Australian Florins

1927 Australian Silver Florin

Sterling Silver
1927 saw the production of 2 different florins, the normal issue as seen here and Australia's first commemorative coin, the 1927 Parliament House Florin.
Whilst the commemorative issue is relatively common and available in higher grades, the normal issue is quite scarce, not to mention expensive to obtain in better grades.
The reason is quite simple, the Australian obsession with hoarding commemorative's meant that most of the Parliament House coins were kept whilst the normal issue was largely ignored and allowed to circulate becoming worn with many being destroyed during the change to 50% silver coinage in 1946.


Image Courtesy of Downies-Australian Coin Auctions
Mintage
1,420,000

Points to consider when grading the reverse are:
  • the Emu's back feathers;
  • the shoulder and haunches of the kangaroo;
  • the head of the emu;
  • the point of the Federation star;
  • the sharpness of details on the denticles, lettering, scroll and shield;
  • the rim for dents and nicks;
  • A weak strike will show in the grass and the shield, the Emu's back, Advance Australia and the centre top of the shield.


Specifications
Composition: .925 silver
Silver Content: 0.3363 oz
Edge: Reeded
Weight: 11.31 grams
Size: 28.5 mm
Obverse: Sir Edgar Bertram Mackennal
Reverse: W.H.J. Blakemore

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