Summary

Halfpenny proof coin minted in Melbourne, Australia, 1923.

Physical Description

A bronze coin.

Obverse Description

Crowned and robed bust of George V facing left; around, GEORGIVS V D.G. BRITT: OMN: REX F.D. IND: IMP: ; below bust in small lettering the artist's initials B.M.

Reverse Description

At centre within a circle of beads, the words ONE HALF PENNY in three lines above a plain scroll; around the circle of beads, COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA . 1923 .

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

In 1922 the Sydney Branch of the Royal Mint produced sixpence and halfpenny coins for the Commonwealth using dies supplied from Melbourne. In 1923 the future of the Sydney Mint looked very uncertain (it was eventually closed in 1926) but they did strike 1,113,600 halfpenny pieces that year. However no 1923 dated dies had been supplied their entire issue of this denomination in 1923 bore the date 1922. In July 1923 the Melbourne Mint received an order for one thousand pound of halfpenny coins (480,000 coins) and in September three pairs of dies dated 1923 for the halfpenny denomination were issued from the workshop. One of these was immediately returned for more work. The other two dies cracked early in production so the coin is quite rare. This proof, or specimen strike, was made at the same time as the 1924 proof coins - it was made from the same obverse die and with the third reverse, by then returned from the workshop. Sharples 14 Dec 2005.

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