Threepence 1959, Coin from Australia

Threepence 1959, Coin from Australia (withdrawn 1966)

Coin	Threepence 1959

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 the first type of Australian threepence coins features the 1908 Coat of Arms. In 1938, this new design superseded it - featuring three stalks of grain; the old type of coins remained in circulation.

Coins issued in 1959 were withdrawn at decimalisation in 1966 after seven years in circulation, but have never been formally demonetised and are still legal tender.

Mint	Melbourne Mint	Mint Mark	No mint mark	Total Mintage	19,889,508 (19.9 million)

Obverse

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.

Obverse Inscription	+ ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :

Reverse

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 1959 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.

Reverse Inscription	AUSTRALIA 1959 THREE PENCE

Edge	Plain	Edge Inscription	None

Threepence 1959: Known varieties

Variety	Proof
Images
Mintage	Issued: 1,508 (included in total)

Threepence 1959: References to Information Used

Source	Edition	About	Link	Notes
Museums Victoria Collections	2016	Coin description	link
Renniks, Australian Coin and Banknote Values	1965	Mint
Renniks, Australian Coin and Banknote Values	1965	Mintage		Circulation and proof mintage
Museums Victoria Collections	2016	Varieties	link	Proof
Renniks, Australian Coin and Banknote Values	1965	Varieties		Proof

All (47) coins of type: Threepence

Coin Name	Mintage	Effigy	Legend
Threepence 1910	8,032,034	Portrait by George William de Saulles (Crowned Bust)	EDWARDVS VII D: G: BRITT: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP: ·
Threepence 1911	2,000,000	King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal	GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Threepence 1912	2,400,000	King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal	GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Threepence 1914	1,600,000	King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal	GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Threepence 1915	800,000	King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal	GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Threepence 1916	1,913,525	King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal	GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Threepence 1917	3,808,500	King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal	GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Threepence 1918	3,119,500	King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal	GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Threepence 1919	3,201,500	King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal	GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Threepence 1920	4,196,000	King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal	GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Threepence 1921	7,378,073	King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal	GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Threepence 1922	5,531,500	King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal	GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Threepence 1923	815,283	King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal	GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Threepence 1924	2,014,044	King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal	GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Threepence 1925	4,347,585	King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal	GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Threepence 1926	6,158,000	King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal	GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Threepence 1927	6,720,050	King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal	GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Threepence 1928	5,008,000	King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal	GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Threepence 1934	1,616,100	King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal	GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Threepence 1935	2,800,000	King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal	GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Threepence 1936	3,600,000	King George V - Crowned Bust, by Mackennal	GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: ·
Threepence 1937 (pattern)	15	King George VI - Bare Head	GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Threepence 1938	4,560,250	King George VI - Bare Head	GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Threepence 1939	3,856,000	King George VI - Bare Head	GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Threepence 1940	3,840,000	King George VI - Bare Head	GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Threepence 1941	7,584,000	King George VI - Bare Head	GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Threepence 1942	24,528,000	King George VI - Bare Head	GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Threepence 1943	48,912,000	King George VI - Bare Head	GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Threepence 1944	32,000,000	King George VI - Bare Head	GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Threepence 1947	4,176,000	King George VI - Bare Head	GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Threepence 1948	26,208,000	King George VI - Bare Head	GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.
Threepence 1949	26,400,000	King George VI - Bare Head	GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX FIDEI DEF.
Threepence 1950	35,456,000	King George VI - Bare Head	GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX FIDEI DEF.
Threepence 1951	55,856,000	King George VI - Bare Head	GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX FIDEI DEF.
Threepence 1952	21,560,000	King George VI - Bare Head	GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX FIDEI DEF.
Threepence 1953	7,664,000	Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait	+ ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Threepence 1954	2,672,000	Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait	+ ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Threepence 1955	27,089,040	Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait	+ ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Threepence 1956	14,089,500	Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait	+ ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Threepence 1957	26,705,256	Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait	+ ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Threepence 1958	11,249,506	Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait	+ ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Threepence 1959	19,889,508	Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait	+ ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Threepence 1960	19,601,509	Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait	+ ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Threepence 1961	33,841,506	Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait	+ ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Threepence 1962	15,969,500	Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait	+ ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Threepence 1963	44,017,500	Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait	+ ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :
Threepence 1964	20,320,000	Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait	+ ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA · F : D :

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Threepence 1959: Details

Country	Australia
Currency	Australian Pound
Coin Type	Threepence - Stalks of Grain
Issued	1959
Monarch	Queen Elizabeth II
Effigy	Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait, by Mary Gillick
Face Value	3 (x Penny)
Total Mintage	19,889,508 (19.9 million)
Current	No; withdrawn 1966
Material	0.500 Silver
Designer	George Kruger Gray
Technology	Milled (machine-made)
Shape	Round
Orientation	Medal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size	16.0000 mm
Mass	1.4100 g
OCC ID	NRWK-ZEJN-CLAW-EXGL

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Threepence 1959: Photos

Image	Details
	Australia 1959 3 pence Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA Author: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles Notes: Proof. Source
	Australia 1959 3 pence Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA Author: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles Notes: Proof. Source
	Proof Coin - Threepence, Australia, 1959 Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Naomi Andrzejeski Notes: Proof. Source
	Proof Coin - Threepence, Australia, 1959 Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Naomi Andrzejeski Notes: Proof. Source

Threepence 1959: Catalogue Reference IDs

Source	Reference ID
Krause, Standard Catalog of World Coins	Australia KM# 57
Renniks, Australian Coin and Banknote Values	C50
Australian Coin Chart	T48

Relevant Links

Museums Victoria: Proof Coin - Threepence, Australia, 1959

Threepence 1959, Coin from Australia - detailed information