Penny 1959, Coin from Australia - detailed information

The obverse of the coin shows the laureate young 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, AUSTRALIA; around below, the denomination PENNY; the seven pointed Federation star is in the field to the left of the kangaroo and the date 1959 is in the field below its tail. The artist's initials KG (for [George] Kruger Gray) are above the tip of the 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.

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

Krause catalogues list the following mintages:
- Melbourne Mint: 1,617,000 plus 1,506 proofs
- Perth Mint: 14,428,000 plus 1,030 proofs

Renniks 1965 lists the following mintages:
- Melbourne Mint: 1,617,600 plus 1,506 proofs
- Perth Mint: 14,428,000 plus 1,030 proofs