The Perth Mint is proud to continue to offer sovereigns it provided one-hundred years ago.
Amongst the last sovereigns considered true circulation coins, with the global economic crisis engendered by World War I sounding the death knell for gold as a circulating medium, Australia’s 1916 Sovereigns are extremely rare in the upper echelons of quality.
All the Empire’s Sovereigns produced in Canada, India, South Africa, Australia and London were considered product of the London Mint. The sovereigns that were struck at The Perth Mint are classified as ‘scarce’, with just over 4 million produced in 1916.
Product information struck in 1916 at The Perth Mint in a comparatively low number, this Gold Sovereign is available in lustrous 'uncirculated' condition. With just over 4 million produced, 1916 Perth Mint sovereigns are classified as ‘scarce’ and are extremely rare in the upper echelons of quality. Struck from 7.98 grams and measuring 21.5mm in diameter, they are among the last sovereigns considered true circulation coins. After this time the global economic crisis brought about by World War I sounded the death knell for gold as a circulating medium.
Historic 1916 Sovereigns
Struck from 7.98 grams of 22-carat gold and measuring 21.5mm in diameter, each coin is a genuine gold sovereign minted during World War I.
Iconic St George and the Dragon Reverse Design
The reverse of each coin portrays Benedetto Pistrucci's classic St George and the dragon design. The obverse of each sovereign depicts the original portrait of King George V which was represented from 1911 to 1928.
Prestigious Timber Case and Certificate
The 1916 King George V Perth Mint Gold Sovereign is housed in a lavish ebony timber case with a Certificate of Authenticity.
In Australia the Sydney Mint was established in 1855 as a branch of the Royal Mint in London. Its primary objective together with the mints of Melbourne (1872 - 1931) and Perth (1899 - 1931) was to strike Sovereigns and Half Sovereigns from the gold that had been discovered in the goldfields of Victoria and New South Wales in 1851.
The Australian Minted Gold Sovereign Series 1855 – 1931 consists of 9 different types. The Sydney Mint Type 1 (1855 -1856), Sydney Mint Type 2 (1857 – 1870), Victorian Young Head Shield Reverse (1871 – 1887), Victorian Young Head St George Reverse (1871 – 1887), Victorian Jubilee Head (1887 – 1893), Victorian Veiled Head (1893 – 1901), King Edward VII, (1902 – 1910), King George V Large Head (1911 – 1928) and King George V Small Head (1929 – 1931).
The later King George V Sovereigns are either Very Scarce or Rare due to the mints cutting back on mintages struck. Dates: 1919M, 1920M & S, 1921S & M, 1922S & M, 1923S, 1924S & P, 1925P, 1926P, S & M, 1927P, 1928M & P, 1929M, 1930M & 1931M.
Sovereigns could be produced at one mint, two mints or at all mints, and when enough coins were thought to be in circulation no sovereigns were produced at all. Australian Sovereigns can be collected by Date, Type, and Mint mark or by a combination of these.