Coin Curiosity

1911 Sydney Half Sovereign

While Australian half sovereigns had comparatively low mintages, they saw much more use in circulation than sovereigns. In the 1800s the mintages were quite low but through the early 1900s mintages were higher and staying higher.

In 1911 the Sydney Mint struck 252,000 half sovereigns - one of the lower mintages of the decade but the 1911S half sovereign is still a common date. The Sydney Mint was also the only Australian Mint to strike proof half sovereigns in 1911, no doubt to commemorate the coronation of King George V.