Penny 1930, Coin from Australia - detailed information

Penny 1930, Coin from Australia (withdrawn 1966)
CoinPenny 1930

The Australian penny coin was a small circulating denomination of the Australian Pound. It has the same dimensions and composition as the British pre-decimal penny, 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). It was worth one twelfth of an Australian shilling and 1/240 of an Australian pound.

The reverse of this first type of Australian penny coins features text only. In 1938, a new design superseded this one - featuring the iconic leaping kangaroo; the old type of coins remained in circulation.

Coins issued in 1930 were withdrawn at decimalisation in 1966 after 36 years in circulation, but have never been formally demonetised and are still legal tender.

In 1930 the country was in an economic depression and the Melbourne Mint received no orders from the Commonwealth Government for new coins. Orders for silver coins were always treated differently at the mint to those for bronze; silver could only be struck after an order was received. Bronze however could be stockpiled.

The new dies bearing the changed date 1930 were therefore tested for the bronze halfpenny and penny denominations even though no order existed. Stocks of the halfpenny were a little low so a small production run was undertaken; however there were plenty of 1929 pennies in store so only a few small trial runs to test the dies were made. The output of these runs were placed in the store with the 1929 coins but were so few that no record was made of their number.

A small number of specially prepared proof coins were made, six penny and six halfpenny pieces. These proofs were sent to the two major public numismatic collections in Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria (these were later transferred to Museums Victoria) and the Art Gallery of South Australia, and to the British Museum. It was 1931 before any new order for bronze coins was received and the stock of 1929 pieces with the additional few 1930 pennies was released.

The 1930 penny became the best known rare Australian coin and the proof examples, two of which were officially released by the museums to which they had been sent, are currently the most valuable Australian coins among collectors. This is the key date of the series.

MintMelbourne Mint Mint MarkNo mint mark Total Mintage unknown
Obverse
Australia / Penny 1930 - obverse photo

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.

Obverse Inscription GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Reverse
Australia / Penny 1930 - reverse photo

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 · 1930 ·.

Reverse Inscription ONE PENNY COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA · 1930 ·
EdgePlainEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

Exact mintage is unknown; variously estimated between 1200 and 3000.

References to additional information:

[Article] Bloom, Walter R. The proof (specimen) Australian 1930 penny. Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia 21 2010(2011): 1-10
[Article] Sharples, John. 1987. The 1930 Penny. Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia. 3: 3-11.
[Book] Mullett, William J. 1991. Australian Coinage. An Account of Particular Coins.

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Royal Mint
Royal Mint
Penny 1930: Known varieties
Variety Proof
Mintage Issued: 6
Details

A small number of specially prepared proof coins were made, six penny and six halfpenny pieces. These proofs were sent to the two major public numismatic collections in Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria (these were later transferred to Museum Victoria) and the Art Gallery of South Australia, and to the British Museum.

Penny 1930: References to Information Used
SourceEditionAboutLinkNotes
Museums Victoria Collections 2016 Coin description link
Museums Victoria Collections 2016 Mint link
Museums Victoria Collections 2016 Mintage link Proof mintage
Remick, Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins 1971 Varieties Proof
Museums Victoria Collections 2016 Varieties link Proof
All (53) coins of type: Penny
Coin NameMintageEffigyLegend
Penny 1911 3,768,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1912 3,600,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1913 2,520,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1914 720,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1915 2,280,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1916 3,324,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1917 6,240,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1918 1,200,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1919 5,810,160 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1920 9,041,600 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1921 7,438,320 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1922 12,697,440 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1923 5,654,400 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1924 4,665,840 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1925 1,639,200 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1926 1,860,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1927 4,922,450 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1928 3,038,400 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1929 2,599,200 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1930 unknown King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1931 494,400 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1932 2,116,800 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1933 5,817,600 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1934 5,808,100 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1935 3,724,900 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1936 9,890,400 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Penny 1937 (pattern) 12 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Penny 1938 5,552,650 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Penny 1939 6,240,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Penny 1940 5,188,800 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Penny 1941 14,382,800 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Penny 1942 21,244,800 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Penny 1943 53,198,400 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Penny 1944 29,942,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Penny 1945 15,172,806 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Penny 1946 240,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Penny 1947 11,174,400 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Penny 1948 28,150,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Penny 1949 27,064,800 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX FIDEI DEF.
Penny 1950 57,846,800 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX FIDEI DEF.
Penny 1951 52,128,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX FIDEI DEF.
Penny 1952 57,922,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX FIDEI DEF.
Penny 1953 13,138,816 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Penny 1955 17,447,101 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Penny 1956 25,994,917 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Penny 1957 15,979,112 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Penny 1958 24,443,334 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Penny 1959 16,048,136 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Penny 1960 20,516,230 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Penny 1961 30,608,240 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Penny 1962 34,852,664 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Penny 1963 10,259,660 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Penny 1964 64,590,401 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
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Penny 1930: Details
CountryAustralia
CurrencyAustralian Pound
Coin TypePenny - Commonwealth of Australia
Issued1930
MonarchKing George V
EffigyKing George V - Crowned Bust, by Bertram Mackennal
Face Value1 (x Penny)
Total Mintageunknown
CurrentNo; withdrawn 1966
MaterialBronze
DesignerWilliam Henry James Blakemore
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size30.8000 mm
Mass9.4500 g
OCC IDKLBR-PERR-CBKD-EMNY
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Penny 1930: Photos
ImageDetails
Penny 1930: Photo Proof Coin - 1 Penny, Australia, 1930 / thumbnail Proof Coin - 1 Penny, Australia, 1930
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Proof.
Source
Penny 1930: Photo Proof Coin - 1 Penny, Australia, 1930 / thumbnail Proof Coin - 1 Penny, Australia, 1930
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Proof.
Source
Penny 1930: Photo Coin - 1 Penny, Australia, 1930 / thumbnail Coin - 1 Penny, Australia, 1930
Copyright: Downies
Source
Penny 1930: Photo Coin - 1 Penny, Australia, 1930 / thumbnail Coin - 1 Penny, Australia, 1930
Copyright: Downies
Source
Penny 1930: Photo Australia 1930 penny / thumbnail Australia 1930 penny
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Source
Penny 1930: Photo Australia 1930 penny / thumbnail Australia 1930 penny
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Source
Penny 1930: Catalogue Reference IDs