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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 this 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 In 1938, a new design superseded this one - featuring the new Coat of Arms; the old type of coins remained in circulation.
Coins issued in 1927 were withdrawn at decimalisation in 1966 after 39 years in circulation, but have never been formally demonetised and are still legal tender.
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| Mint | Melbourne Mint |
Mint Mark | No mint mark |
Total Mintage |
1,420,970 (1.4 million)
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| Obverse | |
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Crowned and draped bust of King George V facing left (crowned effigy by Sir Edgar Bertram Mackennal); the King is wearing the Imperial Crown and the ermine Robe of State, the Collar of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, and the Badge of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.
The artist's initials BM are in relief on the bust truncation.
Around, the monarch's legend GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·. Translated from Latin: George the Fifth, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse 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 1927. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
ONE FLORIN - TWO SHILLINGS 1927 ADVANCE AUSTRALIA |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Various mintages are reported:
The Australian Coin Chart 1965 and Renniks 1965 list mintage of 3,429,970.
Krause catalogues list circulation mintage of 3,420,000 plus 50 proofs.
The Standard Australian Catalogue 1966 has 1,420,970 and 2,000,000 for the Canberra Commemorative Florin of the same year. We have decided to go with these figures, since it seems that the 3,429,970 figure erroneously combines both. Another clue is that prices for 1927 florins tend to be higher than those of 1928 florins even though the "official" mintage of the former is higher. |
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