The first
Business strike
A coin struck for circulation
business strike half sovereigns struck at the Sydney mint were dated 1855 and 1856. The
Reverse
The tails side of the coin
reverse design featured a banksia wreath tied into a bow below surrounding 'AUSTRALIA' below a crown with the words, 'SYDNEY MINT' and 'HALF SOVEREIGN' encircling the design. This was the only time a colony would ever deviate from the imperial design though was short-lived with the Sydney mint reverting to the imperial shield design in 1871. The first
Obverse
The heads side of the coin
obverse featured the filleted bust of Queen Victoria designed by James Wyon. A total of 21,000 half sovereigns were struck in 1855, and 470,000 in 1856 making the type, known as Type I Sydney mint, quite a challenge for
Type set
A collection consisting of one coin of each type and possibly variety
type set collectors, especially if sought in quality but a hoard of better grade 1856 half sovereigns did turn up in India which accounts for their availability in
Mint state
A state of a coin that shows no signs of circulation
mint state.
