Sixpence (Australian)

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A sixpence of 1951, with the reverse side on the left

The Australian sixpence circulated from 1910 up until the decimalisation of Australian Currency in 1966. The coins were initially minted in England; however, Australia began to mint their own from the year of 1916 at branches of the Royal Mint in Sydney and Melbourne (Wilson 1945, pp. 557). The coins which made up Australia's pre-decimal currency were identical to British currency in the characteristics of weight and size. The Coinage Act of 1909–1947, authorised the issue of Australian coins in the select denominations, including the sixpence (Wilson 1945, pp. 557). By 1916 all silver denominations, including the sixpence, could be minted at the Royal Mint branch in Melbourne (Pitt 2017, pp. 44). Unique Australian currency was created with decimalisation in 1966.

At the time of the sixpence, Australian lives were 'very English' (Murphy 2016). 'The money ran through nursery rhymes up to Shakespeare; on the land, "a pound for a pound" meant good news for wool growers; two-up schools needed pennies to play; and slang words for the money, zac, traybob, deena, and quid, littered the language' (Murphy 2016).

Origin[]

Crest of Austalia.png

The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901, with the six self-governing colonies joining together.[1]

With the establishment of the Commonwealth in 1901, the Australian currency consisted of gold, silver and bronze coins from the United Kingdom.[2] Initially the sixpence was identical to that of the British in "weight and fineness".[3] The Coinage Act of 1909 made Australian sixpence, florin, shilling, threepence, penny and half-penny coins legal tender.[4]

The 1909 Act, required that batches of silver coins should be 925 fine, meaning that in every 1000 coins, 925 should be silver and the rest copper alloy.[5]

On 1 March 1910 R.M.S Otranto arrived in Sydney carrying the initial shipment of Australian Commonwealth Silver shillings from the Royal Mint, London[6] Other coins, including sixpence, arrived later in the year, completing the set of new Australian silver currency. The first Australian coins that were shipped bore the bust of Edward VII, whom had died before the coins reached Australia.[7]

The origin of the word sixpence is derived from saxpence[8] Another term for the sixpence is "zac", which was first recorded in Australian English in the 1890s. It was also used to mean "a trifling sum of money".[9] Although the sixpence is no longer in use within Australia, the word "zac" is still used within Australia with fond memories.[10]

Designs[]

Pre decimal currency.jpg

It is a tradition that the direction in which the British Monarchs face on coins changes with each reign(Hanley and James 1966, pp. 86). This is believed to have begun with Charles II, who refused to have his portrait painted the same way as Oliver Cromwell (McDonald 1983, pp. 47), his way to turn his back towards the man who beheaded his father (McDonald 1983, pp. 47).

The design of the Australian sixpence was not changed for 50 years, bearing a record as the coin which was least changed (Hanley and James 1966, pp. 97). The final sixpence minted in 1963 in Melbourne had the same reverse as the first ever coin struck in 1910 in London (Hanley and James 1966, pp. 97).

1910: The obverse of the sixpence in circulation during 1910 had Edward VII crowned and robed facing the right, and the Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia on the reverse, as authorised by the Royal Warrant (Pitt 2017, pp. 44). William DeSaulles, the Chief Engraver at the Royal mint, designed the obverse of the Edward VII sixpence (Lane 2008, pp. 11). DeSaulles initials DES appear at the base of the 1910 sixpence (Hanley and James 1966, pp. 86).

1911-1936: The coins arrived in Australia after King Edward VII died. When the King died in 1910, George V ascended the throne. The coins minted after 1911, had George V crowned and facing left on the obverse (Pitt 2017, pp. 44).

