Historic Melbourne Mint Young Head Gold Sovereign

The 1886 Melbourne Mint Gold Sovereign is an important Australian colonial gold coin struck during the reign of Queen Victoria. Featuring the classic Young Head portrait, this issue represents one of the final years of the long-running design before the introduction of the Jubilee Head portrait in 1887.

Produced at the Melbourne Mint and struck in 22-carat gold, the coin contains 0.2354 troy ounces of fine gold and follows the traditional sovereign standard. The obverse features Queen Victoria’s celebrated Young Head portrait designed by William Wyon, while the reverse showcases Benedetto Pistrucci’s iconic St George and the Dragon design, regarded as one of the most recognised motifs in numismatic history.

Melbourne Mint sovereigns remain highly sought after by collectors of Australian gold coinage, Victorian-era issues, and British Empire sovereigns. The combination of Australian mint origin, historic significance, and enduring collector demand continues to make the 1886 Melbourne Mint Sovereign a popular addition to both collections and precious metal holdings.