George V 1918 P Gold Sovereign NGC MS 64

AUSTRALIA. George V, 1910-36.
Gold Sovereign, 1918 P. Perth.
Bare head left, B.M. on truncation; GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:. / St George on horseback slaying the dragon right; mintmark P in groundline; date and B.P. in exergue. Edge milled.

Opened in 1899 as the last of the Royal Mint’s three Australian branches, the Perth Mint was established to convert the rich gold output of Western Australia into sovereigns and half-sovereigns. The small ‘P’ in the groundline identifies the present coin as one of more than 3.8 million sovereigns struck there in 1918.

Although sovereigns had largely disappeared from everyday circulation in Britain during the First World War, substantial production continued at the Australian branch mints for international trade and reserve purposes. The 1918 issue belongs to the final year of the conflict, which ended with the Armistice of 11 November.

Melbourne-born sculptor Bertram Mackennal’s portrait of George V was paired with Benedetto Pistrucci’s St George and the Dragon. Despite its substantial original mintage, the issue is scarce in the highest grades. Graded NGC MS64, the present coin is one of twenty-five examples recorded at this level, with only seven certified finer.

In secure plastic holder, graded NGC MS 64 , certification number 6692981-006.

NGC Census in this grade: 25.
NGC Census in higher grade: 7
Reference: S-4001; Marsh-257; McD-260
Weight: 7.99g. (AGW=0.2355 oz.)
Diameter: 22mm.
Mintage: 3,812,884.
Composition: 917/1000 Gold.

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