The unique Perth Mint 1899 Half Sovereign
Collectors are driven by a desire to find rare items, particularly those that are unique, whether for personal appreciation, historical significance, or investment. Collectors are also attracted to high-quality pieces that offer a unique experience and pride of ownership. This 1899 Half Sovereign is the ultimate collector's item. Struck at the Perth Mint, the coin is unique. No other examples are held by collectors or institutions worldwide, including the Perth Mint. Produced as a Coin of Record to minting standards far exceeding that required for circulating currency, the coin survives today in a brilliant untouched state. As '1899' was the year the Perth Mint commenced minting operations, this coin is fundamental to its history. Offered for sale by private treaty, the 1899 Perth Mint Half Sovereign is historic, and it is unique. And it is available now.
The Perth Mint opened its doors on 20 June 1899 to support Western Australia's gold industry.
One hundred and twenty-five years later, it is Australia’s only fully operating ‘gold rush’ mint and has evolved to become a formidable player in what is today, a global gold coin market.
The dies for the 1899 Sovereign and 1899 Half Sovereign were prepared at the Royal Mint London. The obverse design featured a Veiled Head portrait of Queen Victoria, the reverse featuring St George and the Dragon, with a discrete 'P' for 'Perth' mint mark shown above the date.
The Perth Mint issued 690,992 sovereigns as currency in its opening year. The Mint did not issue any circulating half sovereigns.
This 1899 Half Sovereign was especially struck at the Perth Mint as a Coin of Record.
A Coin of Record is an artistic interpretation of coinage, a strikingly beautiful coin beyond ordinary currency, individually crafted to standards far exceeding that required of a circulating coin.
Using technical terms, Coins of Record were struck using special minting techniques to either a proof or specimen finish involving highly polished blanks to create mirror fields and carefully prepared dies to ensure a wealth of design definition.
A Coin of Record is a showpiece. The crown jewels of coinage, adding glamour and exceptionality to any collection.
Whereas production of circulating coinage was dictated by Government, Coins of Record were struck at the discretion of the mint master. Placed in the mint’s archives for posterity. Perhaps, an example forwarded to the monarch. Coins of Record were occasionally produced for the Royal Mint London, a selected museum or to display at an international exhibition. Or gifted to a dignitary. All circumstances that necessitated the very best in minting standards.
The coins were not produced every year and, as they were individually crafted, the process was time consuming and the mintages tiny, therefore. For gold proofs, generally less than four pieces.
In its entire sovereign and half sovereign history (1899 to 1931), the Perth Mint struck Coins of Record in only three years, 1899, 1901 and 1931. As a sector of the Australian rare coin market, the Perth Mint Gold Coins of Record is the most exclusive sector for collectors to buy into. The whereabouts of the privately owned 1899 Specimen Sovereign is unknown, the 1899 Specimen Half Sovereign is unique (and offered here). The 1901 Proof Sovereign is one of two known, the 1901 Proof Half Sovereign unique. (A sovereign and the only known half sovereign sold recently as a pair.) The 1931 Proof Sovereign is one of two known. Simple arithmetic confirms that the buying pool for collectors of the Perth Mint Coins of Record is seven coins.
1899 Half Sovereign
Perth Mint
1899 Half Sovereign
Perth Mint
Australia’s Coins of Record are admired and respected worldwide. As with fine art and fine jewellery, they have prestige value.
Three branches of the Royal Mint London operated in Australia. The Sydney Mint opening in 1855, the Melbourne Mint in 1872 and the Perth Mint in 1899, each mint sporadically producing Coins of Record of its sovereigns and half sovereigns.
There is, however, a fundamental difference between the Coins of Record of the Perth Mint and those of Melbourne and Sydney. The Perth Mint Coins of Record have a higher profile, because the mint is still operating. The Sydney Mint closed in 1926, the Melbourne Mint in 1964, their greatest historical pieces are, in many respects, confined to history.
For the Perth Mint, its story is on-going. Its collecting audience is expanding. 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.
As the name 'Macquarie' lives on through the Macquarie Bank, so too history lives on for the Perth Mint through its current coining operations.
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 heritage that began in 1899. And we are further reminded of a tradition of continual coining excellence that began with its Coins of Record.
The Perth Mint 1899 Half Sovereign, Brilliant FDC
Price $600,000
Struck as a Coin of Record to a specimen 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.
Ex S. V. Hagley collection late 1940's • Spink Auctions (Australia) November 1985, lot 1046 • Spink Auctions (Australia) March 1989 in the liquidation of the R.G. & C. Pratley collection, lot 1558 • Sold privately in 1994 by Noble Numismatics for $150,000 • Nobles Auction March 2003, lot 1381 • Madrid Collection of Australian Rare Coins
• Sydney Vincent Hagley was an Adelaide collector, active in the 1940s and 1950s and a passionate collector of Perth Mint Coins of Record. Considered a founder of the Australian Rare Coin Industry, he became President of 'The Numismatic Society of South Australia' in 1952 and 1953.
• Ross and Carol Pratley were proprietors of a Sydney coin dealership, the Coin Colony in the 1970s and 1980s. Ross formed a collection of half sovereigns over twelve years which when sold in March 1989 by Spink Auctions Sydney was declared to be the finest and most complete collection of currency half sovereigns known.
