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The Australian Threepence (or three pence) is a small 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 threepence, from which it is derived (for a time, the coins circulated in parallel and were interchangeable in Australia - but not in the United Kingdom). 3 pence were equal to one quarter of a shilling, or 1/80th of a pound.
The reverse of this first type of Australian threepence coins features the 1908 Coat of Arms. In 1938, a new design superseded this one - featuring three stalks of grain; the old type of coins remained in circulation.
Coins issued in 1910 were withdrawn at decimalisation in 1966 after 56 years in circulation, but have never been formally demonetised and are still legal tender.
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| Obverse | |
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Crowned and robed bust of King Edward VII facing right; the King is wearing the Imperial Crown, the ermine Robe of State and the Collar of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.
Below the bust truncation, in small letters are the artist's initials DES (for [George William] de Saulles).
Around, the monarch's legend: EDWARDVS VII D: G: BRITT: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP: ·. Translated from Latin: Edward the Seventh, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse features the Ensigns Armorial of the Commonwealth of Australia, as authorised by Royal Warrant 7th May 1908.
At centre, simple shield enclosing a cross of Saint George on which are five six-pointed stars, around the outside of which are six small escutcheons (small shields). The shield is supported by a kangaroo and an emu standing on a grassy mound. Above the shield a crest, the seven-pointed star of Federation on a wreath and on a ribbon at the base, the motto ADVANCE AUSTRALIA is inscribed.
Around above, the denomination THREEPENCE; below, between arrow heads, the date 1910. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
THREEPENCE 1910 |
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| Edge | Plain | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | The Australian Coin Chart lists mintage of 2,000,000.
Krause and Renniks catalogues list mintage of 4,000,000.
According to Museums Victoria though (which inherited the archives of the Melbourne Mint and can be considered authoritative), 8,032,034 of the 1910 die were struck in total, most of them (6,000,000) during 1911. The mintage figures in the Annual Reports indicate only how many coins were struck during the year, not the date and form of the coin.
This is the only year when Australian coins of king Edward VII were issued. |
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