Struck in 1870 at Australia’s first official mint, domiciled in Sydney.
Key date – the last issue of Australia’s first gold sovereign series.
Designed by Leonard Wyon, of the famous Wyon clan of engravers.
A genuine, compelling artefact of the Australian Gold Rush.
In highly collectable Fine to Very Fine condition – click add to cart now!
Specifications
Metal
Gold
Country of Issue
Australia
Denomination
Sovereign
Issued By
Sydney Mint
Delivery and Shipping
For In Stock items, our estimated delivery time is 2–3 weeks within Australia and 3–6 weeks internationally.
Orders are typically dispatched within 14 days of purchase, subject to payment confirmation, stock availability and any required processing.
Every order is carefully packed by our experienced fulfilment team using secure packaging designed to help protect your collectables during transit. Tracking details will be provided once your order has been dispatched.
Queen Victoria 1870 Sydney Mint Sovereign Type II Fine-Very Fine
$1,795.00 AUD
Unit price /
Unavailable
The last Sydney Mint Sovereign!
Gold Rush history you can hold in your hands, the 1870 Sydney Mint Sovereign is one of our most important coins. The last issue of Australia’s first sovereign series, struck at Australia’s first official mint, this key date is always sought after.
As the Sydney Mint was created in direct response to the discovery of huge deposits of gold in the 1850s, the 1870 Sydney Mint Sovereign is physical evidence of Australia’s Gold Rush heritage. Bearing a highly distinctive reverse design, with ‘SYDNEY MINT’, ‘AUSTRALIA’ and ‘ONE SOVEREIGN’ proudly emblazoned upon the reverse, the coin is also a bold statement of Australia’s developing identity, and the beginning of our march to nationhood.
The final date of the 1855-70 Sydney Mint Sovereign Series, with the Mint forced to use standard British designs from 1871, the 1870 Sydney Mint Sovereign is naturally sought after by passionate coin collectors. Hotly pursued for its ‘last issue’ status, this crucial date is also notable as the 4th lowest mintage 1857-70 Type II Sydney Mint Sovereign. With just 1.2m struck, and so many melted for the gold, or simply lost to the mists of time, this historic 22-carat gold coin is also desired for its scarcity.
Don’t ignore this outstanding opportunity to own a genuine artefact of the Australian Gold Rush. Click add to cart now!
Australia’s first official mint…
And Australia’s first sovereigns!
Australia’s key role in the history of the sovereign began following the 1850s Gold Rush. Quick to take advantage of the vast quantities of gold unearthed in the colonies, Britain established the first overseas branch of the Royal Mint in 1853, with Sydney winning the right to establish Australia’s first official mint.
The Sydney Mint was domiciled in the south wing of Sydney’s Rum Hospital. The hospital had been built from 1811 to 1816 under the stewardship of Australia’s fifth governor, the iconic Lachlan Macquarie. Officially opened on May 14, 1855, the Sydney Mint struck Australia’s first sovereign just a few weeks later, on June 23, 1855.
Both the obverse and reverse of the Sydney Mint Sovereign were designed by Leonard Wyon. Of the famous Wyon clan of engravers, Leonard gave the portrait of Queen Victoria a distinctively Australian flavour, with the monarch depicted with a wreath of banksia. With the words ‘SYDNEY MINT’, ‘AUSTRALIA’ and ‘ONE SOVEREIGN’ found on the reverse, this coin was not only the sole sovereign type to carry the name of the mint and the denomination, but referred to a political entity – Australia – that would not technically exist for nearly 50 years!
Authorities in Great Britain had decided that the Sydney Mint Sovereign should have designs entirely different to the traditional British sovereigns for one very specific reason. Intended to be legal tender in New South Wales only, the different designs made it easy to distinguish the allegedly ‘inferior’ colonial gold coins with their allegedly ‘superior’ British counterparts.
British authorities intended that the Sydney Mint Sovereigns would circulate only in New South Wales, but, very quickly, the coin was accepted in all other Australian colonies. Before too long, they were accepted as far afield as Britain, Hong Kong, Ceylon and Newfoundland! The great irony is that the Sydney Mint Sovereign was a victim of its own popularity. British authorities were shocked to find that colonial issues were actually preferred to Royal Mint Sovereigns!
