THE 1893 AUSTRALIA SYDNEY PROOF SOVEREIGN

 

The 1893 Sydney Proof sovereign is a rare and historic coin - it exhibits technical characteristics that set it apart from gold coins struck for circulation by the Sydney Mint during this era, and may well be linked to the production of two of Australia's most elusive gold coins - the 1893 Proof Gold Five and Two Pounds.

Only one example of the 1893 Sydney Proof sovereign has been seen on the open market since 1953. This coin was secured by one of Australia's foremost numismatists during an exclusive ceremony on the day it was struck.

Brock's Veiled Head Portrait is Revealed in Sydney
Introduced in 1887, the Jubilee Head portrait of Queen Victoria was described in an official history of British numismatics by Sir Charles Oman as the greatest disappointment of the century. News that this unpopular design would be replaced by one engraved by the renown sculptor Thomas Brock was met with rising interest across the British Commonwealth.

The invitation list for the exclusive ceremony marking the start of production of the Veiled Head gold coinage truly was a who's who of the New South Wales establishment - around 50 of the government's most senior officials and associated dignitaries came together to be the first to witness the manufacture Sydney's first gold coins graced by Brock's portrait.

Special Production Ceremony - July 1st 1893
John MacDonald Cameron began his tenure as the Deputy Master of the Sydney Mint in May 1893, just months after the untimely death of his predecessor, Robert Hunt. MacDonald Cameron seems to have wanted to make an immediate impact in his new role, as the exclusive ceremony that launched production of the new designs took place less than 5 weeks after his arrival.

To the degree that Thomas Brock put right the perceived wrongs of Boehm's depiction of Queen Victoria, the new portrait of Her Majesty was welcomed by those in Sydney's influential circles - upstanding citizens with firm opinions on the importance of image and reputation.

The unveiling of the new portrait of Queen Victoria enjoyed widespread media coverage after the event, not just within Sydney, but right across Australia. The Sydney Mint buildings were festooned with banners; official photographs were taken and exclusive mementoes were gifted. All of the pomp and ceremony of the occasion highlighted the importance of the change, the number and calibre of those in attendance affirmed the design aesthetic of the new portrait.

Newspapers of the day tell us this coin was struck in a special ceremony on Saturday July 1st 1893 by Lady Louisa Duff, wife of the NSW Governor. The very first two coins struck were gifted to the Vice-Regal couple by the Deputy Master of the Sydney Mint, who in turn immediately donated them to the National Art Gallery (now known as the Art Gallery of NSW). Unfortunately for the people of NSW, those two coins were stolen in a robbery in December 1893 - contemporary media reports explain they were never recovered.

To read the complete article, see:
The 1893 Sydney Proof Sovereign - A Tangible Link to Australia's Most Enigmatic Gold Coins (https://www.sterlingcurrency.com.au/blog/news-research/australian-gold-coinage/the-1893-sydney-proof-sovereign-a-tangible-link-to/)

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