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1853 PATTERN SYDNEY MINT HALF SOVEREIGN |
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Obverse: | Young Queen Victoria - First type hair style - Design by James Wyon. Legend: VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIAR: REGINA F: D: |
Reverse: | Sydney Mint - Design by L.C. Wyon. Legend: SYDNEY MINT AUSTRALIA HALF SOVEREIGN |
| Edge: | Reeded - continuous mill. |
| Weight: | 3.9940 grams (61.6 grains). |
| Size: | 19 mm (diameter). |
| Composition: | 22 Carat Fine - 91.67% Gold, 8.33% Silver. |
| Gold Content: | .1177 oz. |
| Mintage: | Pattern - Royal Mint. |
| Mintmarks: | None. |
Valuation :
1853 (PATTERN) SYDNEY MINT HALF SOVEREIGN
| Pattern | |
| 2002 | 275,000 |
Notes:
This pattern has the first type portrait on the obverse later used on standard Sydney Mint half sovereigns dated 1856.Along with the pattern 1853 sovereign, the pair were the first official gold Australian patterns and were produced two years before the Sydney Mint was officially opened in 1855, indicating that London was quickly informed of the pressing needs of the colony following the discovery of gold in 1851.
The coins were struck at the Royal Mint in London. They are almost identical to the later normal issues with the slight exceptions of minor differences in the hair curl over the Queen' forehead.
Only 4 pairs of the 1853 sovereign and half sovereign are known to exist. The only pair in private hands was sold at auction by Spink in 1981 for $160,000 the pair. The British Museum has one pair and the Royal Mint museum in Wales has the other two pairs.
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