Threepence 1955, Coin from Australia - detailed information

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 · F : D :. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith.

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 1955 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.

On the first issue of this denomination in the name of Elizabeth II in 1953, reference to her role as Defender of the Faith (F:D: or FIDEI DEF:) in the obverse legend was omitted but after extensive complaint in Australia it was returned on the standard coinage from 1955 (it was first used on the commemorative florin for the Royal visit in 1954).

This was the first year that proof coins were prepared for collectors at Melbourne since the 1930s.