As the first overseas branch of Britain’s Royal Mint, the Sydney Mint was opened in 1855 to make sovereign coins from the gold mined locally in Australia’s fabulously rich mines. For the first 11 years, these coins were distinguished from official, London-based Imperial mintages by a special “colonial” design featuring the crown of St. Edward, a laurel wreath and the added inscriptions “SYDNEY MINT” and “AUSTRALIA.”

In honor of those glory days of early Australian coinage, Perth Mint has produced this very special, extremely limited-mintage piedfort gold double sovereign in an exquisite high-relief design, minted at proof quality. In honor of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years since she was crowned Queen, each coin incorporates a platinum-plated Crown of St. Edward just above the “70” privy mark. (Now, that’s a numismatic celebration!)

The reverse design is an elegant refinement of the original, colonial sovereign design. You’ll immediately note the platinum gilding on the Crown of St. Edward’s high contrast to the gold’s warm gleam. Beneath the crown, the privy mark “70” notes Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee year. 

The obverse showcases Jody Clark’s design of the Queen in all her finery, gazing into the future. 

Sure to be wildly popular among collectors of unusual coins, this high relief proof piedfort sovereign with its platinum accent and privy mark won’t be available for long – get yours now!

2022 Perth Mint “Platinum Jubilee” high-relief proof gold double sovereign highlights:

• Extremely limited mintage! Previous issues of Perth Mint double soversigns were as few as 350 total coins minted
• Accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity, each encapsulated coin ships in a wooden presentation case inside a gorgeously designed overbox
• Platinum-plated St. Edward’s Crown adds a delightful contrast to this gold coin
• Features a “70” privy mark representing the 70 years since Queen Elizabeth II took the throne
• Each double sovereign contains 0.471 troy oz gold by weight, as they historically always have
• Design inspired by sovereigns made at the Sydney Mint, paying tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee 
• Official legal tender of Australia with a face value of $50

What is a piedfort coin?

Piedfort (from French, literally “strong foot”) is a numismatic term used to describe special coins that are double the thickness of typical coinage. This Platinum Jubilee double sovereign is 3.8 mm thick, double the already-hefty 1.9mm thickness of the typical sovereign coin — that's about two nickels thick. It's a sturdy coin!