Shilling (Australian)

Not to be confused with the Austrian Schilling.

The Australian Shilling was a type of silver coinage of the Commonwealth of Australia prior to decimalisation. The Australian shilling was derived from the British pre-decimal sterling pound system (the British shilling) and was issued following the passing of the Australian Coinage Act of 1909, which established Australia's first formal currency system. The shilling was part of Australia's silver coinage, which included the two-shilling (florin), the sixpence and the threepence.. The coin was minted from 1910 until 1963, excluding 1923, 1929, 1930, 1932, 1938, 1947, 1949 and 1951. During this period there were no large-scale changes to Australia's silver coinage, however there were a number of changes to the design of the shilling. The most significant modification to the design of the Australian shilling was the change in its reverse design, which occurred in 1938 when the design was altered from the Australian Coat of Arms (1910-1936) to a Merino ram’s head (1938-1963).

In accordance with the transition towards the decimalisation of Australia’s currency, the shilling was no longer issued after 1963 along with other silver coins such as the sixpence, and two-shilling coins. On the 14th of February 1966 these Australian silver coins become obsolete as they were no longer considered lawful currency. After decimalisation on 14 February 1966, it was equal to 10 cents.

During World War II, between 1942–1944, shilling production was supplemented by coinage produced at the San Francisco branch of the United States Mint, which bear a small S below the ram's head.

History

The Australian shilling was first released in 1910 as part of the implementation of the Australian Coinage Act of 1909, along with other silver coins, such as the two-shilling, sixpence, threepence (all with the head of Edward VII printed on the obverse).

Pre-decimalisation

Before the Federation of Australia in 1901, British shillings were shipped by the British Empire across the world, to serve as a universal currency for the Empire. Between 10 February 1825 and 10 June 1836, the British Royal Mint shipped silver coins worth 166,000 pounds to Australia. However, following Australia’s Federation, the country decided to establish its own currency system. After Australia’s Coinage Act of 1909, the first Australian shillings were struck in Britain and India, at the Heaton Mint in Birmingham and the Calcutta Mint in India respectively, as part of the British Royal Mint system. In 1916, the first Australian coins to be struck in Australia were silver coins, including shillings which were produced by the Melbourne Mint.

Over the next 50 years, there were minimal changes to Australian silver coinage, however there were specific design changes that occurred as a result of changes in the Monarchy and periods of war.

Transition to decimalisation

In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s Australia began to prepare for the conversion of its currency to the decimal system that would be described as “C-Day” on Monday 14th of February 1966. In preparation for “C-Day” the Australian government concluded that no sixpence, one shilling or two-shilling were to be issued after 1963 and from “C-Day” onwards, Australia’s pre-decimal coinage became obsolete.

Types

There are a number of different types of Australian shillings, as a result of changes in the obverse and reverse design that occurred between 1909 and 1963 alongside changes in their alloy makeup.

Mintmark

When shillings were first released in 1910, the obverse side of the coin beared the likeness of King Edward VII and had mintmarks of “H” and “I” since they were produced at either Heaton Mint or Calcutta Mint respectively. When Australian coins began to be struck at the Melbourne Mint, some shillings bore the Melbourne mintmark under the date

Designs

There were two distinctly designs for the reverse side of the Australian shilling, the first depicting the 1908 Australian Coat of Arms (used 1910-1936). This was Australia’s first design of the Coat of Arms and was granted by Royal Warrant from King Edward VII. The Coat of Arms on the shilling displayed a shield at the centre which was adorned with the cross of St George, while 5 six-pointed stars are dotted along the inside of the cross. Six smaller shields called escutcheons are located around the outer rim of the central shield. Above the shield is the seven-pointed star, symbolising the Federation.

The second design for the reverse side of the Australian shilling depicts the Merino Ram, which was designed by George Kruger Gray. Kruger Gray’s initials appear as KG, on each coin containing his design. This design of the Merino Ram is based on the grand champion Merino ram at the 37th Annual Sydney Sheep Show in June 1932. The ram’s head and horn placement was considered to be so correct, that it was decided that his visage would be placed on the reverse design of the Australian shilling, six years later in 1938. This ram, dubbed Uardry 0.1, was also depicted on the 50-cent coin of 1991.

According to the Royal Australian Mint, “in 1936, Edward VIII abdicated and, as a consequence, no British or Australian coins bearing his portrait were released”. However, there are coins that are extremely rare using the reverse intended for Edward VIII’s coinage and bearing his image on the obverse that are dated 1937.

When George VI ascended to the throne, the coins struck in his reign (1938-1952) were similar to those designed for the coins of Edward VIII, as the reverse design (designed by Thomas Humphrey Paget) had changed to a Merino Ram’s head, instead of the previous Australian Coat of Arms. Paget’s new design for George VI’s coinage displayed the monarch’s portrait facing in the same direction as his father, since “By tradition, each new monarch faced a different way on the portrait of his or her coinage” to their predecessor. However, George VI’s portrait for his coinage faced the same way as his father’s, as his brother Edward VIII’s portrait was meant to face the opposite direction to their father’s portrait. After the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the first coins struck with her image were issued in 1953, with the same reverse design as the coins issued in the reign of her father, George VI.

Alloy Composition

The Australian Coinage Act of 1909 in accordance with the Commonwealth required that silver coins (including shillings) be made of “standard” silver, which at the time was “defined as a mixture thirty-seven parts of fine silver with three parts of alloy”.

However, after the Second World War, the rising price of silver meant that the silver content of Australian coins was close to meeting the face value of the coin itself and therefore Australia decided to change the silver content of its coins to an alloy with only 50% silver. In comparison, Australia’s current "silver" coins are not made of silver.

