Crown (Australian coin) facts for kids
| Australia | |
| Value | Five shillings |
|---|---|
| Mass | 28.28 g |
| Diameter | 38.5 mm |
| Edge | Milled |
| Composition | 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper |
| Years of minting | 1937-1938 |
| Obverse | |
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| Design | Head of George VI |
| Designer | Thomas H. Paget |
| Reverse | |
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| Designer | George Kruger Gray |
The Australian Crown was a special coin used in Australia. It was made before Australia changed to decimal currency in 1966. This means money was counted in shillings and pounds, not dollars and cents. The Crown coin was worth five shillings.
This coin was only made for two years: 1937 and 1938. It was similar in size and weight to the British Crown coin. Both Australian Crown coins were made from a mix of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper.
Contents
What Was the Australian Crown?
The Australian Crown was a large silver coin. It was one of the biggest coins used in Australia at the time. Its value of five shillings was quite a lot of money back then. It was designed to be a special coin, not for everyday use.
Why Was It Made?
The Crown coin was first planned to celebrate King Edward VIII becoming king. But King Edward VIII decided to give up his throne. So, the coin was then made to celebrate King George VI becoming king instead. It was meant to be a special souvenir.
Why Did It Stop Being Made?
Even though it was a special coin, the Australian Crown did not become very popular. People did not use it much in their daily shopping. Because of this, the government decided to stop making the coin. Its production ended after only two years.
How Rare Are They Today?
The Australian Crown coins are now collector's items. More coins were made in 1937 than in 1938. About 1,008,000 Crowns were made in 1937. But only 101,600 were made in 1938. This makes the 1938 coin much rarer and more valuable today.
For example, a 1937 Crown in good condition might be worth about $35. A 1938 Crown in the same condition could be worth around $135. This shows how much value rarity can add to a coin.
