1885-M Narrow Truncation Short 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 forth reverse design features a short length tail as opposed to the long tail used since 1871 and the medium tail used since 1874 as in the illustration below:

Long tail (issued from 1871)

Medium tail (issued from 1874)

Short tail (this issue)

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

Narrow truncation (this issue)

Wide truncation (St George Type V)

S for Sydney