Image		Years		Technical parameters				Description / Legend / Designer
Obverse	Reverse	From	To	Diameter	Thickness	Mass	Composition	Edge	Obverse	Reverse
		1910	1910	23.5 mm		5.65 g	92.5% silver, 7.5% copper	Reeded	Edward VII EDWARDVS VII D:G: BRITT. OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP: by George William de Saulles	1908 coat of arms of Australia (with ADVANCE AUSTRALIA on ribbon) ONE SHILLING by W.H.J. Blakemore
		1911	1936						George V GEORGIVS V D.G.BRITT: OMN: REX F.D.IND:IMP: by Bertram Mackennal
		1938	1944						George VI GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX: F:D:IND:IMP. by Thomas Hugh Paget	Merino Sheep / Commonwealth Star AUSTRALIA SHILLING by George Kruger Gray
		1946	1948				50.0% silver, 40% copper, 5% nickel, 5% zinc
		1950	1952						George VI GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX FIDEI DEF. by Thomas Hugh Paget
		1953	1954						Elizabeth II + ELIZABETH.II.DEI.GRATIA.REGINA by Mary Gillick
		1955	1963						Elizabeth II + ELIZABETH.II.DEI.GRATIA.REGINA.F:D: by Mary Gillick
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table.

Relation to the British Shilling

When Australian shillings were introduced, all coins were to be produced the same size and alloy content as their British counterparts, with the obverse originally matching the British coinage which displayed the king without a crown atop his head. However, this obverse design eventually changed as Edward VII was presented with a crown, whilst the reverse design was distinctly Australian, depicting the Australian coat of arms

Both British and Australian shillings bore the letters “F:D” representing the phrase Defender of the Faith, which is a title held by the English monarch, who is also the supreme governor of the Church of England. The title was given to the English monarchy in 1521, by Pope Leo X who granted King Henry VIII the title as a result of his criticism of Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer. However, the title was revoked in 1530 after King Henry broke from the Vatican and founded the Church of England. In 1944, the English Parliament bestowed the title on Henry VII, which continued to be bestowed upon English monarchs after his reign . There was controversy surrounding the first shillings issued for Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, since these coins did not bear the “F:D” inscription on the obverse design. This decision was met by public outcry especially from church leaders. Ultimately, in 1995 the letters “F:D” were added to the obverse design of shillings and was added to most Australian coin denominations in 1956 .

Mintmarks

• H : Birmingham
• M : Melbourne
• S : San Francisco
• star : Sydney
• dot (before shilling) : Perth

Production

Before the advent of the Australian shilling, Australia’s currency was produced by branches of the British Royal Mint in Sydney (opened in 1855), Melbourne (opened in 1872) and Perth (opened in 1899). The Royal Australian Mint never issued Australian shillings or any other form of pre-decimal currency, since it began to produce Australian coinage two years after the ceasing of shilling production and only produced coins in preparation for the transition to decimal currency.

The Australian shilling was produced both in Australia and overseas at different periods. From 1910 to 1915, shillings were struck at Heaton Mint in Birmingham and Calcutta Mint in India, however shillings began to be produced in Melbourne in 1916. Between 1916 and 1936, the Sydney and Melbourne Mints produced the majority of Australia’s shillings. underwent manufacturing shortages during the Second World War, which required Australia to allow the production of specific coinage (primarily silver coinage) at United States (US) mints in San Francisco and Denver. Shillings and florins were produced at the San Francisco Mint, while threepences and sixpences were struck at both the San Francisco and Denver Mint. These coins that were struck in the US mints exhibit mintmarks, “S” and “D” respectively.

Reference List

• Bruce, Colin R.; Thomas Michael (2005). 2006 Standard Catalog of World Coins (1901–present). KP Books. p. 69. ISBN 0-87349-987-5.
• Shillings article on Cruzis Coins
• Harper Ian; Slizys, Nerida (1996). "Measuring Seignoirage in Australia". Economic Papers: A journal of applied economics and policy. 15 (2): 20–21.
• Holland, Paul (2005). "Perth Mint Proof Coins 1955-1963". Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia. 16: 3–45.
• Saxton, Jon (2003). "The 1925 shilling". Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia. 14: 32–39.
• Johnston, Kate (30 December 2021). "An interview with Education Visitors Service at the Royal Australian Mint" (Interview). Interviewed by Duncan Eddy. Canberra: Education Visitor Services, The Royal Australian Mint.
• "The Shilling Ram" (PDF). Merino NSW. Merino NSW. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
• "Why do we have the letters 'FD' on our coins". History Extra. BBC History Revealed.
• Reserve Bank of Australia (2021). A New Currency (Report). Reserve Bank of Australia. Retrieved December 2021. {{cite report}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
• Royal Australian Mint (2021). Commonwealth Coinage (Report). Royal Australian Mint. {{cite report}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
• Royal Australian Mint (2021). Development of Pre-Decimal Coins (Report). Royal Australian Mint. {{cite report}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
• Royal Australian Mint (2021). The Circulating Coins of Queen Elizabeth II (Report). Royal Australian Mint. {{cite report}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
• Royal Australian Mint (2021). The End of Shillings and Pence (Report). Royal Australian Mint. {{cite report}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
• Royal Australian Mint (2021). The Sterling Age (Report). Royal Australian Mint. {{cite report}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
• Royal Australian Mint (2017). Australian Coin History (Report). Royal Australian Mint. {{cite report}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
• Royal Australian Mint (2021). Before decimal currency - what did Australia use (Report). Royal Australian Mint. {{cite report}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

External links

• Coins from Australia / Coin Type: Shilling | Online Coin Club
• Shilling | Blue Sheet