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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 In 1938, this new design superseded it - featuring a merino ram's head; the old type of coins remained in circulation.
Coins issued in 1954 were withdrawn at decimalisation in 1966 after 12 years in circulation, but have never been formally demonetised and are still legal tender as 10 cents.
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| Mint | Melbourne Mint |
Mint Mark | No mint mark |
Total Mintage | 16,188,000 (16.2 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. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the grace of God, Queen.
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| Reverse | |
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A merino ram's head facing three-quarters left; around above, AUSTRALIA; around below between two Federation stars, the denomination and date SHILLING · 1954.
The artist's initials K·G (for [George] Kruger Gray) are in the field above the star on the right. |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Krause catalogues list mintage of 16,187,999. |
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