Australian Florins

1940 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.

1940 Australian Silver Florin
Mintage
8,410,000

The coins of George VI face the same way as his father, this is not a break with tradition. It was more correctly an allowance for what might have happened if Edward VIII had coins released bearing his portrait.
Carries the first type of the George VI obverse. This one was used for coins minted between 1938 and 1950.

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

Main