1946-1947 Australian Florin King George VI

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.

This was the first years that 50% silver was employed for the florin denomination

The reverse of the first type of Australian florin coins featured the 1908 Coat of Arms; it became obsolete almost immediately, since Australia received a new Coat of Arms in 1912. In 1938, this new design superseded it - featuring the new Coat of Arms; the old type of coins remained in circulation.

• Obverse: The obverse of the coin shows the bare (uncrowned) head of King George VI facing left.
  
  Below the neck truncation in small letters, the artist's initials HP (for [Thomas] Humphrey Paget).
  
  Around, the monarch's legend: GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP.. Translated from Latin: George the Sixth, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.

• Reverse:  The reverse features the arms of the Commonwealth of Australia, as authorised by Royal Warrant 19 September 1912 - composed of a shield divided into six parts, each containing a representation of the badge of a State (although that of South Australia is depicted as three sheaves of wheat above a rising sun instead of the authorised Piping Shrike).
  
  The shield is supported by a kangaroo and an emu standing on a grassy mound accompanied by small branches of wattle. Above the shield is a crown instead of the Federation star. Around above, the denomination FLORIN between two seven pointed stars; below, in the exergue, the date curved below which, AUSTRALIA.
  
  The artist's initials K·G (for [George] Kruger Gray) are in the field above the back of the emu.

Specifications

Mintages