2016 $15 Australian Half Sovereign Gold Proof Coin

The Sydney Mint produced its first Type I sovereign, featuring a unique ‘colonial’ design, on 23 June 1855. Over 400 million coins were created in Sydney and eventually Melbourne and Perth. From 1871 the coins featured Imperial designs with the addition of ‘S’, ‘M’ or ‘P’ mintmarks respectively, to identify their place of manufacture. This Australian Half Sovereign portrays St Edwards crown, a laurel wreath and the word AUSTRALIA, historic elements of Leonard Charles Wyon’s original Type I reverse. The modern tribute also includes the inscription PERTH MINT, HALF SOVEREIGN.