At the Midlands coin fair last week (June 2016), I was lucky enough to see a 2005 Perth Prospector Collection which I thought was fantastic. It was different from the rest and very unusual.
The 2005 Perth Prospector Collection consists of a Gold 1oz Prospector Nugget Coin, a 1905 Perth Mint Sovereign and 1/4oz natural gold nuggets, beautifully packaged in a wooden box.
The set is part of a series of collections that celebrates the discovery of the Welcome Stranger nugget. Found in Victoria in 1869, it is the largest nugget ever found, weighing in at a whopping 2,284oz. At the time it was estimated to be worth £9,381. Today a nugget of that size would fetch about £2.7 million.
The 1oz coin depicts the Welcome Stranger nugget together with some early Australian prospectors and their prospecting techniques. There is some red colours added to the coin. The obverse shows Queen Elizabeth II and is legal tender with a denomination of Aus$100.
The 1905 Sovereign has a ‘P’ mintmark signifying the Perth Mint. The obverse is King Edward VII and the reverse is the classic George and the Dragon by Bernedetto Pistrucci.
Only 150 of these sets were authorised, so the set is probably quite difficult to find. I hadn’t thought about it before but I was told that it’s also difficult to buy gold nuggets.
My thanks to Max Hughes (MJ Hughes Coins) for allowing me to photograph the set. The set was sold at the show.
On eBay UK:
 | Bullion Gold Half Sovereign Best Value £ 512.06 |
 | Gold Sovereign Best Value Gold Coin £ 1,011.65 |
 | 1911 George V Gold Half Sovereign Coin, 22ct £ 506.50 |
 | Royal Mint UK GOLD PROOF SOVEREIGN 1979 to 2026 - Choose your year £ 1,100.00 |
 | 1906 King Edward VII Gold Half Sovereign Coin In Capsule £ 481.00 |
 | Full Gold Sovereign, 1912, George V. £ 960.40 |
 | 1912 George V Gold Half Sovereign 22ct £ 506.50 |
 | 2022 Jubilee Gold Full Sovereign Coin Queen Elizabeth II £ 960.40 |
 | *RARE* PCGS XF45 Victoria 1897-S Australia Gold Half-Sovereign Sydney Gift Boxed £ 595.02 |
 | 2025 Gold Half Sovereign - Last of the Rose Gold £ 521.32 |
 | 1989 GOLD PROOF SOVEREIGN 500TH ANNIVERSARY GRADED LOW MINTAGE £ 1,950.00 |
 | 1995 Gold Proof Half sovereign- James Butler £ 557.50 |
 | 1907 Solid 22ct Carat Gold Half Sovereign Coin £ 499.99 |
 | Queen Victoria Gold Sovereign Reproduction Coin £ 17.99 |
 | 2023 King Charles III Coronation Gold Proof Half Sovereign Royal Mint Boxed £ 695.20 |
 | Coinsafe coin tube for gold full sovereign coin, old round £1 coin £ 3.66 |
 | 2011 Gold Full Sovereign. Elizabeth II Bullion Coin, carded. Sealed Capsule £ 980.00 |
 | 1981 gold proof sovereign £ 1,001.20 |
 | 2 Rand Gold Coin. 1981. Immaculate. Proof? Same size/weight as. Full Sovereign. £ 980.00 |
 | Sovereign Coin Tube – Holds 10 Gold Sovereigns – Tough Stackable Bullion Storage £ 16.15 |