Shilling, Coin Type from Australia - detailed information

Shilling, Coin Type from Australia (issued 1910 - 1963)
Coin TypeShilling

The Australian Shilling 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 shilling, 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 shilling is equal to 1/20th of a pound.

The reverse of the first type of Australian shilling coins featured the 1908 Coat of Arms. In 1938, a new design superseded it, featuring a merino ram's head; the old type of coins remained in circulation.

The coins were initially struck by the Royal Mint, then mostly by the Melbourne Mint; during World War II its production was supplemented by coinage produced by the United States Mint:
- Royal Mint, 1910 - 1915, no mint mark
- Birmingham Mint (ex Heaton and Sons), 1915, letter H
- Melbourne Mint, 1916 - 1963, letter M to 1920, then no mint mark
- Sydney Mint, 1921 - 1926, star in 1921 only, then no mint mark
- United States Mint, San Francisco, 1942 - 1944, with S mint mark
- Perth Mint, 1946 only, dots before and after the denomination: .SHILLING. for mint mark

The coins were made of sterling silver (composition: 0.925 silver) until 1946; this was later debased to 50% silver while retaining the Ram's Head design

After decimalisation on 14 February 1966, the shilling was re-denominated as 10 cents and continued to circulate for a time, along with the new 10¢ coins which were the same size and weight (but made of copper-nickel). Even though they were practically withdrawn from circulation in 1966, the shilling coins were never formally demonetised and are still legal tender.

Obverse
Australia / Shilling - 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 / Shilling - reverse photo

The first 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 SHILLING; below, between arrow heads, the date [year].

The second reverse (1938 - 1963) depicts a merino ram's head facing three-quarters left; around above, AUSTRALIA; around below between two Federation stars, the denomination and date SHILLING · [year].

The artist's initials K·G (for [George] Kruger Gray) are in the field above the star on the right.

Reverse Inscription
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

If you keep your coins in 2x2 cardboard holders, the best size for shillings is 25mm.

Coin Type: Shilling - (47) Coins
Coin NameReverseObverseIn my collection(s)
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Shilling: Details
CountryAustralia
CurrencyAustralian Pound
Sub-types Shilling - Coat of Arms
Shilling - Ram's Head
From1910
To1963
Face Value1 (x Shilling)
CurrentNo; withdrawn 1966
MaterialSilver
DesignerWilliam Henry James Blakemore, George Kruger Gray
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size23.5000 mm
Mass5.6500 g
Shilling: Photos
ImageDetails
Shilling: Photo Australia 1910 shilling Australia 1910 shilling
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Notes: Coat of Arms (1910 - 1936).
Source
Shilling: Photo Australia 1953 shilling Australia 1953 shilling
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Notes: Ram's head (1937 - 1963).
Source
Shilling: Photo Australia 1910 shilling Australia 1910 shilling
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Notes: King Edward VII (1910).
Source
Shilling: Photo Australia 1915-H shilling Australia 1915-H shilling
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Notes: King George V (1911 - 1936).
Source
Shilling: Photo Proof Coin - 1 Shilling, Australia, 1945 Proof Coin - 1 Shilling, Australia, 1945
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: King George VI, Emperor of India (1938 - 1948).
Source
Shilling: Photo Coin - 1 Shilling, Australia, 1950 Coin - 1 Shilling, Australia, 1950
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: King George VI (1950 - 1952).
Source
Shilling: Photo Proof Coin - 1 Shilling, Specimen Strike, Australia, 1953 Proof Coin - 1 Shilling, Specimen Strike, Australia, 1953
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Queen Elizabeth II (1953 - 1954).
Source
Shilling: Photo Australia 1958 shilling Australia 1958 shilling
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Notes: Queen Elizabeth II, Defender of the Faith (1955 - 1963).
Source