1855 Sydney Mint Sovereign PCGS XF40
The 1855 Sydney Mint sovereign is not just Australia’s first official gold coin. It is also the British Empire’s first sovereign minted outside London. Unlike British sovereigns, which bore the much celebrated young bust of Queen Victoria and the quartered shield of Victoria’s Royal Arms on the reverse, the Australian sovereign carried on the reverse the denomination of the coin (another first), along with the name of the branch mint (Sydney) and the word “Australia”, which referred to the geographic region rather than the nation of Australia (which did not exist at the time). Today, they’re widely collected, keenly sought after, and a required coin in any sovereign type set. The example photographed above is an honest coin with even wear on the high points and lustre in the legends and devices. If you’re looking for a decent Sydney Mint sovereign that is value for money, this is your coin. Professional Coin Grading Service is the global leader in coin authentication and grading. With over 60 million coins graded and counting, PCGS is trusted by collectors, dealers, and investors to certify authenticity, protect value, and elevate market confidence. This is a direct conversion of the 70-point PCGS grade to a 10-point scale, intended to present the grade in a more intuitive format for newer collectors. It is not our personal opinion or an attempt at regrading the coin to a different standard. To understand how the 70-point scale converts to a 10-point scale, [click here](https://drakesterling.com/en/page/the-ten-point-coin-grading-scale).