Penny 1955, Coin from Australia - detailed information

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.

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 1955 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.

This was the first year that the Perth Mint made proof coins generally available to collectors. Earlier proof of record pieces were occasionally distributed to VIPs, numismatic societies and well as selected public institutions.

Krause catalogues list the following mintages:
- Melbourne Mint: 6,336,000 circulation mintage plus 1,200 proofs.
- Perth Mint: 11,110,000 circulation mintage plus 301 proofs.

Renniks 1965 lists the following mintages:
- Melbourne Mint: 6,336,000 circulation mintage plus 1,200 proofs.
- Perth Mint: 11,109,600 circulation mintage plus 301 proofs.