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Australian Florins

1933 Australian Silver Florin

Sterling Silver
Australia was in the grip of the Great Depression in 1933, as a direct result of this the Reserve Bank of Australia did not require as many coins to be released in circulation. This lead to the 1933 florin to being one of scarcest of the series, and extremely difficult, not to mention expensive, to obtain in higher grades.

Mintage
488,000

The 1933 florin is normally found to be weakly struck, lacking detail in the moustache and sometimes missing forth set of pearls.
The highest point on the obverse is the crown band where the centre diamond, pearls and rubies can be found. Wear starts at the centre diamond and spreads out from here consuming the pearls and rubies. This is why coin dealers often use the term 8 pearls or a lesser number to describe the condition of the obverse of George V coins with a crowned effigy. The lower the condition of a coin, the less the number of visible pearls.
When looking at the obverse of these coins a collector should look at:
  • the centre diamond of the crown band;
  • the end of the moustache:
  • the top of the ear;
  • nicks and dents around the rim;
  • scratches or other defects on the surface;
  • a weak strike shows in the rim denticles and crown pattern and in the collar just under the chin, also the orb on the crown flattens out with die wear.

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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