Sovereign coin die, 1932

On display in the Gold Sovereigns: Chief coins of the world display case.

The production of gold sovereign coins ceased in 1931 when the gold standard monetary system was ended on 21 September. However, the 1932 sovereign dies had already been dispatched to Perth. All sovereign coin dies used at the Perth Mint were made in advance at The Royal Mint in London and shipped in advance to ensure the changeover of coin dies could occur at the beginning of the new year. The dies from the previous year were destroyed to prevent their reuse.

As sovereign production had ceased, the 1932 dies remained unused. The die on display is for the obverse, or 'heads' side of the coin, which features the official coinage portrait of the reigning British monarch. In 1932 this was King George V, who reigned from 1910 to 1936. Use of the portrait of the reigning British monarch on Australian currency reflects Australia's status as a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth of Nations.