• Mel Gottlieb was a Sydney collector of Australian rare coins of all metals, with a passion for pieces that were unique. Canadian by birth, he was a proud owner of Australia’s most famous copper coin, the Proof 1930 Penny. His collection, when liquidated, was referred to as the Madrid Collection of Australian Rare Coins, the title paying tribute to his ownership of the Madrid Holey Dollar, his favourite piece and one that is regarded as the most desirable of Holey Dollars.
Also available • Perth Mint Gold Proofs of 1901 and 1931.
1901 Proof Sovereign - NOW SOLD
One of two known, the other known example selling at Sincona Auction, Zurich, November 2021.
Price $250,000
The Perth Mint supplied the Melbourne Mint with two 1901 Proof Sovereigns on 11 October 1901. It is believed both examples made their way into the John G Murdoch Collection, selling at Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge London, 1903.
This 1901 Proof Sovereign is a brilliant and frosted FDC. Ex Spink Auctions (Australia) November 1985, lot 1047 • Barrie Winsor sale by private treaty to Downies Collectables, February 2000.
The other known example was offered at Sincona Auction Zurich November 2021, lot 892.
1901 Proof Half Sovereign - NOW SOLD
The only known example held by a private collector
Price $350,000
A great rarity, the Perth Mint's 1901 Proof Half Sovereign is the only representative example of a half sovereign struck in the final year of Queen Victoria’s reign. No circulating half sovereigns were issued at any of the Australian mints in 1901 due to the death of Queen Victoria in January of the same year.
The Perth Mint supplied the Melbourne Mint with four 1901 Proof Half Sovereigns on 11 October 1901. The Melbourne Mint retained two coins, the other two are believed to have made their way into the John G Murdoch Collection sold Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge 1903.
This 1901 Proof Half Sovereign is a brilliant and frosted FDC. Ex John G Murdoch, Reginald Huth, S. A. H Whetmore, Spink Auctions (Australia) November 1985, lot 1048 • Barrie Winsor sale by private treaty to Downies Collectables, February 2000.
The other 1901 Proof Half Sovereign offered in 1903 by auctioneers Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge is believed housed in the British Museum by way of the Clarke-Thornhill bequest of 1935.
1931 Proof Sovereign
One of two known, the other example impaired through mishandling
Price $195,000
John Agnew Collection circa 1931 • Agnew Family Collection sold to Spink & Son privately circa 1994 • Bentley Collection sold by Baldwins 27 September 2012 (lot 878)
That a coin of such power and influence in the Australian gold coin market was originally owned by John Agnew somehow seems just right for he too was powerful and influential. A man of vision and remarkable knowledge of gold mining, Agnew was credited with making a major contribution to revitalise the Western Australian gold mining sector in the 1920s and 1930s and was Director of Consolidated Goldfields when he was gifted this coin.
A superb mint state and of the highest rarity, ex Bentley Collection 2012 (lot 878), this coin is unique for quality, the finest of two available to collectors, the other example impaired through mishandling.
1901 Perth Mint Proof Sovereign, one of two known, the other known example selling at Sincona Auction, Zurich, November 2021.
Price $250,000 - NOW SOLD
The Perth Mint supplied the Melbourne Mint with two 1901 Proof Sovereigns on 11 October 1901. It is believed both examples made their way into the John G Murdoch Collection, selling at Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge London, 1903.
This 1901 Proof Sovereign is a brilliant and frosted FDC. Ex Spink Auctions (Australia) November 1985, lot 1047 • Barrie Winsor sale by private treaty to Downies Collectables, February 2000.
The other known example was offered at Sincona Auction Zurich November 2021, lot 892.
1901 Perth Mint Proof Half Sovereign, the only known example held by a private collector
Price $350,000 - NOW SOLD
A great rarity, the Perth Mint's 1901 Proof Half Sovereign is the only representative example of a half sovereign struck in the final year of Queen Victoria’s reign. No circulating half sovereigns were issued at any of the Australian mints in 1901 due to the death of Queen Victoria in January of the same year.
The Perth Mint supplied the Melbourne Mint with four 1901 Proof Half Sovereigns on 11 October 1901. The Melbourne Mint retained two coins, the other two are believed to have made their way into the John G Murdoch Collection sold Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge 1903.
This 1901 Proof Half Sovereign is a brilliant and frosted FDC. Ex John G Murdoch, Reginald Huth, S. A. H Whetmore, Spink Auctions (Australia) November 1985, lot 1048 • Barrie Winsor sale by private treaty to Downies Collectables, February 2000.
The other 1901 Proof Half Sovereign offered in 1903 by auctioneers Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge is believed housed in the British Museum by way of the Clarke-Thornhill bequest of 1935.
1931 Perth Mint Proof Sovereign, a proof striking of the last sovereign struck at the Perth Mint.
Price: $195,000
John Agnew Collection circa 1931 • Agnew Family Collection sold to Spink & Son privately circa 1994 • Bentley Collection sold by Baldwins 27 September 2012 (lot 878)
That a coin of such power and influence in the Australian gold coin market was originally owned by John Agnew somehow seems just right for he too was powerful and influential.
A man of vision and remarkable knowledge of gold mining, Agnew was credited with making a major contribution to revitalise the Western Australian gold mining sector in the 1920s and 1930s and was Director of Consolidated Goldfields when he was gifted this coin.
A superb mint state and of the highest rarity, ex Bentley Collection 2012 (lot 878), this coin is unique for quality, the finest of two available to collectors, the other example impaired through mishandling.
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