Friday 20 May 2005

HISTORIC GOLD RE-BORN AS AN AUSTRALIAN COMMEMORATIVE

Collectors who previously had no hope of acquiring a Type I sovereign, one of 's rarest , could think again as a result of today's launch by The Mint of its 2005 Commemorative Sovereign.

The new Australian legal tender , unveiled by Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC, Governor of , marks the 150th anniversary of Australia's first sovereign, produced in 1855 at the Sydney branch of Britain's .

Announcing the coin's availability, The 's General Manager Minted Products, Veronica Maguire, said it meticulously reproduced the reverse of the historic Type I sovereign, which was designed by Leonard Charles Wyon, one of the famous dynasty of 19th century engravers.

"The Perth Mint has authentically reproduced Wyon's work in stunning proof quality," she said. "Like the original coin, it is struck in 91.67% pure Australian gold, and in every other respect, it conforms to the specifications of a sovereign."

The significance of the tribute will not be lost on collectors aware of the Sydney sovereign's momentous impact on world coinage. Until 1855, the Royal Mint was the sole producer of legal tender for the .

But the discovery of gold in New South Wales in 1851 led to the creation of the Royal Mint's first colonial branch in Sydney. Empowered to convert Australian gold into sovereigns, the new Mint opened on 23 June 1855, producing 502,000 Type I coins by the end of its first year.

Wyon's distinctive 'colonial' reverse distinguished Sydney sovereigns from their Imperial counterparts. It depicts St Edward's and a laurel wreath, as well as other elements that have long fascinated numismatists and historians.

The value notation ONE SOVEREIGN was a radical departure for the coin, which traces it lineage back to the 1400s. The addition of the place of manufacture with the words SYDNEY MINT was another significant change. The design also features the name AUSTRALIA, referring to a geographical concept of the 19th century, rather than a fully-fledged nation.

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The 2005 Commemorative Sovereign, which is issued as legal tender under the Australian Act 1965, bears the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the year-date and its modern denomination on the obverse.

It is housed in the hardcover of a new book called Australia's Sovereigns. Written by sovereign specialist Andrew Crellin, the book provides fascinating information about the impact of gold and the history of gold coins in Australia. As well as the Sydney Mint Type I, it analyses the many other designs that appeared on sovereigns produced from Australian gold by the Sydney, and Perth branches of the Royal Mint between 1855 and 1931.

Packed with illustrations and invaluable hints and tips for collectors, the book also incorporates the Commemorative Sovereign's numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

"This new coin will have tremendous appeal among collectors of historic sovereigns worldwide," Veronica Maguire said. "With a strictly limited mintage of just 7,500 coin and book packages, we are confident that it will sell out quickly, delighting many who would never have dreamed it possible to see this historic reverse in their collection."

Priced at AU$369, The Perth Mint’s 2005 Commemorative Sovereign is available from the Mint by calling toll free on 1800 098 817, through The Perth Mint Shop located at 310 Hay Street, East Perth, select coin dealers, and on the web at www.perthmint.com.au

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PICTURE EDITORS: A high resolution image of The Perth Mint’s 2005 Commemorative Sovereign can be downloaded from following website address: www.perthmint.com.au/gc/distributors/images.asp

FURTHER INFORMATION: Sarah Turnbull, Professional Public Relations Telephone (08) 9388 0944 Mobile 0430 037 337 Email [email protected]

Veronica Maguire, General Manager Minted Product, The Perth Mint Telephone (08) 9421 7252 Mobile 0412 114 208 Email [email protected]