Australian Silver Coins| the beginners’ guide to Australian silver coins

CD’s are passe.  Socks are not enough.  They already have that new whiz bang razor that shaves as smooth as a baby’s bottom.  I bet they don’t have one of these though.

Perth Mint’s Christmas 2008 1oz Silver Proof Coin.  One ounce of 99.9% pure silver in a very attractive gift.  Better yet, it’s an investment - only 5,000 will be released.

The reverse of the coin, which is legal tender of Tuvalu, features a beautifully coloured Christmas tree, brightly decorated and surrounded by stars.  The words “Wishing you a very merry Christmas” are inscribed around the tree.  The festive theme continues with sprigs of holly and is completed with a large bow at the base of the design.

The obverse shows the Raphael Maklouf portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

This thoughtful gift is offered in a burgundy presentation case and includes a numbered certificate of authenticity.

Why not surprise someone this Christmas.  Or better yet, get one for yourself!

Click here to buy yours now 

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I just received an email from Perth Mint regarding the huge popularity of their tribute to HMAS Sydney II.  Here’s an extract from the email…

The eager response to our HMAS Sydney II tributes means that the individual 1oz silver proof coin is rapidly becoming a rarity. And as we go to press, there are literally only a handful of Coin, Medallion & Badge Sets remaining in stock at the Mint.

This coin is set to become a true collectors’ item.  Don’t miss your chance to add this significant release to your collection. 

Click here to order your HMAS Sydney II tribute now.

Technorati Tags: australian decimal coins, australian silver coins

I thought I’d start our Australian decimal coins category with a commemorative coin just issued by the Perth Mint Autralia.

To honour the discovery of the HMAS Sydney II wreck and to coincide with the 67th anniversary of its sinking, Perth Mint has released a 1oz 99.9% pure silver, proof coin.

This extremely limited coin (no more than 7,500 minted) has been issued as legal tender.  The portrait of Queen Elizabeth II appears on the obverse. The reverse shows the honoured HMAS Sydney II in fine detail.  The words “HMAS SYDNEY II 19 NOVEMBER 1941 - 16 MARCH 2008″ along with the mint mark “P” appear with the image.  The dates represent the period the ship lay undiscovered.

HMAS Sydney II sank after a battle with the German ship HSK Kormoran on November 19, 1941.  The battle represents Australia’s largest loss of life in a naval battle.

The discovery of the wreck of HMAS Sydney II was a significant step in Australia’s military history.  Even more so, it was particularly personal one for the relatives of the 645 officers and crew who lost their lives when the ship sank.

Sydney had been on escort duties off the West Australian coast when it crossed paths with the disguised Kormoran.  Neither ship made it through the ensuing battle.

The sinking of HMAS Sydney II was something that has perplexed many.  Sydney was considered a superior battle ship and there was disbelief that it could be defeated by Kormoran.  Further fueling suspicions of foul play, in an attempt to maintain the morale of the nation, the Royal Australian Navy and the Government supplied very little information regarding the sinking to the public.

Perth Mint Australia’s commemorative coin is a high quality tribute to the HMAS Sydney II and one that not only collectors are sure to treasure.

Image courtesty of Perth Mint Australia

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The second denomination of pre decimal Australian silver coins is the sixpence.  Besides the penny, this is the pre decimal coin I am most familiar with.  It’s the one that sometimes turned up under my grandmother’s sofa cushions, in the bottom of her drawers or in the little boxes of bits and pieces I loved searching through as a child.

Perhaps interconnected with its extensive usage in its day, the sixpence is now one of the most widely collected Australian silver coins.  Not only does it appear more often for sale, it is generally one of the more affordable coins for collectors to acquire.

This coin was issued in Australia between 1910 and 1963.  It too saw the reigns of Kings Edward VII, George V, George VI and Queen Elizabeth II with each of their portraits appearing on the obverse at various periods.

Unlike many Australian coins, the reverse of the sixpence presented the Australian Coat of Arms for its entire circulation.

Similarly to the smallest Australian silver coin - the threepence - the sixpence was manufactured at a variety of mints around the world.  From 1910 to 1914 the coin was exclusively produced in London.  Then in 1915 the Birmingham Mint joined the process.  Production was moved to Melbourne Mint in 1916 where the Australian sixpence was exclusively minted until 1920.  As with the three pence, the sixpence was also struck at Sydney Mint from 1921 to 1926.  From 1927 Melbourne Mint again took over sole production.  The exceptions to this were during WWII, when some coins were produced in the USA (San Diego and Denver Mints) and again in 1951 during Australia’s “boom” years where some sixpence were struck at the London Mint.

Some sixpence carry distinguishing marks on their reverse from the mint they were struck:  an “M” for those minted in Melbourne from 1916 to 1920; “S” for those minted in San Diego from 1942 - 1944; “D” for those minted in Denver in 1942 and 1943; and “PL” for those minted in London in 1951 (see the picutre above).

As with other Australian silver coins the silver content of the sixpence was reduced in 1946 from 92.5% to 50% in order to provide one of the means for the government to pay off some of the WWII debt.

The quality of the sixpence is generally better than the three pence.  Because of its larger size, the dies for producing the sixpence were not as difficult to make and maintain.  However, the quality of the coin did deteriorate during the war as costs were cut in the production process.

As a new collector of Australian silver coins the sixpence might be the ideal choice to start with.  It is reasonably common, good quality coins are available and the price is generally not out of reach.  Why not start your sixpence hunt today?

Photo:  Image:Australian 1951 sixpence.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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