The Type II
Reverse
The tails side of the coin
reverse is featured on Edward VII half sovereigns from 1904 to 1910 with Australian
Mint
a facility that produces coins
mint examples being struck from 1906 onwards from all three Australian branches of the Royal mint. Marsh refers to the 1904 Perth also being sighted with this
Reverse
The tails side of the coin
reverse however I have not come across any (Marsh, M, A, 2004). This design features a slightly shrunk
Reverse
The tails side of the coin
reverse design with the designer's initials B.P found to the right of the date, just below the
Exergue
a space on the reverse of a coin or medal below the central design, often containing the date, mint, or other information
exergue line.
The entire Edward VII run is very difficult to acquire beyond
Mint state
A state of a coin that shows no signs of circulation
mint state with most types being difficult to find well struck up. In addition, they are typically seen with very rough fields. The average grade for this type is MS61 to MS64, with examples occasionally turning up in MS63. The Perth mint types are the scarcest, with the 1908 Perth being practically impossible to source beyond XF, and the 1909 Perth also being very scarce in such grades. The 1906 Melbourne and 1907 Melbourne half sovereigns are also quite rare beyond AU, though do turn up from time to time.
One of the Melbourne
Mint
a facility that produces coins
mint Obverse
The heads side of the coin
obverse Master die
A cylindrical punch with an impression of a coin's design used to strike the working dies of a coin
master dies has a
Die crack
A crack on the die which produces a raised line on the die it produces, or on the coins it strikes
die crack from the top
Rim
The edge around a coin, often with beading or denticles
rim down the middle of the bust which has resulted in a fine incuse line often mistaken for a pin scratch. This is found on approximately half the Melbourne
Mint
a facility that produces coins
mint half sovereigns of the series. The average grade in the series is XF though 1908 and 1910 Sydney half sovereigns do often turn up in AU, while the 1906 Melbourne is generally found in F to VF, frequently with a better reverse.
