The second year of the First World War saw many significant and tragic events take place. The Lusitania, a transatlantic passenger ship, was sunk by a German U-boat, an event which would eventually force the United States into the war. The year saw the second battle of Ypres, in which the first use of chemical weapons occurred by the German army, in contradiction with the Hague convention. The total loss to the British army from this battle is estimated at 59,000.

During the second half of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century, The Royal Mint established branch mints across the world near new sources of gold discoveries, rather than shipping the heavy metal to London. Three of these branch mints opened in Australia.

This Sovereign was struck at the Sydney branch of The Royal Mint and has a distinctive S mint mark to denote this.

This ‘Extremely Fine’ Sovereign features a portrait of King George V on the coin’s obverse, created by Bertram Mackennal – a highly regarded Australian artist and a favourite of the king – and Benedetto Pistrucci’s iconic St George and the dragon design on the reverse.

1,346,000 Sovereigns were produced at the Sydney branch mint in this year.