Rare 1866 Sydney mint Sovereign Gold coin (Australia). Start Price USD 595.00 Current Price USD 595.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, September 02, 2008 End Time Tuesday, September 09, 2008 Location North York, Ontario See more about 'Rare 1866 Sydney mint Sovereign Gold coin (Australia).' Description Rare 1866 Sydney mint Sovereign Gold coin (Australia) A very nice coin for any collection This is a Type II coin, struck between 1857 and 1870, featuring the unique Victoria head with the Banksai wreath in her hair, shared only with the type I struck in 1855 and 1856. The design was later changed to reflect the Imperial sovereign design, making the Australia Sydney mint more sought after.In my opinion this is a lovely coin in Excellent condition but please judge for yourself.   MINTED: ROYAL Sydney MINT.Composition: .917 FINE Gold, .083 silverWeight: 7.99 grams  .2354 OUNCEDiameter: 22.05mmREEDED EDGE    compare: http://www.stacks.com/lotdetail.aspx?lsid=AN00000655&asid=AN00000176&lrid=AN00110096  Starting bid  $1000.00 US !!!!!!! compare: http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280260848254&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=018 The History of the Gold sovereign 1489 to 2007: A gold sovereign is a British gold coin, first issued in 1489 for Henry VII, generally with a value of one pound. The earliest "sovereign"  showed the king facing, seated on a throne, while the reverse shows the Royal coat of arms on a shield surrounded by a Tudor double rose. These original sovereigns were 23 carat (96%) gold and weighed 240 grains or one-half of a troy ounce (15.6 g). Henry VIII reduced the purity to 22 carats (92%), which eventually became the standard; the weight of the sovereign was repeatedly lowered until when it was revived after the Great Recoinage law of 1816, the gold content was fixed at the present 113 grains (7.32 g). Sovereigns were discontinued after 1604, being replaced by Unites, and later by Laurels, and then guineas. Production of sovereigns restarted in 1817, their reverse design being a portrayal of Saint George killing a dragon, engraved by Benedetto Pistrucci. This same design is still in use on British gold sovereigns, although different reverse designs have been used during the reigns of William IV, Victoria, George IV, and Elizabeth II. Sovereigns were produced in large quantities until World War I, at which time the UK came off the gold standard. From then until 1932, sovereigns were produced only at branch mints at Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Bombay, and Pretoria (except for some in 1925 produced in London as part of Winston Churchill's ill-fated attempt to return the UK to the gold standard). The last regular issue was in 1932 (at Pretoria).Production of regular sovereigns resumed in 1957. In summary, sovereigns were produced as follows: London: 1817-1917, 1925, 1957 onwards Melbourne: 1871-1931 Sydney: 1855-1926 Perth: 1899-1931 Bombay: 1918 only Ottawa: 1908 - 1919 Pretoria: 1923-1932   Check out my other Gold coin listings on eBay. Place a Bid!