Main

Australian Florins

1943 Australian Silver Florin

Sterling Silver
In 1943, Australia was at war. The Japanese were on our doorstep and the Americans were already here (over-sexed, over-paid and over-here), in fact the well paid American servicemen spent up so much that they literally broke our banks supply of small change. The Sydney Mint had closed its doors in 1926, having gone broke making money and the Perth and Melbourne Mints could not cope with the quotas required.

Mintage
12,562,000
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.

Points to consider when grading the obverse are:
  • the King's eyebrow;
  • the top of the ear;
  • definition in the hair;
  • the sharpness of details on the denticles and lettering;
  • the rim for dents and nicks;
  • A weak strike will show in the hair, ear, eye, mouth and nose.

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