Sorry! This 1872/1 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) has sold.

1872/1 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62)

Obverse: Young head of Victoria to left, date below and legend around

Reverse: Crown above shield, wreath around and mintmark below

Diameter: 22.00mm | Weight: 7.99g | Purity: 91.67 | AGW: 0.2354 ozt

Mintage: 748,000 (Part)


This is currently the equal-finest known example of this key Shield sovereign.

Before the Melbourne Mint's very first coins were struck during the official opening ceremony by the Governor of Victoria, Sir John Manners-Sutton, on June 12th 1872, the early months of the Melbourne Mint were fraught with difficulty. Prime among the problems the Royal Mint staff faced was the complete loss of a vital batch of dies in a shipwreck off the coast of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in November, 1871.

As most of the new Mint's staff did not actually arrive in Melbourne until January 1872, these dies quickly became obsolete, and Ward was forced to request a second batch of dies, this time dated 1872.

These dies were transported from London by the RMS Rangoon, and unfortunately went down with the Rangoon when it sank in the Port of Galle (Ceylon, now Sri Lanka) in November 1871.

Given the significant lead time involved with replacements arriving from London, the Melbourne Mint could well have run out of dies altogether before the end of 1872 - an altogether unthinkable situation.

In an attempt to make the most of the Mint’s scarce resources until additional dies arrived from London, Colonel Ward engaged the services of a Danish jeweller named Julius Hogarth.

Hogarth then had the idea to alter the last digit of the 1871-dated dies that were among the first batch sent out from London, so that they could be used if a complete lack of alternatives required it.

The result of this work remains evident for collectors today - essentially, Hogarth added a number “2” to the date of sixty obverse dies, and although his work significantly increased the number of coins the Melbourne Mint was able to produce during 1872, as the number “1” can still be seen under the “2” on numerous 1872 Shield sovereigns available to collectors today, it cannot be regarded as impeccable work.

Click here to read more about the incredible background to this historic Australian sovereign.

 

Click the PCGS icon below to verify the certificate details for this coin directly on the PCGS website.

PCGS Certificate Number: 47093107

PCGS Certificate Verification 47093107

 

 

 

SKU: 23596

Browse our catalog of Shields below:

