Florin, Coin Type from Australia - detailed information

Florin, Coin Type from Australia (issued 1910 - 1963)
Coin TypeFlorin

The Australian Florin is a silver coin which was used in the Commonwealth of Australia prior to decimalisation. It has the same dimensions and composition as the British pre-decimal florin, from which it is derived (for a time, the coins circulated in parallel and were interchangeable in Australia - but not in the United Kingdom). A Florin is equal to two shillings, or 24 pence, or one tenth of a pound.

The reverse of the first type of Australian florin coins features the 1908 Coat of Arms; it became obsolete almost immediately, since Australia received a new Coat of Arms in 1912. In 1938, a new design superseded it - featuring the new Coat of Arms; the old type of coins remained in circulation. Unlike other denominations, some florin circulating commemoratives were also issued.

The coins were struck by five different mints:
- Royal Mint, 1910 - 1915, no mint mark
- Birmingham Mint (ex Heaton and Sons), 1914 - 1915, letter H
- Melbourne Mint, 1916 - 1936, letter M to 1919, then no mint mark
- Sydney Mint, 1924 - 1925, no mint mark
- United States Mint, San Francisco, 1942 - 1944, with S mint mark

Until 1945, the coins were made of sterling silver (92.5%), weighing 11.31 g (0.3636 troy ounces) with an actual silver weight of 10.46 grams (0.3363 oz ASW). This was later debased to 50% silver while retaining the same design.

After decimalisation on 14 February 1966, the florin was re-denominated as 20 cents and continued to circulate for a time, along with the new 20¢ coins which were the same size and weight (but made of copper-nickel). Even though they were practically withdrawn from circulation in 1966, the florin coins were never formally demonetised and are still legal tender.

Obverse
Australia / Florin - obverse photo

Effigy of the ruling British monarch, legend (in Latin). Being a Dominion of the British Empire, Australia used the Imperial legend of the monarch and not a "home" version of it.

Throughout the existence of the coin type, the monarchs were:
- King Edward VII, 1910 only, shown in his Crowned bust by George William de Saulles
- King George V, 1911 - 1936, shown in his Crowned bust by Sir Edgar Bertram Mackennal
- King George VI, 1938 - 1952, shown in his Bare Head portrait by Thomas Humphrey Paget
- Queen Elizabeth II, 1953 - 1963, shown in her First Effigy by Mary Gillick

There were no coins released for King Edward VIII.

Obverse Inscription Legend of the ruling British monarch
Reverse
Australia / Florin - reverse photo

The first regular circulating reverse (1910 - 1936) features the Ensigns Armorial of the Commonwealth of Australia, as authorised by Royal Warrant 7th May 1908:

At centre, simple shield enclosing a cross of Saint George on which are five six-pointed stars, around the outside of which are six small escutcheons (small shields). The shield is supported by a kangaroo and an emu standing on a grassy mound. Above the shield a crest, the seven-pointed star of Federation on a wreath and on a ribbon at the base, the motto ADVANCE AUSTRALIA is inscribed.

Around above, the value and denomination ONE FLORIN - TWO SHILLINGS; below, between arrow heads, the date [year].

The second regular circulating reverse (1938 - 1963) features the arms of the Commonwealth of Australia, as authorised by Royal Warrant 19 September 1912 - composed of a shield divided into six parts, each containing a representation of the badge of a State (although that of South Australia is depicted as three sheaves of wheat above a rising sun instead of the authorised Piping Shrike).

The shield is supported by a kangaroo and an emu standing on a grassy mound accompanied by small branches of wattle. Above the shield is a crown instead of the Federation star. Around above, the denomination FLORIN between two seven pointed stars; below, in the exergue, the date [year] curved below which, AUSTRALIA.

The artist's initials K·G (for [George] Kruger Gray) are in the field above the back of the emu.

There were also four different one-year circulating commemorative types:
- the Parliament House Florin in 1927
- the Melbourne Florin (Centenary of Victoria) in 1934
- the Federation Jubilee Florin in 1951
- the Royal Visit Florin in 1954

Reverse Inscription
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

If you keep your coins in 2x2 cardboard holders, the best size for florins is 30mm.

