The stability of the Australian rare coin market, the financial balance that our industry offers relative to other more volatile investments, is well illustrated in this 1894 Proof Sovereign.

The coin offers extreme rarity. Only two examples of the 1894M Proof Sovereign are known: none of which have ever been offered at an Australian public auction.

The coin also offers supreme quality. It is a brilliant, flawless proof with timeless appeal. Its prime quality contributes to its liquidity and insulates it from market fluctuations.

It is an interesting comparison that in a career that has spanned nearly forty years I have probably handled between sixty to seventy Square Pennies, bought and sold dozens of quality Holey Dollars and even more of the Colonial Dump. I could count on the fingers of two hands the number of Cracked Dies that I have sold and that’s no surprise given its tiny original mintage.

Now while it is not my intention to either demean these rarities or undermine their potency as an investment force.

My point here is that in the same 40-year time frame I have only ever handled three years out of the veiled head proof sovereign series, they being the 1894 (this coin), 1899 and 1901.