![]() It was also at this time, in 1872, that the Royal Mint established its second Australian branch office in Melbourne. Not only was the banksia removed from Queen Victoria’s hair, but two new reverse designs were also introduced – the traditional British St George and the Dragon, and a shield design, which ran in parallel. This touch of colonial pride seems to have gone unnoticed in London for a number of years until, in 1871, approval for the Sydney Mint design was abruptly revoked and Australian Sovereigns once again took on the traditional British flavour. The Australian flavour of the nation’s gold coinage was strengthened in 1857 when the design was altered to incorporate a sprig of banksia in the Queen’s hair. ![]() Australia did not operate under a single government until Federation in 1901. The coins were inscribed with the national name, Australia, even though the country was operating as separate colonies. The reverse design has fascinated historians and collectors alike for decades. Though the reverse side featured a uniquely Australian design, with the words Australia and Sydney Mint featured boldly, the obverse side was similar to English coins with the plain, ribboned head of Queen Victoria. Records indicate that 502,000 sovereigns were struck in the Sydney Mint’s first year of operation and only 21,000 half sovereigns. The mint began receiving gold on May 14, 1855, and issued its first sovereigns soon after on June 23. Dies produced at the Royal Mint London, and dated 1855, were despatched to the Sydney Mint which had been established on the site of the old Rum Hospital in Macquarie Street. Two years later the designs had been approved. (See later paragraphs regarding proof coins.) Only one pair is held in private hands owned by Queensland collector Tom Hadley. Today, one pair is held in the British Museum and another in the Royal Mint Museum, Wales. But this was simply a planning and testing phase for it would be another two years before Australia would strike its first gold coin.Īs part of this testing process, the Royal Mint struck proof quality pieces depicting the 1853 designs as an historical record of their work: a total of three pairs each comprising an 1853 Proof Sovereign and an 1853 Proof Half Sovereign. The Royal Mint also manufactured the dies. On the 9th August 1853 Queen Victoria approved an Order in Council prepared by the British Government to establish Australia’s very first mint at or near Sydney, in New South Wales.Īlthough it was initially envisaged that the Sydney Mint would produce imperial design sovereigns, it was decided that, as the coins would be legal tender only in the colonies, a design specifically attributed to the Sydney Mint should be produced.ĭesigns of Australia’s first gold coinage were prepared in 1853 at the Royal Mint London. ![]() Sydney had applied for a branch of the Royal Mint as far back as December 1851. The Serb is now just one week away from holding the outright record, with fans taking to social media to celebrate his extraordinary achievement and declare him the undisputed GOAT of tennis.Unlike South Australia, which overcame a currency shortage by striking the Adelaide Pound, without British Government approval, Victoria and NSW followed protocol and petitioned for a branch of the Royal Mint to be established in their colonies. In contrast, Djokovic's nearest rival on the men's tour - since the ATP rankings were introduced in 1973 - is the now retired Roger Federer, who spent 310 weeks in top spot. HUGE: Thanasi Kokkinakis back in top 100 after Challenger titleĪMAZING: Jelena Dokic turns heads after 'disgusting' Aus Open furore 'BREAKING MY HEART': Jelena Dokic's sad reveal about cyber bullying Graf has held the all-time record for a staggering 26 years, having spent 45 weeks longer at the top than her closest female contemporaries - second-placed Martina Navratilova (332) and Serena Williams (319). The Serb has long since held the record for the most weeks at the top of the ATP rankings, but after entering his 377th week as the World No.1, Djokovic has equalled the German legend's long-standing record. Fresh from a record-extending 10th Australian Open title that saw him return to World No.1 and equal Rafael Nadal's all time men's record of 22 major singles titles, Djokovic has now matched a long-standing milestone of female tennis great, Steffi Graf. Pic: Gettyįans are hailing Novak Djokovic as the greatest tennis player of all time after the Serb's latest astonishing slice of history. Novak Djokovic's Australian Open victory helped him equal Steffi Graf's all-time record of spending 377 weeks at the top of the world standings.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |