2020 Gold Proof AUSTRALIA SOVEREIGN

A certificate accompanies this 2020 Australia Sovereign Gold Proof Coin.  Struck by the Perth Mint from 91.67% pure gold in proof quality, the coin is issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965.

Australia's gold rush of the 1850's unearthed vast quantities of precious metal.  To turn this enormous wealth into coinage, the first overseas branch of Britain's Royal Mint was opended 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.

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 Perth Mint's Australia Sovereign Gold Proof Coin pays tribute to Wyon's historic reverse design.  With the name of the mint suitably amended, the modern issue also includes a small numeric privy mark denoting that 2020 is the 165th anniversry of Australia's first sovereign.

The coin's obverse depicts the Jody Clark effigy of Her Majesty Queren Elizabeth II, the 2020 year-date and its Australian monetary denomination.

No more than 950 of the Australia Sovereign 2020 Gold Proof Coin will be released by The Perth Mint in this packaging.

The coin is encapsulated, housed in the original black Perth Mint presentation case, with outer box and a Certificate of Authenticity.