1858 Sydney Mint Half Sovereign - PCGS MS62+

Australia, 1858 Sydney Mint Half Sovereign -

As most half sovereign collectors know, the average half sovereigns is rarer than the average full sovereign. With lower mintages and higher circulation rates, half sovereigns can be hard to find in even lower grades. Early Victorian half sovereigns are particularly difficult in VF or better, while examples in AU can sell for thousands. It was therefore with a lot of anticipation that I waited for PCGS to grade this example. Certified at PCGS MS62+, it is the third-finest graded by PCGS (7/21), is fully lustrous, and overflows with bloom. As with all coins rated at this level, there are minor marks in the fields, but the eye appeal is unimpaired. If you’re a mint error collector, the reverse was struck from clashed dies, resulting in a “shadow” of the obverse on the reverse side. Along with an 1856 half sovereign in PCGS MS62, the coin photographed above is one of the finest Sydney Mint half sovereign that I’ve ever handled, and one of the nicest I’ve seen on the market for some time. If you’re putting together a high-grade Sydney Mint half sovereign set, or are assembling a half sovereign type set, a coin of this calibre is an essential piece.