Mintage:32,000 Figure shared with: 12 pearls Mint:Sydney MintMonarch:VictoriaReverse Designer:J. B. MerlenObverse Designer:Sir J. E. BoehmSize:19mmWeight:3.99gEdge:ReededComposition:91.67% Gold 8.33% Copper
Values
Sales History
Current listings
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The 1889 Sydney is the key date of the series and one of the most underrated half sovereigns in the entire series; This
was largely due to its
mintage
figure going unpublished in most catalogues despite Royal mint reports stating a mintage of 32,000
(Marsh, M, A, 2004)
. The prices have come up to a more realistic level so perhaps the comment of this being a
sleeper
is outdated though there was a time when this date, although turning up very infrequently, would turn up at or close
to bullion value. There are two varieties for this date, one has 13 pearls in Queen Victoria's necklace (this issue) and
the other with 12. The 12 pearl necklace is by far the scarcer of the two with about 1 in 5 having this rare variety.
13 pearl necklace, note the extra pearl in front of the Queen's neck
12 pearl variety
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