The 1929 Melbourne gold Sovereign is a significant coin from the reign of George V, minted at the Melbourne Mint in Australia. This coin features the smaller second bare head portrait of George V facing left, with "B.M." (for Bertram Mackennal) on the truncation. The obverse legend reads "GEORGIVS V D.G. BRITT: OMN: REX F.D. IND: IMP:" (George the Fifth by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India).

The reverse, struck en médaille, displays the iconic St George slaying the dragon design by Benedetto Pistrucci. It features "WWP" under the lance, the mint letter "M" at the centre of the ground-line indicating the Melbourne Mint, and the date 1929 in the exergue. "B.P." appears in the upper right of the exergue, representing Benedetto Pistrucci.

Key details:

• Weight: 7.98g

• Diameter: 22.05mm

• Fineness: 0.916 (22 carat gold)

• Mintage: 436,719 for the calendar year 1929

This particular specimen has been graded and slabbed by NGC as AU58, Toned with some surface marks, hairlines and minimal wear. The NGC certification number is 6321117-004.

The 1929 M Sovereign is considered very rare, partly due to its relatively low mintage. It's one of only three sovereign issues from 1929, alongside those from the Perth and Pretoria Mints. The smaller head portrait introduced in 1929 makes this coin desirable for type collectors, as it was only used from 1929 to 1932.

The coin's rarity and historical significance make it a valuable piece for collectors. Its AU58 grade suggests it's in excellent condition for its age, retaining much of its original lustre and detail.