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:
 | 22 Carat Full Gold Sovereign £ 924.70 |
 | 2022 Full Gold Sovereign Royal Arms bullion coin 7.99g 22ct unboxed £ 895.00 |
 | 1992 Proof Half Gold Sovereign Scarce £ 804.75 |
 | 1926 Gold Sovereign South Africa BU £ 1,243.20 |
 | 1910 Royal Mint Full Gold Sovereign Sydney Mint – PCGS MS63 - Scarce in Grade £ 996.10 |
 | GEORGE V Half Sovereign Coin 22 Carat Gold 1913 3.99g XF - EHB £ 600.00 |
 | 2008 Gold Sovereign With Certificate and Luxury Quality Wooden Case £ 1,165.50 |
 | 1873 Young Queen Victoria Full Gold Sovereign £ 935.59 |
 | 1981 Full Gold Sovereign In Luxury Case £ 1,137.75 |
 | 1980 Full Gold Sovereign In Luxury Case £ 1,137.75 |
 | 1913 Gold Sovereign Coin Perth Mint £ 1,215.45 |
 | 1908 KING EDWARD VII GOLD HALF SOVEREIGN 22ct £ 475.00 |
 | 1963 Full Gold Sovereign £ 1,104.45 |
 | 22 Carat 2002Half Sovereign In a 9ct Gold Pendant. £ 799.99 |
 | 2024 Gold Sovereign 1/8th D-Day 22 Carat 1g Coin £ 167.10 |
 | Gold Full Sovereign Year 2000 22ct Gold Coin Royal Mint, Inside Sealed Bag £ 1,026.70 |
 | 2017 Gold Sovereign Coin £ 1,137.75 |
 | 2011 Gold Sovereign £ 1,104.45 |
 | 2022 QEII Memorial Gold Proof Quarter Sovereign – LOW COA #0011. £ 968.78 |
 | 1/4 Gold Sovereign Coin Genuine British Gold Collectable. Excellent Condition £ 400.00 |