These coins are a gold Sovereign and Half Sovereign of the second Sydney Mint design. The new portrait of Queen Victoria by the artist L.C. Wyon was introduced in 1857 and remained in use until 1866 on the half sovereign and 1870 on the sovereign.

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Obverse – Head of Queen Victoria facing left, with plaited hair looped below her ear. Around the head is the Latin VICTORIA D:G: BRITANNIAR: REGINA F:D: 1857 [Victoria, by the grace of God Queen of the Britons, Defender of the Faith 1857].		Reverse – Below a crown is a wreath of olive branches surrounding the word AUSTRALIA around which is the legend SYDNEY MINT HALF SOVEREIGN.

Sovereign (left): This proof coin was exhibited by the Sydney Branch of the Royal Mint at the 1879 Sydney International Exhibition and was acquired by Dr. Howat at the closure of the mint in 1926. Later that year it was donated to the National Gallery of Victoria numismatic collection.

Half sovereign (right): Transferred from the National Gallery of Victoria , 1976.