Florin, Coin Type from Australia - detailed information

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.

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

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