Coin Name Reverse Obverse Price Status
1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign WW Raised good EF 1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign WW Raised good EF 1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign WW Raised good EF $1,225.00 Available Now View Product
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1875 Sydney Shield Sovereign good EF 1875 Sydney Shield Sovereign good EF 1875 Sydney Shield Sovereign good EF $1,250.00 Available Now View Product
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1877 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine 1877 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine 1877 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine $1,200.00 Available Now View Product
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1878 Sydney Shield Sovereign about VF 1878 Sydney Shield Sovereign about VF 1878 Sydney Shield Sovereign about VF $1,100.00 Available Now View Product
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1878 Sydney Shield Sovereign good EF 1878 Sydney Shield Sovereign good EF 1878 Sydney Shield Sovereign good EF $1,150.00 Available Now View Product
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1879 Sydney Shield Sovereign good VF 1879 Sydney Shield Sovereign good VF 1879 Sydney Shield Sovereign good VF $1,150.00 Available Now View Product
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1880 Sydney Shield Sovereign Inverted A Error about VF 1880 Sydney Shield Sovereign Inverted A Error about VF 1880 Sydney Shield Sovereign Inverted A Error about VF $3,500.00 Available Now View Product
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1881 Sydney Shield Sovereign PCGS MS61 1881 Sydney Shield Sovereign PCGS MS61 1881 Sydney Shield Sovereign PCGS MS61 $1,950.00 Available Now View Product
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1882 Melbourne Shield Sovereign about EF 1882 Melbourne Shield Sovereign about EF 1882 Melbourne Shield Sovereign about EF $1,200.00 Available Now View Product
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1883 Sydney Shield Sovereign good EF 1883 Sydney Shield Sovereign good EF 1883 Sydney Shield Sovereign good EF $1,750.00 Available Now View Product
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1884 Melbourne Shield Sovereign about Unc 1884 Melbourne Shield Sovereign about Unc 1884 Melbourne Shield Sovereign about Unc $1,275.00 Available Now View Product
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1884 Melbourne Shield Sovereign good VF 1884 Melbourne Shield Sovereign good VF 1884 Melbourne Shield Sovereign good VF $1,125.00 Available Now View Product
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1884 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine 1884 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine 1884 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine $1,200.00 Available Now View Product
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1887 Melbourne Shield Sovereign good VF ex Mount 1887 Melbourne Shield Sovereign good VF ex Mount 1887 Melbourne Shield Sovereign good VF ex Mount $1,950.00 Available Now View Product
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1887 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine 1887 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine 1887 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine $1,225.00 Available Now View Product
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1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign about EF 1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign about EF 1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign about EF $550.00
Last sold for this price on 14/4/2022
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1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine 1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine 1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine $1,000.00
Last sold for this price on 2/6/2024
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1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign good VF 1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign good VF 1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign good VF $975.00
Last sold for this price on 14/4/2024
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1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign WW Incuse Choice Unc (PCGS MS63) 1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign WW Incuse Choice Unc (PCGS MS63) 1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign WW Incuse Choice Unc (PCGS MS63) $3,250.00
Last sold for this price on 14/3/2023
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1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign WW Incuse Unc (PCGS MS62) 1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign WW Incuse Unc (PCGS MS62) 1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign WW Incuse Unc (PCGS MS62) $2,250.00
Last sold for this price on 26/4/2022
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1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign WW Raised Unc (PCGS MS61) 1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign WW Raised Unc (PCGS MS61) 1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign WW Raised Unc (PCGS MS61) $1,500.00
Last sold for this price on 6/8/2024
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1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign WW Raised Unc (PCGS MS62) 1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign WW Raised Unc (PCGS MS62) 1871 Sydney Shield Sovereign WW Raised Unc (PCGS MS62) $1,950.00
Last sold for this price on 12/10/2020
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1872 Melbourne Shield Sovereign good EF 1872 Melbourne Shield Sovereign good EF 1872 Melbourne Shield Sovereign good EF $850.00
Last sold for this price on 23/7/2022
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1872 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine 1872 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine 1872 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine $950.00
Last sold for this price on 12/4/2024
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1872 Sydney Shield Sovereign good VF 1872 Sydney Shield Sovereign good VF 1872 Sydney Shield Sovereign good VF $914.25
Last sold for this price on 14/12/2022
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1872/1 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS61) 1872/1 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS61) 1872/1 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS61) $6,485.00
Last sold for this price on 9/7/2019
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1872/1 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) 1872/1 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) 1872/1 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) $9,000.00
Last sold for this price on 11/4/2023
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1873 Sydney Shield Sovereign about VF 1873 Sydney Shield Sovereign about VF 1873 Sydney Shield Sovereign about VF $925.00
Last sold for this price on 7/4/2024
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1873 Sydney Shield Sovereign good EF 1873 Sydney Shield Sovereign good EF 1873 Sydney Shield Sovereign good EF $1,100.00
Last sold for this price on 3/6/2024
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1873 Sydney Shield Sovereign good VF 1873 Sydney Shield Sovereign good VF 1873 Sydney Shield Sovereign good VF $895.00
Last sold for this price on 14/8/2023
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1873 Sydney Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) 1873 Sydney Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) 1873 Sydney Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) $2,250.00
Last sold for this price on 12/10/2020
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1874 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine 1874 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine 1874 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine $1,000.00
Last sold for this price on 12/4/2024
