Halfpenny 1959, Coin from Australia - detailed information

Halfpenny 1959, Coin from Australia (withdrawn 1966)
CoinHalfpenny 1959

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 In 1939, this new design by George Kruger Gray superseded it - featuring the iconic leaping kangaroo.

Coins issued in 1959 were withdrawn at decimalisation in 1966 after seven years in circulation, but have never been formally demonetised and are still legal tender.

MintMelbourne Mint Mint MarkNo mint mark Total Mintage 10,167,906 (10.2 million)
Obverse
Australia / Halfpenny 1959 - obverse photo

The obverse of the coin shows the laureate young laureate bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right - her effigy known as the "First Portrait". The laurel wreath in the Queen's hair is tied with a ribbon with two ends flowing behind.

The designer's initials, M.G. (for Mary Gillick) appear incuse on the base of the shoulder truncation, and can be seen when the coin is viewed at an angle.

The monarch's legend runs continuously all around the bust: + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith.

Obverse Inscription + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Reverse
Australia / Halfpenny 1959 - reverse photo

At centre a kangaroo leaping right; around above, AUSTRALIA; around below, the value and denomination HALF PENNY. The date 1959 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.

Reverse Inscription AUSTRALIA 1959 HALF PENNY
EdgePlainEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

Remick 1971 lists mintage of 11,193,600 plus 1,506 proofs.

Halfpenny 1959: Known varieties
Variety Proof
Images Australia / Halfpenny 1959 / Proof - obverse photo Australia / Halfpenny 1959 / Proof - reverse photo
Mintage Issued: 1,506 (included in total)
Halfpenny 1959: References to Information Used
SourceEditionAboutLinkNotes
Museums Victoria Collections 2016 Coin description link
Renniks, Australian Coin and Banknote Values 1965 Mint
Renniks, Australian Coin and Banknote Values 1965 Mintage Circulation and proof mintage
Museums Victoria Collections 2016 Varieties link Proof
Renniks, Australian Coin and Banknote Values 1965 Varieties Proof
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 1959: Details
CountryAustralia
CurrencyAustralian Pound
Coin TypeHalfpenny - Kangaroo
Issued1959
MonarchQueen Elizabeth II
EffigyQueen Elizabeth II - First Portrait, by Mary Gillick
Face Value1/2 (x Penny)
Total Mintage10,167,906 (10.2 million)
CurrentNo; withdrawn 1966
MaterialBronze
DesignerGeorge Kruger Gray
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size25.4000 mm
Mass5.6700 g
OCC IDJWMR-AEQP-CXAJ-OYPL
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Halfpenny 1959: Photos
ImageDetails
Halfpenny 1959: Photo Proof Coin - Halfpenny, Australia, 1959 / thumbnail Proof Coin - Halfpenny, Australia, 1959
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Proof.
Source
Halfpenny 1959: Photo Proof Coin - Halfpenny, Australia, 1959 / thumbnail Proof Coin - Halfpenny, Australia, 1959
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Proof.
Source
Halfpenny 1959: Photo Australia 1959(m) half penny / thumbnail Australia 1959(m) half penny
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Notes: Proof.
Source
Halfpenny 1959: Photo Australia 1959(m) half penny / thumbnail Australia 1959(m) half penny
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Notes: Proof.
Source
Halfpenny 1959: Catalogue Reference IDs