Australia 1881-M sovereign Fr-12
This specimen was lot 34346 in Heritage sale 3094 (Chicago, August 2021), where it sold for $1,860. The catalog description[1] noted, "Australia: Victoria gold "Shield" Sovereign 1881-M MS61 PCGS, Melbourne mint. A radiant offering that possesses highly fluid golden luster and strikingly sharp designs. Predominantly superficial obverse wisps preclude a finer designation. Only a single representative certifies finer at PCGS, and by only a single point." This "shield" type was struck 1871-87 at the Sydney and Melbourne mints simultaneously with the familiar "St. George and the dragon" type. The SCWC does not attempt to separate the mintages of the two types. The Melbourne mint was opened in 1872.
Recorded mintage: 2,324,000, a better date in high grade.
Specification: 7.99 g, 0.917 fine gold, .2354 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Fr-12, KM 6, S-3854.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- McDonald, Greg, The Pocket Guide to Australian Coins and Banknotes, 23rd ed., Lavington, Australia, 2017.
- Pitt, Michael, ed., Renniks Australian Coin and Banknote Values, 32nd Edition, Matraville, New South Wales, Australia: Renniks Publications, 2023.
- Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of England & the United Kingdom, 46th edition, London: Spink & Son, 2011.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, ANA WFOM World & Ancient Coins Platinum Night Signature Auction #3094, featuring the Cape Coral Collection, the WTR Collection and the Monaco Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
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