Summary
Australia
Threepence 1953
Proof or specimen strike
Mint: Melbourne
This was the first issue of this denomination in the name of Elizabeth II. Reference to her role as Defender of the Faith (F:D: or FIDEI DEF:) in the obverse legend was omitted but after extensive complaint in Australia it was returned on the standard coinage from 1955 (it was first used on the commemorative florin for the Royal visit in 1954). Specimens (sometimes called proofs) were only made for official purposes this year, they were not available directly to collectors.
Physical Description
A silver coin (16 mm diameter with plain edge) featuring a laureate head of Elizabeth II facing right; around, + ELIZABETH . II . DEI . GRATIA . REGINA The artist's initials M.G. incuse on the bust truncation above the G of GRATIA. The reverse features three ears of wheat held by a curved ribbon. Around above, AUSTRALIA; around below devided into two by the stalks of the wheat, THREE PENCE, above, across the middle of the coin the date devided into two by the ears, 1953. The artist's initials tucked into the first and last folds in the ribbon K G.
Obverse Description
Laureate head of Elizabeth II facing right, around, ELIZABETH . II . DEI . GRATIA . REGINA + The artist's initials M.G. incuse on the bust truncation above the G of GRATIA.
Reverse Description
Three ears of wheat held by a curved ribbon. Around above, AUSTRALIA; around below devided into two by the stalks of the wheat, THREE PENCE, above, across the middle of the coin the date devided into two by the ears, 1953. The artist's initials tucked into the first and last folds in the ribbon K G.
Edge Description
Plain
More Information
-
Collecting Areas
-
Date Issued
1953 AD
-
Issued By
-
Mint
-
Artist
Mary Gillick OBE
The artist's initials M.G. incuse on the bust truncation above the G of GRATIA. -
Artist
-
Inscriptions
Obverse: + ELIZABETH . II . DEI . GRATIA . REGINA M.G. Reverse: THREE PENCE 1953 AUSTRALIA K G
-
Denomination
-
Series
-
Material
Silver
-
Axis
12
-
Classification
-
Category
-
Discipline
-
Type of item
-
Dimensions
16 mm (Outside Diameter), 1.43 g (Weight)
Weighed on electronic scales
-
Shape
Round
-
References
[Article] Pearce, Murray. 1987. Royal Titles and Australian Coins: the "Defender of the Faith" Controvercy of 1953. Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia. 3: 12-17.