Penny 1952, Coin from Australia - detailed information

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 FIDEI DEF.. Translated from Latin: George the Sixth, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith.

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 1952 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.

The dot after the denomination is the mint mark for the Perth Mint on this issue: PENNY. (listed as "Y." in catalogues). Melbourne Mint coins have no mint mark.

Renniks 1965 lists some varieties of the 2 in the date: "figure 2 tall with pointed serif in date", "figure 2 tilted right", "figure 2 with square serif in date" and "figure 2 with wedge serif in date".

References to additional information:

[Article] Holland, Paul M. Variation of Die Type of Australian Pennies: 1937 - 1964. Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia. 8
[Article] Sharples, John P. Perth Mint Proof Record Coins 1940 - 1954. Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia. 8