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Australian Shillings

1931 Australian Silver Shilling

Sterling Silver
By 1931 the Melbourne branch mint was the only mint manufacturing shillings, the demise of the Sydney Mint had come in 1926. The grip of the Great Depression meant that less coins were required and would soon lead to one of the rarest of the shilling series, the 1933 shilling.
The 1931 shilling is readily found and is quite affordable in higher grades.

Mintage
1,000,000

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: 0.1680 oz
Edge: Reeded
Weight: 5.65 grams
Size: 23.5 mm
Obverse: Sir E.B. Mackennal
Reverse: W.H.J. Blakemore

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