AUSTRALIA SOVEREIGN 2022

GOLD PROOF HIGH RELIEF PIEDFORT COIN

Australia’s gold rush of the 1850s unearthed vast quantities of precious metal. To turn this enormous wealth into coinage, the first overseas branch of Britain’s Royal Mint was opened in Sydney, capital of New South Wales, in 1855. Enjoying a privilege historically reserved for the mother mint in London, it was empowered to turn gold into official coins called sovereigns.

KEY FEATURES:

• Proof quality 22-carat (91.67%) pure gold
• Commemorative reverse design
• Features a ‘70’ privy mark and platinum plated St Edward’s Crown to mark the platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne
• Australian legal tender
• Mintage – 300
• Prestigious presentation packaging
• Numbered Certificate of Authenticity

PRODUCT INFORMATION:

• Item Code              22L88AAA
• Barcode                 9327025048383
• Maximum Mintage 300
•  Release Date        7 June 2022 

In the early years of production, Sydney sovereigns were differentiated from London’s ‘Imperial’ versions by alternative obverse and reverse designs. Created by Leonard Charles Wyon, one of the famous dynasty of the 19th century engravers, the Sydney Type I reverse featured elements representing radical departures from tradition.

For the first time the denomination ‘ONE SOVEREIGN’ was included on the reverse which also comprised depictions of St Edward's Crown and a laurel wreath. The word ‘AUSTRALIA’ was prominently positioned, even though this was a geographical concept at the time rather than today’s fully-fledged nation. To underline the point that these coins were not struck in London, ‘SYDNEY MINT’ was also incorporated in the ‘colonial’ design.

Sovereigns bearing this reverse were produced until 1870, after which all Australian-made versions featured Imperial designs with the addition of a small mintmark.

The coin is struck by The Perth Mint from 91.67% pure gold and issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965.

The Perth Mint will release no more than 300 of the Australia Sovereign 2022 Gold Proof High Relief Piedfort Coin.

DESIGN

The Perth Mint’s Australia Sovereign Gold Proof High Relief Piedfort Coin pays tribute to Wyon’s historic reverse design. With the name of the mint suitable amended, this modern issue also includes the small ‘70’ numeric privy mark and platinum plated St Edward’s Crown denoting that 2022 is the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne.

PRESENTATION

The coin is housed in a prestigious wooden presentation case within a superbly illustrated shipper and is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Gold Content (Troy oz)	0.471
Monetary Denomination (AUD)	50
Fineness (% purity)	91.67
Minimum Gross Weight (g)	15.982
Maximum Diameter (mm)	22.60
Maximum Thickness (mm)	3.80
Maximum Mintage	300