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1875 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine 1875 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine 1875 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine $1,050.00
Last sold for this price on 11/7/2024
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1875 Sydney Shield Sovereign good VF 1875 Sydney Shield Sovereign good VF 1875 Sydney Shield Sovereign good VF $995.00
Last sold for this price on 3/5/2024
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1875 Sydney Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) 1875 Sydney Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) 1875 Sydney Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) $2,100.00
Last sold for this price on 23/10/2019
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1877 Sydney Shield Sovereign good EF 1877 Sydney Shield Sovereign good EF 1877 Sydney Shield Sovereign good EF $995.00
Last sold for this price on 12/4/2024
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1877 Sydney Shield Sovereign good VF 1877 Sydney Shield Sovereign good VF 1877 Sydney Shield Sovereign good VF $925.00
Last sold for this price on 8/4/2024
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1878 Sydney Shield Sovereign about Unc 1878 Sydney Shield Sovereign about Unc 1878 Sydney Shield Sovereign about Unc $1,275.00
Last sold for this price on 23/11/2024
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1878 Sydney Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS61) 1878 Sydney Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS61) 1878 Sydney Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS61) $950.00
Last sold for this price on 5/8/2019
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1878 Sydney Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) 1878 Sydney Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) 1878 Sydney Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) $1,150.00
Last sold for this price on 10/9/2019
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1879 Sydney Shield Sovereign about VF 1879 Sydney Shield Sovereign about VF 1879 Sydney Shield Sovereign about VF $925.00
Last sold for this price on 8/4/2024
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1879 Sydney Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) 1879 Sydney Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) 1879 Sydney Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) $1,750.00
Last sold for this price on 4/11/2022
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1880 Sydney Shield Sovereign good EF 1880 Sydney Shield Sovereign good EF 1880 Sydney Shield Sovereign good EF $1,300.00
Last sold for this price on 16/11/2024
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1880 Sydney Shield Sovereign Very Fine 1880 Sydney Shield Sovereign Very Fine 1880 Sydney Shield Sovereign Very Fine $950.00
Last sold for this price on 3/5/2024
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1881 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) 1881 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) 1881 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) $4,500.00
Last sold for this price on 19/5/2024
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1881 Sydney Shield Sovereign about Unc 1881 Sydney Shield Sovereign about Unc 1881 Sydney Shield Sovereign about Unc $1,639.00
Last sold for this price on 18/10/2024
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1881 Sydney Shield Sovereign Choice Unc (PCGS MS63) 1881 Sydney Shield Sovereign Choice Unc (PCGS MS63) 1881 Sydney Shield Sovereign Choice Unc (PCGS MS63) $3,950.00
Last sold for this price on 15/9/2024
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1881 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine 1881 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine 1881 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine $925.00
Last sold for this price on 29/3/2024
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1882 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine 1882 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine 1882 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine $950.00
Last sold for this price on 21/4/2024
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1883 Melbourne Shield Sovereign about Unc (PCGS AU58) 1883 Melbourne Shield Sovereign about Unc (PCGS AU58) 1883 Melbourne Shield Sovereign about Unc (PCGS AU58) $2,500.00
Last sold for this price on 2/6/2024
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1883 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) 1883 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) 1883 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) $5,500.00
Last sold for this price on 15/10/2020
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1883 Sydney Shield Sovereign Very Fine 1883 Sydney Shield Sovereign Very Fine 1883 Sydney Shield Sovereign Very Fine $925.00
Last sold for this price on 8/4/2024
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1884 Melbourne Shield Sovereign good EF 1884 Melbourne Shield Sovereign good EF 1884 Melbourne Shield Sovereign good EF $950.00
Last sold for this price on 21/4/2024
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1884 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) 1884 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) 1884 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) $1,750.00
Last sold for this price on 24/10/2024
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1884 Sydney Shield Sovereign good EF 1884 Sydney Shield Sovereign good EF 1884 Sydney Shield Sovereign good EF $875.00
Last sold for this price on 3/3/2021
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1884 Sydney Shield Sovereign PCGS AU58 1884 Sydney Shield Sovereign PCGS AU58 1884 Sydney Shield Sovereign PCGS AU58 $1,265.00
Last sold for this price on 4/6/2024
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1885 Melbourne Shield Sovereign good EF 1885 Melbourne Shield Sovereign good EF 1885 Melbourne Shield Sovereign good EF $895.00
Last sold for this price on 7/8/2020
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1885 Sydney Shield Sovereign Choice Unc (PCGS MS63) 1885 Sydney Shield Sovereign Choice Unc (PCGS MS63) 1885 Sydney Shield Sovereign Choice Unc (PCGS MS63) $1,750.00
Last sold for this price on 17/7/2024
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1885 Sydney Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) 1885 Sydney Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) 1885 Sydney Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) $1,250.00
Last sold for this price on 12/10/2020
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1886 Melbourne Shield Sovereign PCGS XF45 1886 Melbourne Shield Sovereign PCGS XF45 1886 Melbourne Shield Sovereign PCGS XF45 $8,735.00
Last sold for this price on 29/9/2020
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1886 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Shield Reverse good EF (PCGS AU55) 1886 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Shield Reverse good EF (PCGS AU55) 1886 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Shield Reverse good EF (PCGS AU55) $13,500.00
Last sold for this price on 29/6/2022
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1886 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) 1886 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) 1886 Melbourne Shield Sovereign Unc (PCGS MS62) $62,500.00
Last sold for this price on 17/6/2020
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1886 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine 1886 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine 1886 Sydney Shield Sovereign Extremely Fine $950.00
Last sold for this price on 21/4/2024
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1886 Sydney Shield Sovereign good VF 1886 Sydney Shield Sovereign good VF 1886 Sydney Shield Sovereign good VF $750.00
Last sold for this price on 15/4/2022
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1887 Melbourne Shield Sovereign about Unc 1887 Melbourne Shield Sovereign about Unc 1887 Melbourne Shield Sovereign about Unc $9,500.00
Last sold for this price on 25/2/2021
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