Summary

Commemorative coin set in case. Five Great Britain farthings, 1914 are set on five star shapes on a map of Australia. They are not adhered to the map.

The set was presented to a Mrs Gouldthorpe 'for valuable assistance' with the Anzac Commemoration 1926.

Physical Description

Black hinged case with blue textile lining. The inner base is blue cloth with silver map and stars. Five British farthings are loose inside the case. An off-white card (now yellowed) with purple printing was inside the case.

Obverse Description

Bare head of the King facing left; below on neck truncation in small letters, B.M. (Bertram MacKennal); around, GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:

Reverse Description

Britannia seated facing right on a rock wearing a helmet and flowing robes; she holds a trident and rests her right hand on a shield which bears the combined crosses of the Union Flag; around above, FARTHING; in exergue, 1914

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

The Anzac remembrance souvenir farthings recall the ways that 'Anzac' was becoming institutionalized as a focus for memorial activity in the years after World War I.

Service records for a 'Gouldthorpe' are not held at the National Archives of Australia, suggesting she may not have had a family member that served, or was from New Zealand. However, large numbers of women were involved in war work, such as fund-raising, the making and distribution of 'comforts' and working in organisations such as the Red Cross.

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