1938-1952: George VI came to the throne on 10 December 1936, after Edward VIII's abdication (Pitt 2017, pp. 44). The Royal Mints impressed nature associated with Coin designer, Thomas High Paget's job on the 1935 Prince of Wales commemorative medal, led Paget to be asked to join the competition for the new coins for Lane|2008|pp=14}}. Paget's design was successful in being picked, however was never used or issued after [[Edward VIII's abdication. Paget created a new designed with was used for the commemoration of Lane|2008|pp=14}}. The coin pictured him looking to the left with no crown. The only thing that changed with the [[George VI coin was the writing on the obverse. Between 1938-1948 and 1950–1952, different words are depicted on the coins, this can be seen in more detail below.

1953: Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne on the death of her father, King George VI in February 1952. The Australian commonwealth coinage designs changed to picture a portrait of the Queen on the obverse. The reverse remained the same. (Pitt 2017, pp. 44). Similarly, to George VI coin, the writing depicted on the coin for Queen Elizabeth II changed between 1953-1954 and 1955–1963. More detail can be seen below.

Ultimately, out of all pre-decimal coinage, the sixpence is the only coin whose reverse was not altered. The reverse consisted of a coat of arms approved by Edward VII in the year 1908 (Hanley and James 1966, pp. 86). The main feature of the arms was a shield derived from the Australian Coat of arms, which was supported by a kangaroo and an emu and a seven-pointed star as the crest, as well as the words 'Advance Australia' on the scroll underneath (Hanley and James 1966, pp. 86). This is considered surprising as the 1908 Coat of Arms Symbol was changed in 1912 within Australia, and as such was obsolete for most of the pre-decimal currency period (Online Coin Club 2015). The new version of the Coat of Arms did not appear in the correct form until the 1966 50 cent piece (McDonald 1983, pp. 47).

The Commonwealth Treasury mintage figures show that in 1951 13,760,000 sixpences were issued in 1951 (Hanley and James 1966, pp. 9)These coins were produced at the Melbourne Mint; however examination with a magnifying glass shows that there is an engraving of the letters PL, which is a mintmark demonstrating that the coin was struck at the Royal Mint in London (Hanley and James 1966, pp. 9)

Value[]

The 1918 sixpence is the rarest and most valuable which is considered to be worth $40AUD in E F (extremely fine) condition and $200 AUD in an uncirculated condition.[when?](Hanley and James 1966, pp. 97)

The 1916, 1917, 1912, 1920, 1914 and 1911 sixpences are also rare, and 1935 and 1924 coins are scarce (Hanley and James 1966, pp. 97).

Uncirculated: (Hanley and James 1966), refer to and uncirculated coin as one that has a mint-fresh lustre with a clear detail of the heads of the emu and kangaroo. Magnification should also show no blemishes, and the feathers of the emu should show no trace of wear (Hanley and James 1966, pp. 128)

Extremely fine: In terms of an extremely fine coin (Hanley and James 1966), these are ones which show superficial scratches, of the chutes and conveyors of the machines, as well as having a large deal of their mint lustre remaining.

Value of coins.jpg

The sixpence was the most favoured medium of exchange, so that a collector would struggle to obtain all the varieties in good quality, as most were well-used and worn.(McDonald 1983, pp. 69).

Specifications[]

Image Monarch Years Composition Designers
Sixpence image .png King Edward VII 1910 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper Obverse: George W. De Saulles

Reverse: W.H.J. Blakemore |

Obverse of King George.png King George V 1911-36 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper Obverse: Thomas H. Paget

Reverse: W.H.J. Blakemore

Obverse of King George VI.png King George VI 1938-45 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper Obverse: Thomas H. Paget

Reverse: W.H.J. Blakemore

King George VI 1946 - 52 50% silver, 40% copper, 5% zinc, 5% nickel Obverse: Thomas H. Paget

Reverse: W.H.J. Blakemore

Digital Photo Writing World.jpg
Queen Elizabeth II 1953 - 54 50% silver, 40% copper, 5% zinc, 5% nickel Obverse: Mary Gillick

Reverse: W.H.J. Blakemore

Queen Elizabeth II 1955-63 50% silver, 40% copper, 5% zinc, 5% nickel Obverse: Thomas H. Paget

Reverse: W.H.J. Blakemore

These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table.

