Summary

Medal issued in 1913 to commemorate the centenary of Australian coinage.
English coins arrived in Australia with the First Fleet in 1788. In 1800 a Government proclamation allowed selected coinage of India, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands to also become legal tender. The first truly Australian coins were the Holey Dollars and Dumps of 1813, which were produced by cutting the centres from Spanish Dollars. The outer rings were then overstamped as five shilling coins (Holey Dollars) and the inner portions overstamped as 15 pence coins (Dumps). After 1825 English currency became the official currency of the Australian colonies. Following Federation in 1901, responsibility for currency, coinage and legal tender passed to the new Commonwealth Government.
Struck by Alfred Chitty to commemorate the issue of Holey Dollar and Dump.
Mint: Stokes & Sons.

Obverse Description

TO COMMEMORATE THE CENTENARY OF AUSTRALIA'S FIRST COINAGE. / A.C. / S. & S . ; Kangaroo & Emu between Coat of Arms, below a banner containing AUSTRALIA

Reverse Description

. HOLEY DOLLAR & DUMP . / FIRST AUSTRALIAN COINAGE /WAS / ISSUED BY /GOVERNOR / MACQUARIE / 1813

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

English coins arrived in Australia with the First Fleet in 1788. In 1800 a Government proclamation allowed selected coinage of India, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands to also become legal tender. The first truly Australian coins were the Holey Dollars and Dumps of 1813, which were produced by cutting the centres from Spanish Dollars. The outer rings were then overstamped as five shilling coins (Holey Dollars) and the inner portions overstamped as 15 pence coins (Dumps). After 1825 English currency became the official currency of the Australian colonies. Following Federation in 1901, responsibility for currency, coinage and legal tender passed to the new Commonwealth Government.

References:
Downie's website, http://www.downies.com/australian_coins.htm, viewed 26/2/2004.

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