Coming from a mintage of 64,013, combined with the Jubilee Head types, the 1887 Melbourne is one of the scarcest half sovereigns ever issued. It is estimated that a total of around 600 examples remain today making it extremely difficult to source at or above AU. It is however not quite as scarce as is generally considered with the 1881 Melbourne, and possibly the 1886 Melbourne, being slightly scarcer in better grades and the 1885 Melbourne being scarcer overall.
The type can be differentiated from the 1887 Sydney by the presence of an M mintmark underneath the shield.
This type can be differentiated from the Jubilee head types from the obverse portrait.
