Mintage:3 KnownReverse Designer:J. B. MerlenObverse Designer:William WyonSize:19mmWeight:3.99gEdge:ReededComposition:91.67% Gold 8.33% Copper
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Following the example of the Sydney Mint, which had been established in 1855 to ensure efficient
minting of Australian gold into legal tender
(Monetarium (Australia) Pty Ltd, 2009)
, and the passing of The Colonial Branch Mint Act of 1866, the Melbourne Mint was established in June, 1872
(Monetarium (Australia) Pty Ltd, 2009)
. Victoria's ample gold resources were also a strong factor in the British' government's decision to open a branch
in Melbourne
(Melbourne Museum, 2016)
.
The building that housed the Melbourne Mint was built especially for this purpose. Its architectural design purportedly
inspired by Raphael's Palazzo Vidoni-Caffarelli in Rome, constructed in 1515
(Melbourne Mint Australia, 2013)
. The building now houses the Hellenic Museum.
The Melbourne Mint joined the Sydney Mint in striking full and half sovereigns and continued to strike half sovereigns
until 1915, and full sovereigns until 1931, then silver and copper coinage until its closure in 1968
(Monetarium (Australia) Pty Ltd, 2009)
. The Sydney Mint closed in 1926 having produced gold, silver, and copper coins throughout its time
(Monetarium (Australia) Pty Ltd, 2009)
.
The Half Sovereign Young Head series was first struck on Australian soil in 1871 following the short-lived Sydney Mint
series. The changeover to the imperial shield reverse design half sovereign also coincided
with the changeover to a gold-copper alloy for half sovereigns. The series has five different
obverse s with very slight variations
(Monetarium (Australia) Pty Ltd, 2009)
. They all feature the portrait of a young Queen Victoria facing left, her hair bound in a double fillet and secured
in a bun. They show toothed denticles around the rims, and the legend
reads VICTORIA DEI GRATIA. There are four different reverses
(Monetarium (Australia) Pty Ltd, 2009)
. All the reverses show a crown atop a shield. The legend reads BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID: DEF:. The
mintmark is positioned directly below the shield between two rosettes.
This was the typical die design used by the Melbourne Mint during the final run of the Young
Head series, distinguished by a crenulated reverse much like the Sydney Mint Type VIII, and most likely prepared from the
same master die given that the Melbourne Mint produced the die s mint statemintages
Proofspecimen
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