THE BLUE MOUNTAINS SOVEREIGN HOARD!

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1 THE BLUE MOUNTAINS SOVEREIGN HOARD! See pages 2&3 for this rare sovereign hoard!

2 THE COINS OF THE Springing into life as a direct consequence of the 1850s Gold Rush, Sydney won the right to establish Australia s first Mint when legislation passed through the British Parliament in August A branch of the Royal Mint, the Sydney Mint struck its first sovereigns in June Superbly designed, the Sydney Mint Sovereign is one of our most distinctive coins, with SYDNEY MINT, AUSTRALIA and ONE SOVEREIGN proudly emblazoned on the reverse. Intended to be legal tender in New South Wales only, and yet quickly accepted as far afield as Hong Kong, Ceylon and Newfoundland, the Sydney Mint Sovereign was actually a victim of its own popularity! British authorities were shocked to find that the inferior colonial issues were actually preferred to Royal Mint Sovereigns! Although supplanted by standard British designs from 1871 as a result, the Sydney Mint Sovereign would 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 SYDNEY MINT TYPE II SOVEREIGN F-VF 1868 SYDNEY MINT TYPE II SOVEREIGN F-VF

3 BLUE MOUNTAINS SOVEREIGN HOARD! 1867 SYDNEY MINT TYPE II SOVEREIGN F-VF A rare, fresh hoard find, we are delighted to present the Blue Mountains Sovereign Hoard a stash of over ONE HUNDRED Gold Sovereigns almost certainly hidden away in the 1880s! Desirable in any condition, the Sydney Mint Sovereign represents one of the peaks of collecting in this country. Nowhere in Australian numismatics is there to be found a greater combination of beauty, history and rarity. Held by the same family for generations, the Blue Mountains Sovereign Hoard comprised a significant number of this crucial Australian coin. Featuring other types, including the 1871S St George & Shield on page 4, the hoard was dominated by later Sydney Mint Sovereign Type II dates. Sovereigns dated 1866, 1867, 1868 and 1870 were all discovered, with the last-mentioned found in substantial quantity. The last four dates of the series, with no sovereigns struck in 1869, these coins are in Fine to Very Fine. A fantastic opportunity, the 1866, 1867, 1868 and 1870 Sydney Mint Sovereigns are very affordable individually. Buy all four and save 255! 1870 SYDNEY MINT TYPE II SOVEREIGN F-VF 745 AK158 BUY ALL 4 2,995 SAVE 255 Each presentation is set in a timber case with a Certificate of Authenticity 3 To order

4 From the Blue Mountains Sovereign Hoard! Distinguished by one of the world s most famous coin motifs, created by Italian master craftsman Benedetto Pistrucci for the introduction of the modern sovereign in 1817, a handful of 1871S St George Sovereigns were also found as part of the Blue Mountains Sovereign Hoard. The Sydney Mint kept a record of only the number of sovereigns struck in a particular year, with no distinction on the basis of design. Although it is unknown how many of the 2.8m-coin 1871S Shield-St George mintage was of the latter type, it is clear that the 1871S St George is significantly scarcer than the 1871S Shield offered below. Just a few available graded Fine. 1871S YOUNG HEAD ST GEORGE SOVEREIGN FINE 795 AS238 The first Sydney Mint Shield BUY BOTH AND SAVE 100 Also discovered as part of this significant hoard find, we have a number of the first Sydney Mint Shield Sovereign in stock the 1871S! The 1871S Shield Sovereign came into existence when authorities in London directed the Sydney Mint to replace the uniquely Australian design it used from 1855 to The Mint had the right to choose either the St George or the Shield design or both and ultimately chose to strike both types. Defined by the armorial magnificence of the reverse, and very scarce with so many melted for the intrinsic value in the 140+ years since struck, the few 1871S Shield Gold Sovereigns in stock are in Very Fine. 1871S YOUNG HEAD SHIELD SOVEREIGN VF follow 4 info@downies.com

5 The last of its kind One of Australia s key sovereign dates, the Melbourne Mint s 1887M St George Sovereign was the very last issue of the Young Head St George Series. A low-mintage issue, and increasingly elusive in premium grade, we have this important date in Extremely Fine to good Extremely Fine! Employed for half a century, the youthful portrayal of the Queen was eventually supplanted by the Golden Jubilee portrait in 1887 created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Queen s reign. Naturally highly sought after as the last of its kind, the 1887M St George Sovereign is a must-have in this lovely, lustrous quality. 1887M YOUNG HEAD ST GEORGE SOVEREIGN EF-gEF 795 AP292 Superb Uncirculated quality! A fantastic opportunity for just a few of our clients, Downies is delighted to present the 1882S St George Sovereign Type I in magnificent Uncirculated condition! Clearly stashed away at issue, and distinguished by the fact that Pistrucci s initials are missing from the exergue to the right of the date, these pristine 133-year-old gold sovereigns are a true feast for the eyes. Blessed with sharp detail in the designs, and smooth lustrous fields, we have seldom had the chance to present this scarce type in such impressive condition. With just six strictly Uncirculated examples available, we recommend immediate action! 1882S ST GEORGE SOVEREIGN TYPE I UNC (NO BP) 995 AU To order

