Sovereigns struck during a coronation year are highly desirable. This Sovereign dates from 1911, the year of George V’s coronation in Westminster Abbey on 22 June. It was one of the last events to have a gathering of Europe’s nobility in attendance before the outbreak of the First World War.

This Sovereign was struck at The Royal Mint’s branch mint in Sydney, Australia. Permission to open the Sydney branch of The Royal Mint was granted in 1853 to take advantage of the recently discovered gold fields of Australia. The early Sovereigns struck in Sydney had ‘AUSTRALIA’ on them to identify where they were struck. This design was used until 1871 when the reverse changed to the iconic St George and the dragon and an ‘S’ mint mark was added to the design below the horse’s feet.