Halfpenny 1942, Coin from Australia - detailed information

Halfpenny 1942, Coin from Australia (withdrawn 1966)
CoinHalfpenny 1942

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 the first type of Australian halfpenny coins featured text only. In 1939, this new design by George Kruger Gray superseded it - featuring the iconic leaping kangaroo.

Coins issued in 1942 were withdrawn at decimalisation in 1966 after 24 years in circulation, but have never been formally demonetised and are still legal tender.

MintMint markTotal Mintage
Bombay Mint .HALF PENNY. 6,000,000 (6.0 million)
Perth Mint Y. 4,334,400 (4.3 million)
Melbourne Mint No mint mark 720,000
Obverse
Australia / Halfpenny 1942 - obverse photo

The obverse of the coin shows the bare (uncrowned) head of King George VI facing left.

Below the neck truncation in small letters, the artist's initials HP (for [Thomas] Humphrey Paget).

Around, the monarch's legend: GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.. Translated from Latin: George the Sixth, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.

On coins struck by the Bombay Mint in India, the additional mint mark I is below the front of the neck truncation.

Obverse Inscription GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Reverse
Australia / Halfpenny 1942 - reverse photo

At centre a kangaroo leaping right; around above, AUSTRALIA; around below, the denomination HALF PENNY. The date 1942 is below the kangaroo and the seven pointed Federation star follows the word PENNY. The artist's initials, KG (for [George] Kruger Gray) are below the kangaroo's tail near the rim.

On coins struck in India, the denomination is rendered as .HALF PENNY. - dots before and after it represent the mint mark.

On coins struck by the Perth Mint, HALF PENNY. - the dot (smaller than the India ones) after PENNY represents the mint mark.

Reverse Inscription AUSTRALIA 1942 HALF PENNY
EdgePlainEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

During World War II mints in India and the United States of America were employed to strike some of Australia's bronze and silver coinage.

Remick's Guide and Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins 1649 - 1971 lists the following mintages:
Melbourne Mint: 988,800,
Perth Mint: 4,334,400,
Bombay Mint: 6,000,009.

Halfpenny 1942: Known varieties
Variety Proof (Melbourne mint)
Mintage Issued: unknown
Variety Proof (Bombay mint)
Mintage Issued: unknown
Variety Elongated beads (new reverse), Bombay Mint
Mintage Issued: unknown (included in total)
Details

The Australian Coin Chart and The Standard Australian Coin Catalogue list this as "New reverse".