The decimalisation of Australian currency[]

In the late 1950s the Decimal Currency committee guided that the Australian government begin to consider to replacement of imperial systems with decimal currency (Reserve Bank Australia 2020). The introduction of a decimal currency would simplify calculations, and increase financial efficiency, eventuating in a positive economic outcome for Australia (Reserve Bank Australia 2020).

Gerard McManus stated in Management Today, February 2014, "After almost 50 years, in terms of implementation of a government program, decimalisation remains arguably one of the most seamless and best executed reforms in Australia's history" (National Museum Australia 2020).

The decimalisation of Australia's currency advanced Australia's economic independence and promoted Australian symbols (Frame 2006).

Mintmarks[]

  • D : Denver
  • M : Melbourne
  • PL : London
  • S : San Francisco

References[]

  1. ^ (Hanley and James 1966, pp. 85)
  2. ^ (Wilson 1997, pp. 557)
  3. ^ (Wilson 1997, pp. 557)
  4. ^ (Wilson 1997, pp. 557)
  5. ^ (Hanley and James 1966, pp. 85)
  6. ^ (Pitt 2017, pp. 44)
  7. ^ (Hanley and James 1966, pp. 86)
  8. ^ (Australian National University 2017)
  9. ^ (Australian National University, 2017)
  10. ^ (Australian National University 2017)

Sources[]

  • Carson, R.A.G 1963, Coins of the World, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, USA.
  • Cuhaj, G 2015, Standard Catalogue of World coins: 1801-1900, Krause Publications, United States.
  • Frame, T 2006, Dollars helped us grow: [1 All-round Country Edition], Canberra, A.C.T.
  • Hanley, T & James, B 1966, Collecting Australian Coins, The K. G. Murray Publishing Company, Sydney, NSW.
  • Lane, R. D 2008, Encyclopedia Small Silver Coins, Roger deWardt Lane, United States.
  • McDonald, G 1983, Rigby's Australian Coin and Banknote Guide, Rigby, United States
  • McDonald, G 1983, Rigby’s Australian Coin and banknote Guide, Rigby Publisher, Australia.
  • Meanings and origins of Australian words and idioms, Australian National University, viewed 2 November 2020, https://slll.cass.anu.edu.au/centres/andc/meanings-origins/z
  • Michael, T 2020, Standard Catalog of World Coins 2001-Date, Krause Publications, United States.
  • Murphy, D 2016, When our pounds changed to dollars, Melbourne, Vic.
  • National Museum Australia, Decimal Currency, viewed on 1 October, https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/decimal-currency
  • Online Coin Club, Sixpence 1921 - Coin from Australia – detailed information, viewed on 1 October, https://onlinecoin.club/Coins/Country/Australia/Sixpence_1921/
  • Pitt, M 2017, Renniks Australian Coin and Banknote Values 29th Ed: The Leading Guide for Australian Coin and Banknote Values, Renniks Publications Pty, Limited, Australia.
  • Rabbit, M 1993, The Coin Book: Australian History Through Coins, Hale & Iremonger, Australia.
  • Rees, P 2017, Inside the vault: the history and art of Australian coinage, NewSouth Publishing, Australia.
  • Reserve Bank of Australia, A New Currency, viewed on 1 October, https://museum.rba.gov.au/exhibitions/the-decimal-revolution/a-new-currency/
  • TDK, Australian Sixpence 1910-1936, viewed on 1 October, http://www.tdkapdc.com.au/australian-sixpence-1910-to-1936.html
  • Wilson, R 1947, Official Year Book of the Commonwealth of Australia No. 37 - 1946 and 1947, Aust. Bureau of Statistics, Australia.

External links[]

Preceded by
Sixpence (British) 		Sixpence
1910–1966 		Succeeded by
Five cent coin (Australian)
Retrieved from ""