Item NU 3220 Coin - 15 Pence, Dump, New South Wales, Australia, 1813

Summary

Australia New South Wales Sydney
Dump, 15 Pence 1813
Ref. Mira dies A/1

In 1813 Governor Lachlan Macquarie overcame an acute shortage of currency by arranging for the purchase of Spanish silver dollars, having the centres punched out and therein creating two new coins - the 'Holey Dollar' (valued at five shillings) and the 'Dump' (valued at one shilling and three pence). The work was carried out by William Hanshall, a convict transported for forgery.

Production continued into 1814 but no new dies for that date were cut.

Physical Description

A circular silver coin (19 mm diameter with milled edge) bearing on the obverse a crown with the words around above, NEW SOUTH WALES; and the date below, 1813. The reverse features the denomination FIFTEEN PENCE in two lines seperated by the engraver's initial H

Obverse Description

At centre a crown, around above, NEW SOUTH WALES; below, 1813. The cross on top of the crown is symetrical and points between the letters TH of SOUTH.

Reverse Description

Legend in two lines; FIFTEEN / PENCE with artist's initial, a tiny letter H between. The words are 4.5 mm apart

Edge Description

milled