1866 Half Sovereign

Mint reports indicate that 216,000 half sovereigns were minted in 1866, however a further 62,000 in 1867 and 154,000 in 1869 were also struck (Marsh, M, A, 2004). As it is known that there no 1867 or 1869 dated coins, it is presumed that they were struck with 1866

Die

A cylindrical punch with an inverted impression of a coin's design used to strike the coin

 

dies indicating a total

Mintage

The number of coins struck of a particular designation

 

mintage of 216,000 which would seem consistent with the relative survival rate of the date.

The date is one of the easier pieces to source with an estimated survival rate just shy of 1,000 and examples do turn up around XF from time to time though finding examples beyond AU can be quite a challenge.

The date is often found with a bold

Obverse

The heads side of the coin

 

obverse

Rim

The edge around a coin, often with beading or denticles

 

rim paired with an undetailed central

Reverse

The tails side of the coin

 

reverse strike. These examples came off the recycled

Proof

A coin struck from specially prepared dies to strike a superior quality coin not intended for circulation

 

proof

Die

A cylindrical punch with an inverted impression of a coin's design used to strike the coin

 

dies of the year as during the year the Sydney mint struck 2

Proof

A coin struck from specially prepared dies to strike a superior quality coin not intended for circulation

 

proof half sovereigns (Learn more about the 1866 Proof Half Sovereign) for the Inter-colonial Exhibition in 1866 and the International Exposition in 1867 as products of New South Wales (Noble Numismatics, 2003).

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