1880 Melbourne St George Reverse Sovereign

McD 159a. This is the scarcer medium tail variety. Grade-wise, the coin is the single-finest graded by PCGS (October 2013), and so close to a gem that it would not look out of place in an MS64 holder. Although the date is not rare, the coin has “condition rarity”, and should trade at a premium on account of its superior grade and eye appeal. Catalogues $3,700 in Choice UNC and $6,300 in Gem UNC (2013). Very scarce this nice.