Variety Proof (Perth mint)
Images Australia / Halfpenny 1942 / Proof (Perth mint) - obverse photo Australia / Halfpenny 1942 / Proof (Perth mint) - reverse photo
Mintage Issued: unknown
Variety Narrow date (Bombay Mint)
Mintage Issued: unknown (included in total)
Halfpenny 1942: References to Information Used
SourceEditionAboutLinkNotes
Museums Victoria Collections 2016 Coin description link
Renniks, Australian Coin and Banknote Values 1964 Mint
Renniks, Australian Coin and Banknote Values 1964 Mintage
Krause, Standard Catalog of World Coins Varieties Proof (Perth Mint and Bombay Mint)
Remick, Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins 1971 Varieties Proof (Melbourne mint)
Renniks, Australian Coin and Banknote Values 1964 Varieties Elongated beads (New reverse) variety
All (51) coins of type: Halfpenny
Coin NameMintageEffigyLegend
Halfpenny 1911 2,832,060 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1912 2,400,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1913 2,160,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1914 2,640,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1915 720,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1916 3,600,025 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1917 5,760,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1918 1,440,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1919 3,326,400 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1920 4,113,600 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1921 5,280,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1922 6,924,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1923 1,113,600 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1924 681,600 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1925 1,147,200 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1926 4,132,800 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1927 3,072,050 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1928 2,318,400 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1929 2,635,200 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1930 638,406 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1931 369,600 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1932 2,553,600 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1933 4,608,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1934 3,816,100 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1935 2,916,100 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1936 2,562,200 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Halfpenny 1938 3,014,250 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Halfpenny 1939 Commonwealth of Australia 4,382,400 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Halfpenny 1939 Kangaroo 504,100 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Halfpenny 1940 2,294,400 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Halfpenny 1941 5,011,200 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Halfpenny 1942 11,054,400 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Halfpenny 1943 39,988,806 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Halfpenny 1944 720,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Halfpenny 1945 3,033,600 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Halfpenny 1946 13,747,200 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Halfpenny 1947 9,292,800 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Halfpenny 1948 30,160,800 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Halfpenny 1949 22,310,400 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX FIDEI DEF.
Halfpenny 1950 12,014,400 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX FIDEI DEF.
Halfpenny 1951 41,422,080 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX FIDEI DEF.
Halfpenny 1952 1,831,680 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX FIDEI DEF.
Halfpenny 1953 23,967,376 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Halfpenny 1954 21,962,880 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Halfpenny 1955 9,343,021 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Halfpenny 1959 10,167,906 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Halfpenny 1960 17,812,870 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Halfpenny 1961 20,184,080 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Halfpenny 1962 10,259,624 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Halfpenny 1963 16,411,300 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Halfpenny 1964 18,230,401 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
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Halfpenny 1942: Details
CountryAustralia
CurrencyAustralian Pound
Coin TypeHalfpenny - Kangaroo
Issued1942
MonarchKing George VI
EffigyKing George VI - Bare Head, by Thomas Humphrey Paget
Face Value1/2 (x Penny)
Total Mintage11,054,400 (11.1 million)
CurrentNo; withdrawn 1966
MaterialBronze
DesignerGeorge Kruger Gray
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size25.4000 mm
Mass5.6700 g
OCC IDDRMK-GOZA-CDPA-ENXQ
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Halfpenny 1942: Photos
ImageDetails
Halfpenny 1942: Photo Coin - Halfpenny, Australia, 1942 / thumbnail Coin - Halfpenny, Australia, 1942
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Melbourne Mint.
Source
Halfpenny 1942: Photo Coin - Halfpenny, Australia, 1942 / thumbnail Coin - Halfpenny, Australia, 1942
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Melbourne Mint.
Source
Halfpenny 1942: Photo Coin - Halfpenny, Australia, 1942 / thumbnail Coin - Halfpenny, Australia, 1942
Copyright: Downies
Notes: Perth Mint (Y.)
Source
Halfpenny 1942: Photo Coin - Halfpenny, Australia, 1942 / thumbnail Coin - Halfpenny, Australia, 1942
Copyright: Downies
Notes: Perth Mint.
Source
Halfpenny 1942: Photo Proof Coin - Halfpenny, Australia, 1942 / thumbnail Proof Coin - Halfpenny, Australia, 1942
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Proof. Perth Mint.
Source
Halfpenny 1942: Photo Proof Coin - Halfpenny, Australia, 1942 / thumbnail Proof Coin - Halfpenny, Australia, 1942
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Proof. Perth Mint.
Source
Halfpenny 1942: Photo Coin - Halfpenny, Australia, 1942 / thumbnail Coin - Halfpenny, Australia, 1942
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Bombay Mint.
Source
Halfpenny 1942: Photo Coin - Halfpenny, Australia, 1942 / thumbnail Coin - Halfpenny, Australia, 1942
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Bombay Mint. I under head.
Source
Halfpenny 1942: Catalogue Reference IDs
SourceReference ID
Krause, Standard Catalog of World CoinsAustralia KM# 41
Schön, WeltmünzkatalogAustralien Schön# 22
Renniks, Australian Coin and Banknote ValuesA34 (Melbourne), A35 (Perth), A36 (Bombay)
Australian Coin ChartH35 (Melbourne), H36 (Perth), H37 (Bombay)
Renniks, Australian Coin and Banknote ValuesA36A (Elongated beads variety)
Australian Coin ChartH38 (Elongated beads variety)