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Coin Type: Florin - (52) Coins
Coin NameMintageEffigyLegend
Florin 1910 1,259,250 Portrait by George William de Saulles (Crowned Bust) EDWARDVS VII D: G: BRITT. OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1911 950,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1912 1,000,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1913 1,200,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1914 2,800,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1915 1,250,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1916 2,752,025 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1917 4,305,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1918 2,095,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1919 1,677,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1920 (pattern) unknown King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1921 1,247,112 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1922 2,057,858 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1923 1,038,464 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1924 1,582,674 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1925 2,960,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1926 2,487,250 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1927 1,420,970 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1927 Parliament House 2,000,400 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:
Florin 1928 1,962,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1931 3,129,682 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1932 188,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1933 488,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1934 1,674,100 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1934-1935 Centenary of Victoria 75,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Metcalfe GEORGE V KING EMPEROR
Florin 1935 915,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1936 2,382,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Florin 1937 (pattern) unknown None
Florin 1938 2,990,250 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Florin 1939 630,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Florin 1940 8,410,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Florin 1941 7,694,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Florin 1942 23,986,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Florin 1943 23,762,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Florin 1944 33,440,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Florin 1945 11,970,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Florin 1946 22,154,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Florin 1947 39,292,800 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Florin 1951 10,068,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX FIDEI DEF.
Florin 1951 Federation Jubilee 2,000,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX FIDEI DEF.
Florin 1952 10,044,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX FIDEI DEF.
Florin 1953 12,658,000 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Florin 1954 15,366,000 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Florin 1954 Royal Visit 4,000,000 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Florin 1956 8,091,500 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Florin 1957 9,279,256 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Florin 1958 8,973,506 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Florin 1959 3,501,506 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Florin 1960 15,761,509 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Florin 1961 9,453,506 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Florin 1962 13,750,016 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Florin 1963 12,004,000 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
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Royal Mint
Royal Mint
Florin: Details
CountryAustralia
CurrencyAustralian Pound
Sub-types Florin - 1908 Coat of Arms
Florin 1927 - Parliament House
Florin 1934-35 - Centenary of Melbourne
Florin - 1912 Coat of Arms
Florin 1951 - Federation Jubilee
Florin 1954 - Royal Visit
From1910
To1963
Face Value2 (x Shilling)
CurrentNo; withdrawn 1966
MaterialSilver
Designer
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
Size28.5000 mm
Thickness2.5000 mm
Mass11.3100 g
Florin: Photos
ImageDetails
Florin: Photo Australia 1913 florin Australia 1913 florin
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Notes: 1908 Coat of Arms (1910 - 1936).
Source
Florin: Photo Proof Coin - Florin (2 Shillings), Opening of Parliament House, Canberra Florin, Australia, 1927 Proof Coin - Florin (2 Shillings), Opening of Parliament House, Canberra Florin, Australia, 1927
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Parliament House (1927).
Source
Florin: Photo Australia 1934-35 florin Australia 1934-35 florin
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Notes: Melbourne and Victoria Centenary (1934/5).
Source
Florin: Photo Australia 1938 florin Australia 1938 florin
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Notes: 1912 Coat of Arms (1937 -1963).
Source
Florin: Photo Pattern Coin - Florin (2 Shillings), Jubilee of Federation 1901-1951, Australia, 1951 Pattern Coin - Florin (2 Shillings), Jubilee of Federation 1901-1951, Australia, 1951
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Federation Jubilee (1951).
Source
Florin: Photo Proof Coin - Florin (2 Shillings), Royal Visit of Queen Elizabeth II, Australia, 1954 Proof Coin - Florin (2 Shillings), Royal Visit of Queen Elizabeth II, Australia, 1954
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Royal Visit (1954).
Source
Florin: Photo Australia 1910 florin Australia 1910 florin
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Notes: King Edward VII (1910).
Source
Florin: Photo Australia 1911 florin Australia 1911 florin
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Notes: King George V (1911 - 1936).
Source
Florin: Photo Proof Coin - Florin (2 Shillings), Opening of Parliament House, Canberra Florin, Australia, 1927 Proof Coin - Florin (2 Shillings), Opening of Parliament House, Canberra Florin, Australia, 1927
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: King George V, shortened portrait (1927).
Source
Florin: Photo Australia 1934-35 florin Australia 1934-35 florin
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Notes: George V King Emperor (1934/5).
Source
Florin: Photo Australia 1938 florin Australia 1938 florin
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Notes: King George VI, Emperor of India (1938 - 1947).
Source
Florin: Photo Proof Coin - Florin (2 Shillings), Specimen Strike, Australia, 1952 Proof Coin - Florin (2 Shillings), Specimen Strike, Australia, 1952
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: King George VI (1951 - 1952).
Source
Florin: Photo Australia 1953 florin Australia 1953 florin
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Notes: Queen Elizabeth II (1953 - 1954).
Source
Florin: Photo Australia 1960 florin Australia 1960 florin
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Notes: Queen Elizabeth II, Defender of the Faith (1954 - 1963).
Source