Coin | Australian Penny Token (2021) |
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Medals are a form of "exonumia" - objects related to coinage but not coins themselves. such are, for example, the medals included in many Royal Mint proof sets. They do not have any "face value" and are not tokens either, but can still be of interest to coin collectors.
Tokens were used in the past as a sort of privately issued money. This is no longer the case, but mints and other entities now strike medal-like objects they call "tokens".
Australian pennies, the mainstay of the pre-decimal currency, were minted from 1911 to 1964. The Penny Token combines the reverse designs of two different pennies. It is made and distributed by the Royal Australian Mint as a souvenir. |
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Obverse | |
One side is based on the original 1911 penny reverse design, with a change in the inscription.
At centre within a circle of beads, the inscription PENNY TOKEN (on the original, it was value and denomination ONE PENNY) in two lines between upper and lower ornate scrolls.
Around above, outside the circle of beads, · COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA ·. There is no date. |
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Reverse | |
The other side of the token is based on the iconic leaping kangaroo penny design, first released in 1938.
The design features a kangaroo leaping to left. Above, the inscription AUSTRALIA. The seven pointed Federation star is in the field to the left of the kangaroo. On the right, where the initials of George Kruger Gray are displayed on the original, RAM (for Royal Australian Mint).
Below right, a date (NOT shown on the images distributed by the mint); the dates range from 1965 to 2022. |
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Edge | Plain | Edge Inscription | None |
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Notes | Packaged in themed blister card (a different design for each of the dates displayed on the reverse). RAM Product Code: 710205 Issue price: AU$ 5.50 |
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