1855 Half Sovereign to honour 150 years of Sydney Mint
14th February 2005
The eagerly anticipated ninth release of the Royal Australian Mint's Subscription Series honours one of the most celebrated coins, the 1855 Half Sovereign, celebrating 150 years of the Sydney Mint.
The original 1855 Australian half sovereign has become one of the most sought after coins in the world. Whilst 21,000 were minted in 1855 few survived in good condition fuelling demand for one of the most desirable Australian coins in history.
With the reproduction of this extremely rare masterpiece, in an exciting new setting, collectors have the chance to own a unique part of Australian history.
Royal Australian Mint designer, Wojciech Pietranik, has incorporated both innovative minting technologies with the classic elements of the famous 1855 Half Sovereign.
The coin incorporates both frosted and proof finishes. It is made in fine silver (99.9%) with a proof finish to further emphasise the gold plated depiction of the 1855 Sydney Mint Half Sovereign.
The coin is beautifully housed in a display case, with packaging that complements the tone of the coin. The 2005 Subscription Coin comes with a Certificate of Authenticity which details the specifications and final mintage number.
The subscription coin program has been a feature of the Royal Australian Mint since 1997. Coin designs and themes are chosen to feature significant, historical or commemorative events and themes. Extensive research into each coin release ensures a coin of particular importance and relevant is released into the market.
The 1855 Half Sovereign can be ordered direct from the Royal Australian Mint by telephoning 1300 652 020 Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 5:00pm or order online at www.ramint.gov.au.
The mintage for this annual release is determined by subscription. Orders open on Monday 14 February and close on 29 March 2005.
| Coin | Description | Download |
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2005 Subscription - 1855 Half Sovereign - Case | JPG 1.0MB (Zip) |
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2005 Subscription - 1855 Half Sovereign - Obverse | JPG 1.3MB (Zip) |
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2005 Subscription - 1855 Half Sovereign - Reverse |
JPG 1.4MB (Zip) |