Summary

Australia
Penny 1955
Proof strike
Mint: Melbourne

The absence of a dot after the word PENNY indicates that this coin was struck at the Melbourne Mint. On this issue reference to the Queen as defender of the faith (F:D:) was returned to the obverse legend after Australian's complained at its omission on the 1953 coinage. This was the first year since 1935 that proof coins were made available directly to collectors.

Physical Description

A bronze coin (30.8 mm diameter with plain edge) featuring a laureate head of Elizabeth II facing right; around, ELIZABETH . II . DEI . GRATIA . REGINA F: D: + The artist's initials M.G. incuse on the bust truncation above the G of GRATIA. The reverse features a kangaroo leaping to the left; around above AUSTRALIA, around below, PENNY; the Federation star is in the field to the left of the kangaroo and the date, 1955 is in the field below its tail. The artist's initials KG are above the tip of the tail.

Obverse Description

Laureate head of Elizabeth II facing right; around, + ELIZABETH . II . DEI . GRATIA . REGINA F: D: The artist's initials M.G. incuse on the bust truncation above the G of GRATIA.

Reverse Description

Kangaroo leaping to the left; around above AUSTRALIA, around below, PENNY; the Federation star is in the field to the left of the kangaroo and the date, 1955 is in the field below its tail. The artist's initials KG are above the tip of the tail.

Edge Description

Plain

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