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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 In 1938, a new design superseded this one - featuring three stalks of grain; the old type of coins remained in circulation.
Coins issued in 1911 were withdrawn at decimalisation in 1966 after 55 years in circulation, but have never been formally demonetised and are still legal tender.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 draped bust of King George V facing left (crowned effigy by Sir Edgar Bertram Mackennal); the King is wearing the Imperial Crown and the ermine Robe of State, the Collar of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, and the Badge of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.
The artist's initials BM are in relief on the bust truncation.
Around, the monarch's legend GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·. Translated from Latin: George the Fifth, 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 1911. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
THREEPENCE 1911 |
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| Edge | Plain | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | The Australian Coin Chart 1966 lists mintage of 8,000,000. According to Museums Victoria Collections however (which inherited the archives of the Melbourne Mint and its correspondence with the Royal Mint in London), six million of the threepences minted in 1911 actually used the previous year's dies, so were dated 1910.
This is probably why Krause and Renniks 1965 lists mintage of 2,000,000 too - although they do not add the rest to the 1910 mintage. |
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