1876-M Narrow Truncation Long Tail Full Sovereign

The Sydney mint reverted to the Imperial St George and Shield designs in 1871 with the Shield design intended for export to other colonies. The first St George design depicts Pistrucci's St George slaying the dragon with his designer's initials B.P. in large characters on the right below the exergue. The design would only last for half a year with the Sydney mint switching to a small B.P. design (this issue) later in the year making the large BP scarce.

Large BP Small BP (this issue)

This issue differs from the Type III St George reverse design by having a longer tail on St George's horse as in the illustration below:

Long Tail Medium Tail

This type differs from the Type V St George reverse design by having a narrow truncation at the base of the bust of her Majesty Queen Victoria.

Narrow Truncation Wide Truncation

The origin mint of this issue can be determined from the mintmark beneath the bust on the obverse :

S for Sydney M for Melbourne

No mintmark indicates a British struck sovereign