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 In 1938, this new design superseded it - featuring the new Coat of Arms; the old type of coins remained in circulation.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 mostly struck by the Melbourne Mint, but during World War II its production was supplemented by coinage produced by the United States Mint:
- Melbourne Mint, 1938 - 1963, no mint mark
- United States Mint, San Francisco, 1942 - 1944, with S mint mark
The coins were made of sterling silver (composition: 0.925 silver) until 1945; 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 Even though they were practically withdrawn from circulation in 1966, the florin coins were never formally demonetised and are still legal tender. | 
