin acquired by Barrie Winsor for $21,700 on a pre-sale estimate of $15,000. Again the same scenario of a 'great' coin going to a 'great' numismatist. 

Two 1901 Proof Sovereigns (and two 1901 Proof Half Sovereigns) were sent to Murdoch. On his death the collection was sold in London in 1903 by Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge. One of the Murdoch coins sold at Spink Auctions Australia in 1985 (lot 1047) and, in May 2025, was sold by Coinworks to a private collector. The other known example was offered at Sincona Auction, Zurich November 2021.

Two 1901 Proof Sovereigns were held in the Murdoch Collection and sold in London in 1903 by Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge (lots 648 and 650). One of the Murdoch coins sold at Spink Auctions Australia in 1985 (lot 1047) and, in May 2025, was sold by Coinworks to a private collector. The other known example was offered at Sincona Auction, Zurich November 2021 (lot 892). 

1901 Proof Half Sovereign
Two 1901 Proof Half Sovereigns were held in the Murdoch Collection, sold by Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge in London, 1903. Acquired by Reginald Huth and later A H Whetmore, the coin eventually sold at Spink Auctions, Australia 1985 (lot 1048) and, in May 2025, was sold by Coinworks to a private collector. The other 1901 Proof Half Sovereign ex John G. Murdoch collection is housed in the British Museum, by way of the Clarke-Thornhill bequest of 1935.

The Melbourne Mint holds two examples of the 1901 Proof Half Sovereign. No Perth proofs were held in the Sydney Mint Collection and it is believed that the Perth Mint did not retain an example for itself.

1931 Proof Sovereign
Two examples are available to collectors, one of which has been impaired through mishandling. The 1931 Proof Sovereign was struck to order, a gift for the Director of Consolidated Goldfields, John Agnew circa 1931.

The Melbourne Mint was relatively prolific in the production of proof coins, primarily due to the influence of British collector, John G. Murdoch. And while the mintages were always minuscule, it is the regularity of the issues that is the defining difference between Melbourne Mint Coins of Record and those of the Perth and Sydney Mints. 

The Melbourne Mint was a gold coin producer for sixty years (1872 - 1931) and struck Coins of Record in twenty-five of them, primarily in the fifteen years of the Jubilee and Veiled Head era. For collectors, the pool of representative examples of Melbourne Mint Coins of Record is in the vicinity of forty proof sovereigns and thirty proof half sovereigns. Still extremely modest, but this discussion is all about relativities. 

The Sydney Mint took control of its proof issues in 1871. Earlier Sydney Mint proofs were struck at the Royal Mint London. Sydney's approach to production of Coins of Record was modest in numbers and sparse in terms of the years in which they were struck. The name 'Murdoch' is attached to a small number of Sydney Mint proofs. The name 'Dangar' appears more frequently. A New South Wales politician he must have had a strong relationship with the Sydney Mint, holding coins such as the 1887 four-coin set (one of two produced) and 1902 four-coin set (the only known set). These are mightily important coin issues that could only have been acquired by a person of influence or connection.From 1871 until it closed in 1926, the mint struck Coins of Record in only thirteen out of a possible fifty-six years. As many of the strikes are known by only one example, for collectors, the pool of representative examples of Sydney Mint Coins of Record is in the vicinity of xx proof sovereigns and xx proof half sovereigns. 

In summary, the Perth Mint produced Coins of Record in three years only. The pool of representative examples of Perth Mint Coins of Record is six, five proof sovereigns and one proof half sovereign. The Sydney produced Coins of Record in thirteen years, the Melbourne Mint xx.

Of those thirteen years, the 1871 proofs are believed unique, so too 1883. Of the specimen strikes, the 1879 is believed unique as is the 1920 and 1923. Those coins aside, most years are represented by just two examples. A simple maths calculation reveals just how few Sydney proofs are available to collectors.

In November 2021, two rare Australian proof sovereigns sold in Zurich, the sale conducted by Sincona Auction. The coins were an 1898 Proof Sovereign (Melbourne Mint) and the second, a 1901 Proof Sovereign (Perth Mint). Both pieces were 'Coins of Record', each depicting the Veiled Head portrait of Queen Victoria. The historical background of each coin is as follows. 

Two examples of the 1898 Melbourne Mint Proof Sovereign were held in the collection of renowned British collector John G. Murdoch and were sold in 1903, in London, the auction handled by Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge. An example, assumed one of Murdoch's coins, was sold by Spink Auctions, Australia, in 1990 (Lot 1169). None have appeared since.

Two examples of the 1901 Perth Mint Proof Sovereign were also held in the John G. Murdoch collection and sold in the same London auction. An example, again assumed one of Murdoch's coins, was sold by Spink Auctions, Australia, in 1985 (Lot 1047). None have appeared since.

On the surface, no great differences here. Similar profile. Both extremely rare, high quality, Australian gold proof coins. 

