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Summary:: Australia New South Wales Sydney
Half Sovereign, 1855 Second Type Pattern
Mint: London
Other Details: Felton Bequest Funds

1855 was the first year that the Sydney Branch of the Royal Mint struck coins. This pattern was prepared that year at the Royal Mint in London with the obverse design that was introduced at Sydney in 1857.
Description:: A gold coin (19 mm diameter with milled edge) featuring a head of Queen Victoria facing left and wearing a wreath of banksia with the date 1855 below. The reverse features the word AUSTRALIA below a royal crown within a wreath of laurel and with the words SYDNEY MINT above and HALF SOVEREIGN below.
Acquisition Information:: Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 1976

Tagged with:	gold rushes, pattern coins
Themes this item is part of:	Numismatics & Philately Collection, Royal Mint, London, HM Queen Victoria (1819-1901), Royal Mint, Tower Hill, 1809-1975, Early History of London Mints, to 1300, The Royal Mint, Leonard Charles Wyon, Engraver (1826-1891)
Primary Classification:	COINS
Secondary Classification:	Australia - New South Wales
Tertiary Classification:	pattern strikes
Series:	Sydney Mint
DateEra:	1855 AD
Denomination:	Half Sovereign
Obverse Description:	Head of Queen Victoria facing left, wearing a wreath of banksia around hair, which is plaited; the date 1855 below.; around, VICTORIA D:G: BRITANNIAR: REG: F:D:
Reverse Description:	At centre within a laurel wreath AUSTRALIA under a royal crown; above, SYDNEY MINT; below, HALF SOVEREIGN
Edge Description:	Milled
Inscriptions:	Obverse: VICTORIA D:G: BRITANNIAR: REG: F:D: 1855 Reverse: SYDNEY MINT AUSTRALIA HALF SOVEREIGN
Shape:	round
Material:	Gold
Issued By:	HM Queen Victoria, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Mint:	Royal Mint, London
Artist:	Leonard Wyon - Royal Mint, London