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Mary Gillick portrait

This collection comprises the six standard circulating pre-decimal coinage denominations from 1953 to 1964, representing the first coins in the long reign of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II.

Notable for portraying a queen without a crown, Elizabeth II's first portrait was designed by Mary Gillick and chosen from an array of effigies submitted in a competition conducted by the Royal Mint Advisory Committee. Gillick's stylised portrayal of a youthful and optimistic monarch announced a new Elizabethan era following the Second World War. The iconic effigy was struck on each coinage denomination from the halfpenny to the florin from 1953 until 1964 when it made way for Australia's new decimal currency.

01 gillick portrait 1953 1964 australian coin set StraightOn

Pre-decimal designs

This six-coin set comprises reverse designs portraying:

Halfpenny A kangaroo with a six-pointed star and the inscription 'AUSTRALIA 1959 HALF PENNY'.
Penny A kangaroo with a six-pointed star and the inscription 'AUSTRALIA 1964 PENNY'.
Sixpence The Australian coat of arms featuring a kangaroo and an emu standing either side of a shield representing the six states. Also included is the inscription 'SIXPENCE 1963'.
Threepence A sheaf of wheat with three stems tied in a ribbon with the inscription '1962 THREE PENCE' split to either side of the stems. Above the design is the word 'AUSTRALIA'.
Shilling A merino ram as a tribute to the wool industry, two stars and the inscription 'AUSTRALIA SHILLING 1961'.
Florin The Australian coat of arms featuring a kangaroo and an emu standing either side of a shield representing the six states. Also included is the inscription 'FLORIN 1960 AUSTRALIA'.

 

Presentation packaging

This highly sought-after collection is housed in an archival blister and presented within a colourful informative presentation pack.

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