6 The Complete 33-Coin Perth Mint Sovereign Collection From the 1899P to the 1931P, and EVERY coin in between, this utterly comprehensive collection gives you the extremely rare opportunity to secure an example of each Perth Mint sovereign date in better-thanusually-seen Very Fine to Uncirculated quality! Issued during the reigns of Queen Victoria ( ), Edward VII ( ) and George V ( ), this inspiring presentation comprises 33 sovereigns. Headlined by one of the key coins in the entire Commonwealth Sovereign series, the rare 1926P, the series also features the 1899P (3rd lowest mintage sovereign from ; just 691,000 struck!), as well as the scarce 1925P, 1927P and 1929P. These desirable dates are all included as well as such crucial coins as the scarce WWI 1916P and 1917P, low mintage 1928P (just 133,000 struck!) and last issue 1931P. Providing long-term protection, each sovereign is set in a capsule, which fits neatly within the plush, custom-made coin trays found within the lavish, lockable, high-gloss timber case. Guaranteeing the precise weight and purity of each coin, a Certificate of Authenticity is also included. Whether you pay right now, or take advantage of our convenient layby terms, we highly recommend you grasp this seldom seen opportunity immediately. We have just three complete Perth Mint Sovereign Collections available! COMPLETE PERTH MINT SOVEREIGN COLLECTION 28,995 SH142 6

7 The First & the Last Drawing together two of the most important elements of the Australian Sovereign Series, this prestigious presentation unites the very first and the very last sovereign dates struck at the Perth Mint 1899 and The dawn of a new era in Australian gold production, the Perth Mint struck its first coins in 1899 specifically, the 1899 Sovereign. Hotly pursued as the first in the Perth Mint series, this coin also embodies the final days of the long reign of Queen Victoria, with the Veiled Head portrait gracing the obverse. The lowest mintage Perth Mint sovereign, with just 691,000 struck, the 1899P Gold Sovereign is a key to the Australian Sovereign Series. Issued toward the end of the reign of George V, the 1931P was the last date struck at the Perth Mint and the last date of the Australian Sovereign Series. Like the 1899P, the 1931P featured the St George & the Dragon design. An historic, short-lived issue, the 1931P was the third of a three-year-only type, with the Modified Portrait of George V employed only from 1929 to United within a timber case with a Certificate of Authenticity, the first and last Perth Mint sovereigns encapsulate the history of gold coin production in the west, and form an enthralling journey to the heart of Australia s glorious golden heritage & 1931 PERTH MINT SOVEREIGN PAIR 1,795 SH To order

8 Australia s first gold coin Australia s first gold coin, struck as a result of the 1850s Gold Rush, the tremendously rare 1852 Adelaide 1 is one of the most prestigious acquisitions the collector can make. The mintage of the 1852 Adelaide 1 was closed at 24,648, but, following a dramatic rise in the price of gold, almost all were melted down for the intrinsic value. Indeed, it is estimated that a mere 200 examples exist today! Sought after by investors as much as collectors, and exceedingly rare in any condition, we have one example in Very Fine ADELAIDE POUND TYPE II VF 19,950 AT709 Among Australia s greatest rarities Australia s first sovereign, struck at the nation s first official Mint, the 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign Type I is excessively rare in premium grade. An original, important artefact of the Australian Gold Rush, bearing the famous wreath reverse motif, just 502,000 examples of the 1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign Type I were struck. With a vast majority of coins lost or destroyed for the gold in the nearly 160 years since issued, this revered date is a rarity of the highest order when found in Very Fine, as here SYDNEY MINT SOVEREIGN TYPE I VF 5,995 AL491 MAIL PO Box 3131 Nunawading, Vic 3131 T: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm E: info@downies.com F: (03) All rights reserved. Every Downies catalogue is printed on environmentally friendly chlorine-free and acid-free paper manufactured by an accredited mill. Both paper manufacturer and printer are accredited to ISO14001, the internationally recognised standard to Environmental Management. All items offered are subject to being sold out prior to receipt of order. Products may be pictured not at actual size. Some items in this magazine may not be immediately available from our retail outlets. This list cancels all previous direct selling lists. All prices in Australian dollars. Prices shown are subject to change without notice. Prices may include GST. follow 8 info@downies.com