1880 Gold Sovereign MEL

The 1880 Gold Sovereign Melbourne - St George

1880 Gold sovereigns have many variations. They can be made in London, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney and can also in the same year have combinations of St George or Shield backs.

This is the Young Head Melbourne Sovereign with St George on the back. The coin was minted at the Melbourne Branch of the Royal Mint in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Mint mark 'M' on obverse.

Note that mintage figure is for all the 1880 Melbourne sovereigns, which may be Shield or St George.

The Reverse depicts Benedetto Pistrucci’s famous portrayal of St George slaying the dragon on the reverse of the coin. The artist's initials B.P. on on the right of the date.

The Edge is milled.

The Obverse, by William Wyon, shows a Young Head Queen Victoria facing left, plain band and fillet in her hair. Date below. Initial W.W. in raised letter set in truncation of neck. Legend VICTORIA DEI GRATIA. Mint mark 'M' is just below the neck, indicating the Melbourne Mint.

Image credit: Museums Victoria

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