Australia 1955(m) penny
The first specimen was lot 23547 in Heritage sale 3015 (Long Beach, September 2011), where it sold for $575. The catalog description[1] noted, "Elizabeth II Penny 1955(M), PF65 RB NGC, a choice example with just a hint of light toning." The second specimen was part of lot 1071 in Ponterio sale 173 (New York, January 2013), where it sold for $1,998. The catalog description[2] noted, "AUSTRALIA. 4 Piece Proof Set, 1955. Melbourne Mint. KM-Ps16. Mintage of only 1,200 sets. 4 pieces in set. All are certified, the Penny is PCGS PROOF-65 RD Secure Holder, the 3 Pence is NGC PROOF-66, and the 6 Pence and Shilling are both NGC PROOF-67." The regular issue from Melbourne is common but the proofs are not. Proofs from the Perth mint are even rarer.
Sterling coinage was struck for several countries besides Great Britain, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Southern Rhodesia, Fiji and New Guinea. All converted to decimal coinage in the 1960's. Australia issued large size bronze pennies 1911-64.
Recorded mintage: 6,336,000 plus 1,200 proofs.
Specification: bronze, 30.5 mm diameter, plain edge, designed by Mary Gillick and George Kruger-Gray.
Catalog reference: KM 56.
- McDonald, Greg, The Pocket Guide to Australian Coins and Banknotes, 23rd ed., Lavington, Australia, 2017.
- Pitt, Michael, Renniks Australian Coin and Banknote Values, 32nd Edition, Matraville, New South Wales, Australia: Renniks Publications, 2023.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach and Warren Tucker, Heritage World Coin Auction 3015, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2011.
- [2]Ponterio, Richard, Ponterio Sale 173: The January NYINC 2013 Auction, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2012.
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