| Coin | Threepence 1937 (pattern) |
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The 1937 Threepence coin was a pattern which was never released. It is thought that about 15 coins exist; most of them are uniface, with the word "model" stamped on the obverse. The one example which has both sides struck carries the new George VI obverse. It is thought that all the others had the effigy and legend of Edward VIII, which were then machined off to make the coins uniface.
IAG Sale Catalogue (pdf) of 19 October 2013 says about it:
"Pattern Threepence 1937. Struck with both sides and unique as such. Struck in Australia with the master tools at the Royal Mint branch in Melbourne. Found in circulation in 1966 by a Tasmanian family, it comes with a Royal Mint letter dated May 2006 certifying authenticity. Original old tone and surfaces. Ex Sotheby’s, London, and found in Tasmania in 1966 in change. The only example known of this coin in private hands, and a unique opportunity to procure a coin that will complete the only known full Commonwealth Date set in Private hands. Of the highest rarity." |
| Mint | Melbourne Mint |
Mint Mark | No mint mark |
Total Mintage |
15
, Rarity: R5 (9 to 14 examples known) |
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| Obverse | |
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Most of these coins are uniface. The one which is not displays the Bare Head effigy of King George VI:
The obverse of the coin shows the bare (uncrowned) head of King George VI facing left.
Below the neck truncation in small letters, the artist's initials HP (for [Thomas] Humphrey Paget).
Around, the monarch's legend: GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.. Translated from Latin: George the Sixth, 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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Three ears of wheat held by a curved ribbon. Around above, AUSTRALIA; around below, divided into two by the stalks of the wheat, the denomination THREE PENCE; above, across the middle of the coin the date 1937 divided into two by the ears.
The artist's initials KG (for [George] Kruger Gray) are tucked, divided, into the first and last bends in the ribbon. |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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