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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 In 1938, this new design by George Kruger Gray superseded it - featuring the iconic leaping kangaroo.
Coins issued in 1960 were withdrawn at decimalisation in 1966 after six years in circulation, but have never been formally demonetised and are still legal tender.
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| Mint | Perth Mint |
Mint Mark | Y. |
Total Mintage |
20,516,230 (20.5 million)
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| Obverse | |
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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.
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| Reverse | |
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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 1960 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). |
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| Edge | Plain | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Krause catalogues list circulation mintage of 20,515,000 plus 1,030 proofs.
Renniks lists circulation mintage of 20,515,200 plus 1,030 proofs. |
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