Australia 1894-S sovereign
This specimen was lot 2404 in the Eliasberg sale, where it sold for $103.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "1894 S sovereign. Sydney mint. AU-58 (NGC). Types as above. Lustrous light gold." This "veiled head" type was struck 1893-1901 at the Sydney, Melbourne and Perth mints. It is identical to the ordinary British sovereign in every respect except for the addition of a mintmark, which will be found buried in the rock below the dragon on the reverse. The Sydney mint was opened in 1855 to strike the gold found in Australia and was not employed to strike ordinary circulation coinage until 1911.
Recorded mintage: 3,067,000.
Specification: 7.99 g, 0.917 fine gold, .2354 troy oz AGW; this specimen: 8.00 grams, 22.20 mm.
Catalog reference: KM 13, Fr-23.
- 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.
- 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.
- Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of England & the United Kingdom, 46th edition, London: Spink & Son, 2011.
- [1]Kraljevich, John, John Pack, Elizabeth O. Piper and Frank Van Valen, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr., Collection of World Gold Coins and Medals, Wolfboro, NH: American Numismatic Rarities, 2005.
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