The prices realised at the Sincona Auction tell a different story!

The Melbourne Mint 1898 Proof Sovereign sold for 62,000 Swiss franc. Approximately $110,000 Australian dollars using exchange rates at the time. The Perth Mint 1901 Proof Sovereign fetched almost twice that, 95,000 Swiss franc, a converted Australian dollar price of $165,000.

With similar credentials, the obvious question is why the market valued the Perth Mint Proof Sovereign so highly? 

Two messages came out of the Sincona Auction.

The first message is that Australia's Gold Coins of Record - Melbourne or Perth Mint - are sought after world-wide. The second message is the overwhelming demand for the Perth Mint proof.

Local bidders, of which there were many (ourselves included) were completely over-run by international collectors in the pursuit of both coins.

The $100,000 ceiling that the 1898 Proof Sovereign reached at auction reflected the coin's genuine rarity. That it did not go higher is a recognition of the availability of Melbourne Mint proof coins of other dates. The Melbourne Mint struck proofs in twenty five of its fifty-nine-year gold coining history and was particularly prolific in the Veiled Head era of 1893 to 1901, striking proofs in each year. Thereby offering collectors options on dates other than '1898'. 

The 1901 Proof Sovereign rapidly reached the $100,000 level, but bidding accelerated beyond the $100,000 mark simply due to the extreme scarcity of the entire Perth Mint Gold Coins of Record sector. The Perth Mint is so exclusive in numbers, striking proofs in only three years out of thirty-three, there are no easy options for collectors in procuring another date. 

There is one other reason why the Proofs of the Perth Mint are so popular. The Perth Mint is still producing coins; its narrative has not been confined to history. The mint is an on-going story with a collecting audience that is expanding through the production and export of decimal collector coins. The Perth Mint’s commercial profile creates an environment whereby its earlier gold sovereign and half sovereign issues can be enabled and brought to life. Every time the Perth Mint opens its doors to welcome visitors, releases a new proof coin or celebrates an anniversary of its minting operations (as it did on 2024), we are reminded of a tradition of coining excellence that began in 1899. 

1899 Perth Mint Proof Sovereign, one example held by a private collector, whereabouts unknown.

An 1899 Proof Sovereign was presented to the Governor of the Western Australian colony - Governor Lieutenant Colonel Sir Gerard Smith KCMG - at the official opening of the Perth Branch of The Royal Mint on 20 June 1899. When Governor Smith resigned from the post on 30 June 1900, he returned to England taking with him various prized mementos, including the coin. In April 1961 his son returned the sovereign to the Mint where it is permanently held. 

The Melbourne Mint ordered two sovereigns and two half sovereigns on 12 June 1899, the sovereigns sent from Perth on 30 August, together with a covering letter stating that no half sovereigns had been struck to that time. The sovereigns were transferred to the Museum of Victoria from the Melbourne Mint archives on 11 January 1978.

In addition to the three coins noted above, two 1899 Proof Sovereigns were held by influential British collector John G. Murdoch. They were sold in London in 1903 by Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge following Murdoch's passing in 1902. (Lots 645 and 648) An 1899 Proof Sovereign is held in the British Museum acquired by exchange from Henry Garside in 1924 and is presumed to be a Murdoch piece. An 1899 Proof Sovereign sold at Spink Auctions Australia in 1985 (lot 1046) and the same coin re-offered in 1989 (lot 1429). As many coins made their way into the Australian coin market from London in the early 1980s via dealers A H Baldwin and Spink London it is assumed that the example offered at Spink Auctions, Australia was also ex Murdoch Collection. Sadly, for today's collectors, its whereabouts is unknown.

1899 Perth Mint Proof Half Sovereign. A unique piece and Australia's rarest pre-decimal coin.

Struck as a Coin of Record to a proof finish and authenticated by the Royal Mint London, this coin is the only known half sovereign struck using the 1899 dies.

Unique, with no examples held in institutions worldwide, including the Perth Mint, making this Australia's rarest pre-decimal coin.

The industry became aware of its existence in the late 1940s, veteran collector, Syd Hagley declaring ownership. The coin has subsequently been held by revered collectors Ross Pratley and Mel Gottlieb, of Madrid Collection fame. The coin is currently held by a Melbourne collector. 

Historic. Unique. Ultimately, irreplaceable and currently under consideration for purchase.

Regarding the 1899 Half Sovereign dies – it was practice to deface old dies immediately after New Year. So they would have been defaced at the very start of 1900.  

A requisition for the 1900 dies for the Perth Branch was sent to the Royal Mint on 16 September 1899 – 24 sovereign obverse, 30 sovereign reverse, 4 half sovereign reverse all 1900. A note in on file advising a staff member had been given the Bill of Loading and picked up the dies which had been shipped on the SS India.  To further verify dates, I can request the file from Record and Die Register from Records, but this will take some time.
 

