Penny 1943, Coin from Australia - detailed information

Penny 1943, Coin from Australia (withdrawn 1966)
CoinPenny 1943

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 the first type of Australian penny coins featured text only. In 1938, this new design by George Kruger Gray superseded it - featuring the iconic leaping kangaroo.

Coins issued in 1943 were withdrawn at decimalisation in 1966 after 23 years in circulation, but have never been formally demonetised and are still legal tender.

MintMint markTotal Mintage
Perth Mint Y. 33,086,400 (33.1 million)
Melbourne Mint No mint mark 11,112,000 (11.1 million)
Bombay Mint .PENNY. 9,000,000 (9.0 million)
Obverse
Australia / Penny 1943 - 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.

The letter I (for India) below the King's head is an additional mint mark showing that a coin was struck at the Bombay Mint; however, not all coins of the Bombay issue have it - the mint mark is considered to be the additional dot before the denomination on the reverse.

Obverse Inscription GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Reverse
Australia / Penny 1943 - reverse photo

Kangaroo leaping to the left; around above, the legend AUSTRALIA.

Around below, the denomination PENNY; the seven pointed Federation star is in the field to the left of the kangaroo and the date 1943 is in the field below its tail.

The artist's initials KG (for [George] Kruger Gray) are above the tip of the kangaroo's tail.

A dot after the denomination is the mint mark for the Perth Mint on this issue: PENNY. (called Y. in catalogues). The dots before and after the denomination: .PENNY. on the reverse show that a coin was struck by the Bombay Mint. Melbourne Mint coins have no mint mark.

Reverse Inscription AUSTRALIA 1943 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.

Krause catalogues list the following mintage figures:
- Perth Mint: 33,086,000
- Melbourne Mint: 11,112,000
- Bombay Mint: 9,000,000

The Australian Coin Chart 1965 lists the following mintage figures:
- Perth Mint: 33,086,400
- Melbourne Mint: 11,107,200
- Bombay Mint: 9,000,006 (6 proofs?)

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Royal Mint
Royal Mint
Penny 1943: Known varieties
Variety Elongated beads (Bombay Mint)
Mintage Issued: unknown
Details

On pennies minted in Bombay only. Listed in The Standard Australian coin Catalogue as "Reverse of 1942".

Variety No I under head (Bombay Mint)
Mintage Issued: unknown
Details

Some Australian Penny coins minted at the Bombay Mint in 1943 do not have the letter "I" under the effigy of the king.

Variety Proof (Bombay Mint)
Mintage Issued: unknown
Variety Proof (Perth Mint)
Mintage Issued: unknown
Penny 1943: 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
Renniks, Australian Coin and Banknote Values 1965 Varieties Elongated beads
Australian Coin Chart 1965 Varieties Elongated beads
Remick, Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins 1971 Varieties Proof (Perth Mint)
Krause, Standard Catalog of World Coins 1988 Varieties Proof (Bombay Mint)
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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The Definitive Guide to Australian Silver Coins
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Penny 1943: Details
CountryAustralia
CurrencyAustralian Pound
Coin TypePenny - Kangaroo
Issued1943
MonarchKing George VI
EffigyKing George VI - Bare Head, by Thomas Humphrey Paget
Face Value1 (x Penny)
Total Mintage53,198,400 (53.2 million)
CurrentNo; withdrawn 1966
MaterialBronze
DesignerGeorge Kruger Gray
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size30.8000 mm
Mass9.4500 g
OCC IDQBVY-XEWR-CLGR-OJZN
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Penny 1943: Photos
ImageDetails
Penny 1943: Photo Coin - 1 Penny, Australia, 1943 / thumbnail Coin - 1 Penny, Australia, 1943
Copyright: Downies
Notes: Perth Mint (Y.).
Source
Penny 1943: Photo Coin - 1 Penny, Australia, 1943 / thumbnail Coin - 1 Penny, Australia, 1943
Copyright: Downies
Notes: Perth Mint.
Source
Penny 1943: Photo Coin - 1 Penny, Australia, 1943 / thumbnail Coin - 1 Penny, Australia, 1943
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Bombay Mint.
Source
Penny 1943: Photo Coin - 1 Penny, Australia, 1943 / thumbnail Coin - 1 Penny, Australia, 1943
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Bombay Mint.
Source
Penny 1943: Catalogue Reference IDs
SourceReference ID
Krause, Standard Catalog of World CoinsAustralia KM# 36
Schön, WeltmünzkatalogAustralien Schön# 23
Renniks, Australian Coin and Banknote ValuesB45 (Melbourne Mint) and B46 (Perth Mint)
Australian Coin ChartP47 (Melbourne Mint) and P48 (Perth Mint)
Renniks, Australian Coin and Banknote ValuesB47 (Bombay Mint), B47A (Elongated beads, Bombay)
Australian Coin ChartP49 (Bombay Mint), P46 (Elongated beads, Bombay)