A Trio Of Gold Sovereigns - Sydney Mint

Brings back a few memories for me.

I managed to put together an Australian gold type set including an Adelaide Pound. The half sovereigns were all of the Sydney Mint. (17 coins in all)

Sold them in 1975, to help pay for deposit, when setting up my mortgage. Paid the mortgage out in 1984, on a single income.

I have since acquired an 1866 Sydney Mint sovereign, (KM#4).
Distinctive yellow color, 2 carats silver in the alloy, instead of copper.

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Built between 1811 and 1816, the Sydney Mint Building is the oldest public building in the central business district of Sydney. It was originally constructed as the South wing of Sydney Hospital. When gold was discovered in New South Wales in 1851, the building was re used as mint, the first operating mint in Australia. Closed in 1926, the building now has a third life as a heritage museum.

Sydney Hospital still exists as a major hospital. My brother trained as a doctor in his intern years there.

Unprofitability was the main reason why minting operations ceased in 1926.
The safe room with steel lined walls at the Sydney Mint museum building still exist. I have been inside.

The Melbourne Mint took up sole responsibility for Australian circulating coinage until the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra was opened.