The 1859 is the third year in which Type II Sydney mint half sovereigns were struck (the 1855 was likely struck in 1857) and while the mintage of 341,000 is substantial compared to later dates, it is no doubt scarce, especially in higher grades with no major hoards surfacing unlike the years from 1856 to 1858. One example has been certified in mint state by PCGS at a respectable MS61 (PCGS, 2017) .