1901 Perth Mint Proof Sovereign  

Two examples are held by private collectors.

Two 1901 Proof Sovereigns were held in the Murdoch Collection and sold in London in 1903 by Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge (lots 648 and 650). 

One of the Murdoch coins sold at Spink Auctions Australia in 1985 (lot 1047) and, in May 2025, was sold by Coinworks to a private collector.

The other known example was offered at Sincona Auction, Zurich November 2021 (lot 892). 

Archival records indicate that the Perth Mint supplied the Melbourne Mint with two 1901 Proof Sovereigns and four 1901 Proof Half Sovereigns on 11 October 1901. The two sovereigns and two of the four half sovereigns were believed sold to collector, John G. Murdoch. 

Sotheby's auction catalogue records that lot 650, containing the two 1901 Proof Half Sovereigns, was acquired by legendary British collector, Reginald Huth, an acknowledgment that just two years after its striking, the half sovereign was already an acclaimed 'great' coin rarity. 

When a high profile collector targets a coin, the market, both collectors and dealers alike, take note. And search for the reasons why. The market took note in 1903 that a 'great' collector had acquired a 'great' piece, a phenomenon that still exists to this very day.

The quality of the strike, a superb FDC, would have appealed to Huth. But he would also have been familiar with its importance. 

Collecting and minting circles were very much interconnected in the twentieth century and he would have been aware that no circulating half sovereigns were struck by any of the Australian mints in 1901, due to the death of Queen Victoria early in that year (January 22, 1901). 

So, the proof strike was the only representative example of a half sovereign dated 1901, issued by the Perth Mint. 

The 1901 Proof Half Sovereign, ex Murdoch and Reginald Huth, was offered in Sydney by Spink Auctions Australia in 1985, the coin acquired by Barrie Winsor for $21,700 on a pre-sale estimate of $15,000. Again the same scenario of a 'great' coin going to a 'great' numismatist. 

Two 1901 Proof Sovereigns (and two 1901 Proof Half Sovereigns) were sent to Murdoch. On his death the collection was sold in London in 1903 by Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge. One of the Murdoch coins sold at Spink Auctions Australia in 1985 (lot 1047) and, in May 2025, was sold by Coinworks to a private collector. The other known example was offered at Sincona Auction, Zurich November 2021.

Two 1901 Proof Sovereigns were held in the Murdoch Collection and sold in London in 1903 by Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge (lots 648 and 650). One of the Murdoch coins sold at Spink Auctions Australia in 1985 (lot 1047) and, in May 2025, was sold by Coinworks to a private collector. The other known example was offered at Sincona Auction, Zurich November 2021 (lot 892). 

1901 Proof Half Sovereign
Two 1901 Proof Half Sovereigns were held in the Murdoch Collection, sold by Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge in London, 1903. Acquired by Reginald Huth and later A H Whetmore, the coin eventually sold at Spink Auctions, Australia 1985 (lot 1048) and, in May 2025, was sold by Coinworks to a private collector. The other 1901 Proof Half Sovereign ex John G. Murdoch collection is housed in the British Museum, by way of the Clarke-Thornhill bequest of 1935.

The Melbourne Mint holds two examples of the 1901 Proof Half Sovereign. No Perth proofs were held in the Sydney Mint Collection and it is believed that the Perth Mint did not retain an example for itself.

1901 Perth Mint Proof Half Sovereign

One example is held by a private collector.

Two 1901 Proof Half Sovereigns were held in the Murdoch Collection, sold by Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge in London, 1903. Acquired by Reginald Huth and later A H Whetmore, the coin eventually sold at Spink Auctions, Australia 1985 (lot 1048) and, in May 2025, was sold by Coinworks to a private collector.

The other 1901 Proof Half Sovereign ex John G. Murdoch collection is housed in the British Museum, by way of the Clarke-Thornhill bequest of 1935.

The Melbourne Mint holds two examples of the 1901 Proof Half Sovereign. No Perth proofs were held in the Sydney Mint Collection and it is believed that the Perth Mint did not retain an example for itself.

1931 Perth Mint Proof Sovereign

This 1931 Perth Mint Proof Sovereign is one of Australia’s high-value proof gold coins. And one of our most exclusive. Two examples are available to collectors, one of which has been impaired through mishandling.

A pivotal monetary decision by the Government, for Australia to go off the gold standard, saw the nation’s mints strike their last gold sovereign in 1931. This Proof Sovereign was struck at the Perth Mint as a numismatic commemoration of the end of the era of gold coining. The date ensures that the coin will always be relevant, for generations to come.

That the issuing mint was the Perth Mint guarantees its exclusivity. The Perth Mint struck circulating sovereigns between 1899 and 1931 but struck proofs in only three of them (1899, 1901 and 1931). And in the most minuscule mintages.