Although supplanted by standard British designs from 1871 as a result, the Sydney Mint Sovereign will forever hold a crucial place in Australian history. Indeed, more than just a coin, the Sydney Mint Sovereign is living history – physical evidence of the Gold Rush that gripped the colony in the 1850s, and inspired the march to Federation in 1901.
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Queen Victoria 1870 Sydney Mint Sovereign Type II Fine-Very Fine
$1,795.00 AUD
Unit price /
Unavailable
Issued By
Sydney Mint
Country of Issue
Australia
Year of Issue
1870
Denomination
Sovereign
Grade
N/A
Metal
Gold
Quality
N/A
Dimensions
N/A
Mintage
1,220,000
Diameter (mm)
22.05
Brand
N/A
Scale
N/A
Release Date
N/A
Race team
N/A
ETA
N/A
Limited Edition
N/A
The last Sydney Mint Sovereign!
Gold Rush history you can hold in your hands, the 1870 Sydney Mint Sovereign is one of our most important coins. The last issue of Australia’s first sovereign series, struck at Australia’s first official mint, this key date is always sought after.
As the Sydney Mint was created in direct response to the discovery of huge deposits of gold in the 1850s, the 1870 Sydney Mint Sovereign is physical evidence of Australia’s Gold Rush heritage. Bearing a highly distinctive reverse design, with ‘SYDNEY MINT’, ‘AUSTRALIA’ and ‘ONE SOVEREIGN’ proudly emblazoned upon the reverse, the coin is also a bold statement of Australia’s developing identity, and the beginning of our march to nationhood.
The final date of the 1855-70 Sydney Mint Sovereign Series, with the Mint forced to use standard British designs from 1871, the 1870 Sydney Mint Sovereign is naturally sought after by passionate coin collectors. Hotly pursued for its ‘last issue’ status, this crucial date is also notable as the 4th lowest mintage 1857-70 Type II Sydney Mint Sovereign. With just 1.2m struck, and so many melted for the gold, or simply lost to the mists of time, this historic 22-carat gold coin is also desired for its scarcity.
Don’t ignore this outstanding opportunity to own a genuine artefact of the Australian Gold Rush. Click add to cart now!
Australia’s first official mint…
And Australia’s first sovereigns!
Australia’s key role in the history of the sovereign began following the 1850s Gold Rush. Quick to take advantage of the vast quantities of gold unearthed in the colonies, Britain established the first overseas branch of the Royal Mint in 1853, with Sydney winning the right to establish Australia’s first official mint.
The Sydney Mint was domiciled in the south wing of Sydney’s Rum Hospital. The hospital had been built from 1811 to 1816 under the stewardship of Australia’s fifth governor, the iconic Lachlan Macquarie. Officially opened on May 14, 1855, the Sydney Mint struck Australia’s first sovereign just a few weeks later, on June 23, 1855.
Both the obverse and reverse of the Sydney Mint Sovereign were designed by Leonard Wyon. Of the famous Wyon clan of engravers, Leonard gave the portrait of Queen Victoria a distinctively Australian flavour, with the monarch depicted with a wreath of banksia. With the words ‘SYDNEY MINT’, ‘AUSTRALIA’ and ‘ONE SOVEREIGN’ found on the reverse, this coin was not only the sole sovereign type to carry the name of the mint and the denomination, but referred to a political entity – Australia – that would not technically exist for nearly 50 years!
Authorities in Great Britain had decided that the Sydney Mint Sovereign should have designs entirely different to the traditional British sovereigns for one very specific reason. Intended to be legal tender in New South Wales only, the different designs made it easy to distinguish the allegedly ‘inferior’ colonial gold coins with their allegedly ‘superior’ British counterparts.
British authorities intended that the Sydney Mint Sovereigns would circulate only in New South Wales, but, very quickly, the coin was accepted in all other Australian colonies. Before too long, they were accepted as far afield as Britain, Hong Kong, Ceylon and Newfoundland! The great irony is that the Sydney Mint Sovereign was a victim of its own popularity. British authorities were shocked to find that colonial issues were actually preferred to Royal Mint Sovereigns!
Although supplanted by standard British designs from 1871 as a result, the Sydney Mint Sovereign will forever hold a crucial place in Australian history. Indeed, more than just a coin, the Sydney Mint Sovereign is living history – physical evidence of the Gold Rush that gripped the colony in the 1850s, and inspired the march to Federation in 1901.
