Australian Florins

1938 Australian Silver Florin

Sterling Silver
During George VI reign many changes where made to Australia's coins. In 1938, the Coat of Arms which had graced the previous issues but had been obsolete since 1912 was replaced with a new and more stylized version. The reverse design was in fact originally planned to grace the coronation coins of Edward VIII.
Kruger-Grey made two departures from the official Coat of Arms, one by design , the other was accidental. Australia's Federation Star was replaced with a oversized crown and the Coat of Arms for South Australia which should have been a Piping Shrike showed three stalks of wheat and a rising sun.
No coins where issued for Edward VIII, as he had gone against the tradition of facing opposite to his predecessor and wanted to face to the left to show the part in his hair. His objections lead to a delay in the preparation of dies thus they did not reach Australia before he abdicated.

1938 Australian Silver Florin
Mintage
2,990,000

Points to consider when grading the reverse are:
  • the Emu's back feathers;
  • the shoulder and haunches of the kangaroo;
  • the orb on the crown;
  • the sharpness of details on the denticles, lettering, crown and shield;
  • the rim for dents and nicks;
  • A weak strike will show in the grass and the crown, wattle wreath and the detail of the shield.

Specifications
Composition: .925 silver
Silver Content: 0.3363 oz
Edge: Reeded
Weight: 11.31 grams
Size: 28.5 mm
Obverse: Thomas H Paget
Reverse: George Kruger Gray

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