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Australia Sydney Filleted Bust

1853 Half Sovereign

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Known by just four pairs with only one in private hands and the first coin to bear the name AUSTRALIA, the 1853 pattern Half Sovereign is arguably the most important piece of Australian numismatics. The reverse design features the Sydney mint design with the legend SYDNEY MINT HALF SOVEREIGN surrounding an oak wreath with a crown above AUSTRALIA in the middle and a ribbon below. The obverse features the Leonard Wyon portrait of Queen Victoria which would be used until 1856.

Although due to the extreme rarity of the piece sales are limited, the piece did sell in 2009 through the Quartermaster collection for above $1.1 million (Crellin, A, 2015) .