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The Australian halfpenny (or half penny) coin was the smallest circulating denomination of the Australian Pound. It has the same dimensions and composition as the British pre-decimal halfpenny, from which it is derived (for a time, the coins circulated in parallel and were interchangeable in Australia - but not in the United Kingdom; the currencies were fixed at par). 1/2 penny was worth 1/24 of a shilling, or 1/480 of a pound.
The reverse of this first type of Australian halfpenny coins features text only. In 1939, a new design superseded this one - featuring the iconic leaping kangaroo; the old type of coins remained in circulation.
Coins issued in 1924 were withdrawn at decimalisation in 1966 after 42 years in circulation, but have never been formally demonetised and are still legal tender.
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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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At centre within a circle of beads, the value and denomination ONE HALF PENNY in three lines above a plain scroll; around above, outside the circle of beads, COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA; below, the date · 1924 ·. |
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| Edge | Plain | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | "In 1923 the Melbourne Mint obtained a punch for the numeral '4' from Stokes and Son and with it successfully changed the date of a florin die. They then ordered a full set of date punches from London to match the other numerals on their masters (VPRO Series 643, Unit 70, Div. IQ, Reg. 77/23 and 257/23 the punches were received on 8th Nov. 1923). On the 1924 dies of all denominations, the Melbourne Mint for the first time inserted the last numeral of the date."
Sharples, J.P. "Australian Coinage 1919 to 1924" JNAA, vol.1 p.18 . |
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