The second last date of the Sydney mint Young Head series, the 1886 Sydney is of similar rarity to the 1887-S Young Head
in lower grades but in the AU grades and above the 1886 Sydney tends to turn up far less frequently with 1887 Sydney Mint
Half Sovereigns being available right up to the better
mint state
grades. The 1886-S is known by approximately 1500 to 2000 examples making it relatively common when compared to most
earlier half sovereigns though they are still quite difficult to acquire with only a handful of appearances of each date
per year.
This type can bedifferentiated from the scarcer Melbourne mint type by the presence of an S
mintmark
underneath the Shield on the reverse.
S under the Shield indicates Melbourne mint (this coin) M mintmark indicates Melbourne mint
There are also subtle differences in the
rim
beading with the Melbourne mint type having a toothed
rim
while this type has a beaded rim.
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