Penny 1956, Coin from Australia

Penny 1956, Coin from Australia (withdrawn 1966)

Coin	Penny 1956

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 In 1938, this new design by George Kruger Gray superseded it - featuring the iconic leaping kangaroo.

Coins issued in 1956 were withdrawn at decimalisation in 1966 after ten years in circulation, but have never been formally demonetised and are still legal tender.

Mint	Mint mark	Total Mintage
Melbourne Mint	No mint mark	13,873,500 (13.9 million)
Perth Mint	Y.	12,121,417 (12.1 million)

Obverse

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.

Obverse Inscription	+ ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :

Reverse

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 1956 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.

Reverse Inscription	AUSTRALIA 1956 PENNY

Edge	Plain	Edge Inscription	None

Notes

Both the Melbourne Mint and Perth Mint sold proof coins to collectors from 1955 until 1963.

Renniks 1965 lists the following mintages:
- Melbourne Mint: 13,872,000 plus 1,500 proofs
- Perth Mint: 12,121,000 plus 417 proofs

References to additional information:

[Article] Holland, Paul M. 2001. The Perth Mint Penny 'Mules' of 1955-1956. Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia. 12: 39-44.

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Penny 1956: Known varieties

Variety	Proof (Melbourne Mint)
Images
Mintage	Issued: 1,500 (included in total)
Variety	Proof (Perth Mint)
Images
Mintage	Issued: 417 (included in total)
Notes	Renniks 1986 pocket edition gives mintage as 100.

Penny 1956: References to Information Used

Source	Edition	About	Link	Notes
Museums Victoria Collections	2016	Coin description	link
Renniks, Australian Coin and Banknote Values	1965	Mint
Renniks, Australian Coin and Banknote Values	1965	Mintage		Circulation and proof mintage
Museums Victoria Collections	2016	Varieties	link	Proof
Renniks, Australian Coin and Banknote Values	1965	Varieties		Proof

All (53) coins of type: Penny

Coin Name	Mintage	Effigy	Legend
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 1956: Details

Country	Australia
Currency	Australian Pound
Coin Type	Penny - Kangaroo
Issued	1956
Monarch	Queen Elizabeth II
Effigy	Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait, by Mary Gillick
Face Value	1 (x Penny)
Total Mintage	25,994,917 (26.0 million)
Current	No; withdrawn 1966
Material	Bronze
Designer	George Kruger Gray
Technology	Milled (machine-made)
Shape	Round
Orientation	Medal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size	30.8000 mm
Mass	9.4500 g
OCC ID	JWMR-AOQP-CXJK-EYPL

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Penny 1956: Photos

Image	Details
	Proof Coin - 1 Penny, Australia, 1956 Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Naomi Andrzejeski Notes: Proof. Melbourne Mint. Source
	Proof Coin - 1 Penny, Australia, 1956 Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Naomi Andrzejeski Notes: Proof. Melbourne Mint. Source
	Proof Coin - 1 Penny, Australia, 1956 Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Naomi Andrzejeski Notes: Proof. Perth Mint. Source
	Proof Coin - 1 Penny, Australia, 1956 Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Naomi Andrzejeski Notes: Proof. Perth Mint. Source
	Australia 1956(p) penny Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA Author: Stack's-Bowers Notes: Perth Mint. Proof. Source
	Australia 1956(p) penny Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA Author: Stack's-Bowers Notes: Perth Mint. Proof. Source

Penny 1956: Catalogue Reference IDs

Source	Reference ID
Schön, Weltmünzkatalog	Australien Schön# 44
Krause, Standard Catalog of World Coins	Australia KM# 56
Renniks, Australian Coin and Banknote Values	B68 (Melbourne Mint) and B69 (Perth Mint)
Australian Coin Chart	P71 (Melbourne Mint) and P72 (Perth Mint)

Relevant Links

Museums Victoria: Proof Coin - 1 Penny, Australia, 1956 (Melbourne Mint)

Museums Victoria: Proof Coin - 1 Penny, Australia, 1956 (Perth Mint)

Penny 1956, Coin from Australia - detailed information