1927 Australian Florin Parliament House (Canberra)

The First Australian Commemorative Coin

In 1927 though - for the first time - an Australian circulating commemorative coin was issued. This coin was struck to commemorate the opening of the new Parliament House in Canberra in 1927, hence it is known as the Parliament House Florin or the Canberra Florin. Two million coins were made, and were first were issued on 09 May 1927. The coins were extensively saved by people at the time and are today much more available than the regular florin issue of 1927.

Apart from being the first Australian commemorative coin, the Canberra Florin is also remarkable for being the only Australian coin having a shortened version of the crowned effigy of King George V by Bertram Mackennal.

The Australian Florin is a silver coin which was used in the Commonwealth of Australia prior to decimalisation. It has the same dimensions and composition as the British pre-decimal florin, from which it is derived (for a time, the coins circulated in parallel and were interchangeable in Australia - but not in the United Kingdom). A Florin is equal to two shillings, or 24 pence, or one tenth of a pound.

The reverse of the regular circulating Australian florin coins of the time features the 1908 Coat of Arms.

• Obverse: The obverse has a shortened version of the crowned effigy of King George V, facing left (his portrait by Sir Edgar Bertram Mackennal); the King is wearing the Imperial Crown and the ermine Robe of State.
  
  The artist's initials are not displayed.
  
  Around, the monarch's legend GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:. Translated from Latin: George the Fifth, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.

• Reverse:  The reverse design depicts Parliament House in Canberra (hence the popular name for the coin, "The Canberra Florin") within an oval frame set above crossed sceptres. Superimposed on the sceptres is a raised oval with the date 1927 incuse.
  
  Around above, PARLIAMENT · HOUSE · AUSTRALIA around below, the value and denomination · ONE · FLORIN ·.
  
  The designer's initials K· G· (for [George] Kruger Gray) are divided by the ornament beneath the date.

Specifications