Shilling 1953, Coin from Australia - detailed information

Shilling 1953, Coin from Australia (withdrawn 1966)
CoinShilling 1953

The Australian Shilling is a silver coin which was used in the Commonwealth of Australia prior to decimalisation. It has the same dimensions and composition as the British pre-decimal shilling, from which it is derived (for a time, the coins circulated in parallel and were interchangeable in Australia - but not in the United Kingdom). A shilling is equal to 1/20th of a pound, or 12 pence.

The reverse of the first type of Australian shilling coins featured the 1908 Coat of Arms. In 1938, this new design superseded it - featuring a merino ram's head; the old type of coins remained in circulation.

Coins issued in 1953 were withdrawn at decimalisation in 1966 after 13 years in circulation, but have never been formally demonetised and are still legal tender as 10 cents.

MintMelbourne Mint Mint MarkNo mint mark Total Mintage 12,204,000 (12.2 million)
Obverse
Australia / Shilling 1953 - obverse photo

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. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the grace of God, Queen.

Obverse Inscription + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Reverse
Australia / Shilling 1953 - reverse photo

A merino ram's head facing three-quarters left; around above, AUSTRALIA; around below between two Federation stars, the denomination and date SHILLING · 1953.

The artist's initials K·G (for [George] Kruger Gray) are in the field above the star on the right.

Reverse Inscription AUSTRALIA SHILLING · 1953
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

This was the first issue for Queen Elizabeth II.

Specimens (proofs) were produced this year for official purposes only. According to CoinFactsWiki:

"Struck for Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953, a minuscule total of twelve, penny through florin, sets were officially produced at the Melbourne Mint, with the entire mintage ending up in the possession of the Chase Manhattan Bank in New York for their currency museum. Clearly, later deaccessioned or distributed, less than half of these have made their way to auction over the following six decades. The Halfpenny, missing from the standard Coronation set, was actually struck separately at the Perth mint (identified by the dot after Australia). While the true mintage remains unknown, its rarity likely even surpasses that of the sets."

References to additional information:

[Article] Pearce, Murray. 1987. Royal Titles and Australian Coins: the "Defender of the Faith" Controvercy of 1953. Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia. 3: 12-17.

Shilling 1953: Known varieties
Variety Proof
Images Australia / Shilling 1953 / Proof - obverse photo Australia / Shilling 1953 / Proof - reverse photo
Mintage Issued: unknown
Shilling 1953: References to Information Used
All (47) coins of type: Shilling
Coin NameMintageEffigyLegend
Shilling 1910 2,536,069 Portrait by George William de Saulles (Crowned Bust) EDWARDVS VII D:G: BRITT. OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1911 1,700,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1912 1,000,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1913 1,200,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1914 3,300,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1915 1,300,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1916 5,141,025 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1917 5,274,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1918 3,761,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1919 (pattern) unknown King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1920 520,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1921 1,641,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1922 2,039,924 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1924 673,658 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1925 1,448,794 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1926 2,352,100 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1927 1,146,050 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1928 664,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1931 1,000,570 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1933 220,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1934 480,100 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1935 500,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1936 2,000,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Shilling 1937 (pattern) unknown AUSTRALIA SHILLING 1937
Shilling 1938 1,484,250 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Shilling 1939 1,520,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Shilling 1940 760,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Shilling 1941 3,040,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Shilling 1942 5,380,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Shilling 1943 18,720,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Shilling 1944 22,576,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Shilling 1945 (not released) unknown King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Shilling 1946 11,388,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Shilling 1948 4,132,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Shilling 1950 7,188,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX FIDEI DEF.
Shilling 1952 19,644,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX FIDEI DEF.
Shilling 1953 12,204,000 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Shilling 1954 16,188,000 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Shilling 1955 7,493,200 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA F: D:
Shilling 1956 6,065,500 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA F: D:
Shilling 1957 12,669,256 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA F: D:
Shilling 1958 7,413,506 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA F: D:
Shilling 1959 10,877,506 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA F: D:
Shilling 1960 14,513,509 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA F: D:
Shilling 1961 31,865,506 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA F: D:
Shilling 1962 6,594,016 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA F: D:
Shilling 1963 10,074,000 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA F: D:
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Shilling 1953: Details
CountryAustralia
CurrencyAustralian Pound
Coin TypeShilling - Ram's Head
Issued1953
MonarchQueen Elizabeth II
EffigyQueen Elizabeth II - First Portrait, by Mary Gillick
Face Value1 (x Shilling)
Total Mintage12,204,000 (12.2 million)
CurrentNo; withdrawn 1966
Material0.500 Silver
DesignerGeorge Kruger Gray
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size23.5000 mm
Mass5.6500 g
OCC IDZQRA-PEBN-CAQA-EYJD
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Shilling 1953: Photos
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Shilling 1953: Photo Australia 1953 shilling / thumbnail Australia 1953 shilling
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
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Shilling 1953: Photo Australia 1953 shilling / thumbnail Australia 1953 shilling
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
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Shilling 1953: Photo Proof Coin - 1 Shilling, Specimen Strike, Australia, 1953 / thumbnail Proof Coin - 1 Shilling, Specimen Strike, Australia, 1953
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
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Shilling 1953: Photo Proof Coin - 1 Shilling, Specimen Strike, Australia, 1953 / thumbnail Proof Coin - 1 Shilling, Specimen Strike, Australia, 1953
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Source
Shilling 1953: Catalogue Reference IDs