Australia’s gold rush of the 1850s unearthed vast quantities of precious metal. To turn this enormous wealth into coinage, The Perth Mint was opened in 1899 as a branch of Britain’s Royal Mint to make sovereigns from Western Australian gold. The first coin to be struck, which is on permanent display in The Perth Mint’s gold exhibition, was one of 106 million sovereigns made in the years to 1931.

According to tradition, St George was a Greek-born Roman guard and Christian martyr. Myths grew up around him during the Middle Ages, including an enduring legend in which he saves a princess from a malevolent dragon. Representing courage and the victory of good over evil, St George embodied the qualities of knighthood in medieval chivalry, and was invoked to inspire valour on the battlefield and national pride.

This Australia Sovereign 2024 gold proof coin is struck by The Perth Mint from 91.67% pure gold and issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965.

The Perth Mint will release no more than 2,000 of The Perth Mint 125th Anniversary Australia Sovereign 2024 Gold Proof Coin in this packaging from a maximum mintage of 2,325.

DESIGN

On the 125th anniversary of the first sovereign to be struck at The Perth Mint, this modern collectable re-imagines the famous design. The new work portrays a naked warrior on horseback brandishing a sword above a dragon. The image appears within a decorative circle of raised dots, together with the inscription ‘AUSTRALIA’, ‘2024’, and a ‘P125’ mintmark.

The obverse portrays the Dan Thorne effigy of His Majesty King Charles III, and the monetary denomination.

PRESENTATION

The coin is housed in a prestigious wooden presentation case within a superbly illustrated shipper and is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.