A Unique pair of Proof 1894 Sovereign and Proof 1894 Half Sovereign, struck as Presentation Pieces at the Melbourne Mint.

Name: Coinworks
Address: Suite 17, 210 Toorak Road, South Yarra, VIC, 3141
Telephone: 03 9642 3133

68969-Header-Proof-1894-M-Sovereign-May-2023

COIN

PRICE

Sovereign • $85,000 Half Sovereign • $85,000. Available as a pair • $150,000

STATUS

SOLD 1/8/2023

QUALITY

Superb FDC proofs, brilliant and flawless

PROVENANCE

Murdoch Collection, sold Sotheby Wilkinson and Hodge, London 1903 - 1904.

COMMENTS

This is a ‘generational wealth’ opportunity. An 1894 Proof Sovereign and an 1894 Proof Half Sovereign, the only Melbourne Mint Gold Proof Pair that we have ever offered in fifty-plus years of trading. We have sold a handful of individual proof sovereigns out of this era. And even less proof half sovereigns. But never had the opportunity to offer the sovereign and half sovereign together as a pair. And that’s a powerful statement given that this is one area of the rare coin market that is our strength. The coins come with an illustrious history, the Proof Sovereign first publicly sighted at auction in 1903 in the sale of the John G Murdoch Collection. The Proof Half Sovereign, also owned by Murdoch and offered at the same auction in 1903. Gem frosted proofs struck as Presentation Pieces at the Melbourne Mint, brilliantly preserved, they are flawless. Extremely rare as individual proofs. And unique as a pair.

Enquire Now

Australia's gold proof coins are highly respected.

Australia has some of the rarest and most beautiful coins you could imagine, particularly in the proof gold sovereign and proof half sovereign sector. The coins are prestigious. They inspire respect and admiration.

Ask collectors why they pursue proof coins over circulating currency and the prestige of owning a proof coin is most likely at the top of their list. It's the euphoria that comes with owning something that very few other people can ever possess.

Proof coins are by definition, extremely rare and their scarcity is a natural draw card. In some respect, proof coin collectors are playing it smart because the inherent rarity of proof coinage provides a level of assurance that the market will never be inundated with examples, protecting their investment.

Local buyers have always had confidence in this sector of the market simply because of the quality and extreme rarity of the coins.

But another layer of confidence has been added to the Australian rare coin market.

In 2021, international collectors began buying up Australia’s proof sovereigns and half sovereigns outbidding local collectors.

The buying spree continued in 2022 and again, quite recently in Zurich, where a Young Head Proof Sovereign sold at auction knocking out Australian bidders.

Demand has increased. And supplies are still as restricted as ever. This is the perfect climate for price growth.

66728-68969-SQ-Proof-1894-M-Sovereign-REV-May-2023

Proof 1894 Sovereign

This Proof 1894 Sovereign was first offered at auction in 1903 by Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge in the sale of the John G Murdoch Collection. The coin was later offered at Glendinings London in 1974.

66728-68969-SQ-Proof-1894-M-Sovereign-OBV-May-2023

Proof 1894 Sovereign

While two examples of the Proof 1894 Sovereign are known, both owned by Murdoch and offered in 1903, this is the only example to be sighted on the market. No other coins out of the original mintage have been seen.

66669-68969-SQ-Proof-1894-M-Half-Sovereign-REV-May-2023

Proof 1894 Half Sovereign

This Melbourne Mint Proof 1894 Half Sovereign was first offered at auction in 1903 by Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge in the liquidation off the collection of British music industry entrepreneur, John G Murdoch.