Australia 1961(p) half penny
This specimen was lot 71539 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2023), where it sold for $312. The catalog description[1] noted, "AUSTRALIA. 1/2 Penny, 1961-(.). Perth Mint. Elizabeth II. NGC PROOF-65 Red. KM-61. A beautiful and elusive proof issue, this wonderful piece delivers a rich strike and strong details throughout." The type was issued 1955-64 from Melbourne and Perth. The dot after the word "PENNY" marks this as a Perth product. An earlier type, struck 1953-54, featured a slightly different obverse legend, "ELIZABETH·II·DEI·GRATIA·REGINA." Sterling coinage ceased after 1964 and in 1966, the Australian dollar was introduced.
Recorded mintage: 20,183,000 plus 1,040 proofs.
Specification: 5.9 g, bronze, 25.4 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-61.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, May 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Featuring the Richard Elliott Collection of Hooknecks, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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