Australia 1900-M 1/2 sovereign
This specimen was lot 32137 in Heritage sale 3105 (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $4,800. The catalog description[1] noted, "Australia: Victoria gold 1/2 Sovereign 1900-M MS62 NGC, Melbourne mint, Mintmark central above 90 in date variety. A remarkable low-mintage issue within the Australian business-strike "Veiled Head" type, and one seen at auction in decidedly Mint State only a handful of times in recent decades. Presented here is the finest of these, a specimen fully deserving of its advanced designation via brilliant aurous luster which illuminates a thick satin sheen at the flick of the wrist. What any collector could hope the acquire in terms of quality from this generally scarce series. Ex. Quartermaster Collection (Monetarium, Australia June 2009, Lot 286), Reserve Bank of Australia Sale (Downies Auction, November 2005, Lot 845)." This type was struck at Sydney, Perth and Melbourne (shown here) 1893-1901 in moderate numbers. It is not rare tho the mintage is about 1/36 of the accompanying sovereign. Some dates were issued only in proof and are rare.
Recorded mintage: 119,000, a somewhat better date.
Specification: 3.99 g, 0.917 fine gold.
Catalog reference: Fr-29, KM 12, S-3879, Marsh-500A (R2).
- 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.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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, 2023 January 9 NYINC World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session and Signature® Auction - New York #3105, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2022.
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