1886 Melbourne Shield Reverse Sovereign - PCGS MS62

Australia, 1886 Melbourne Shield Reverse Sovereign -

Of all Victorian sovereigns minted in the branch mints, none is rarer or more difficult to source than the 1886 Melbourne shield back sovereign. It is scarce across all grades, and rare in Mint State. In fact, in all the years I’ve collected and dealt in sovereigns, I’ve never owned an example in better than AU55 (although I am aware of one example in PCGS AU58+). Even the Quartermaster Collection, the finest collection of Australian sovereigns assembled in the last two decades, contained an nearly Uncirculated example. (It was described as “about UNC/UNC”.) The Bentley Collection, another fine collection, contained a circulated example described as “extremely fine”. The example photographed above came out of Switzerland, was acquired by a Portuguese collector, and then subsequently reappeared in London some time later in a PCGS MS62 holder. It is the equal-finest graded example by PCGS of only two coins, and one of only three that PCGS has graded in Mint State. The remainder of the population, made up of 17 coins, are in AU or lower. If you’re a serious shield sovereign collector and have the desire and means to assemble a world-class shield back collection, this coin is required. Call to discuss +61 421 229 821.