Penny 1920, Coin from Australia - detailed information

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.

At centre within a circle of beads, the value and denomination ONE PENNY in two lines between upper and lower ornate scrolls.

Around above, outside the circle of beads, COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA; below, the date · 1920 ·.

There may be small dots below the lower scroll and above the upper scroll. The meaning of these is much debated. The current consensus seems to be that they are not mint marks, hence coins minted by the Melbourne Mint and the Sydney Mint are indistinguishable.

The dots on the 1919 and 1920 pennies were part of a series of tests on die steels that were undertaken at the Melbourne Mint. Dies were supplied to the Sydney Mint from Melbourne and it is argued that the steel marks can sometimes reflect the mint which produced the coin. According to the Australian Coin Chart 1966, the "Dot above top scroll" variety was minted at the Melbourne Mint and the "Dot below scroll variety" at the Sydney Mint. There is no indication as to the other varieties.

Sydney did not "mark" bronze planchets before striking at that time and had difficulty with the clarity of the rim (as illustrated in the photo).

Master dies (London or Indian obverse) are judged by the alignment of letters and rim beads. Most catalogues however do not distinguish varieties based on different obverse.

Greg McDonald's Guide to Australian Coins and Banknotes lists the Proof variety as "Dot above top scroll" only.

The varieties listed below comprise all of the known 1920 Australian one penny coins (i.e. there is no "regular" coin which is not listed as a variety).