At the Midlands coin fair last week (June 2016), I was lucky enough to see a 2005 Perth Prospector Collection which I thought was fantastic. It was different from the rest and very unusual.
The 2005 Perth Prospector Collection consists of a Gold 1oz Prospector Nugget Coin, a 1905 Perth Mint Sovereign and 1/4oz natural gold nuggets, beautifully packaged in a wooden box.
The set is part of a series of collections that celebrates the discovery of the Welcome Stranger nugget. Found in Victoria in 1869, it is the largest nugget ever found, weighing in at a whopping 2,284oz. At the time it was estimated to be worth £9,381. Today a nugget of that size would fetch about £2.7 million.
The 1oz coin depicts the Welcome Stranger nugget together with some early Australian prospectors and their prospecting techniques. There is some red colours added to the coin. The obverse shows Queen Elizabeth II and is legal tender with a denomination of Aus$100.
The 1905 Sovereign has a ‘P’ mintmark signifying the Perth Mint. The obverse is King Edward VII and the reverse is the classic George and the Dragon by Bernedetto Pistrucci.
Only 150 of these sets were authorised, so the set is probably quite difficult to find. I hadn’t thought about it before but I was told that it’s also difficult to buy gold nuggets.
My thanks to Max Hughes (MJ Hughes Coins) for allowing me to photograph the set. The set was sold at the show.
On eBay UK:
 | Bullion Gold Half Sovereign Best Value £ 399.38 |
 | Gold Sovereign Best Value Gold Coin £ 794.49 |
 | 2026 Proof Half Sovereign Gold Coin in OMP £ 414.70 |
 | 1910 King George V Full Sovereign Gold Coin, 22ct, 7.98g In Capsule £ 799.99 |
 | Queen Elizabeth II Pre-decimal Gold Sovereign Coin - Full Sovereign £ 789.99 |
 | Royal Mint 2027 UK full Sovereign Gold Coin, King Charles III £ 806.99 |
 | 2017 Gold Sovereign Coin Elizabeth II Fifth Head Proof £ 873.70 |
 | Best Value £2 British Gold Coin (Double Sovereign) £ 1,584.72 |
 | 1819 King George III 9k 375 ct Gold Restrike of Rarest Sovereign Mint Condition! £ 220.00 |
 | 2018 Gold Full Sovereign Coin, Queen Elizabeth II, 22ct, free special delivery. £ 849.99 |
 | 1979 gold proof sovereign - Stunning example £ 899.20 |
 | Australia 1906 FULL GOLD SOVEREIGN NGC MS 61 Certified# Gold Coin Fineness 0.917 £ 853.30 |
 | 2000 £5 quintuple Gold Sovereign Coin Uncertified in Capsule & Presentation Box £ 4,999.00 |
 | 1910 Half Sovereign Gold Coin Edward VII £ 401.86 |
 | Royal Mint 2021 UK Sovereign 1 oz Gold Coin Elizabeth II/St George Dragon £ 1,006.30 |
 | Antique U.S.A. Elgin Rolled Gold Sovereign Coin Case Holder Fob, American US £ 159.50 |
 | 1893 Queen Victoria Half Sovereign Gold Coin, 22ct £ 427.90 |
 | 1902 Edward VII British Gold Half Sovereign Coin, Great Britain Era 1902-1910 £ 404.50 |
 | full sovereign gold coin/"M" mark £ 1,052.19 |
 | 2022 Royal Mint Platinum Jubilee Gold Half Sovereign in its royal mint packaging £ 505.48 |