Australia 1931 half penny

Heritage sale 3032, lot 24097

photo courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries

This specimen was lot 24097 in Heritage sale 3032 (Chicago, April 2014), where it sold for $1,233.75. The catalog description^[1] noted, "George V Halfpenny 1931-(M), Melbourne mint, MS65 Brown NGC. The strike is superb, and the surfaces are free of notable flaws, with the exception of very minor obverse rim bumps. The grade denotes MS65 Brown, but quite a bit of mint-red color remains on the obverse, with touches on the reverse." The SCWC does not record why so few halfpennies were struck at Melbourne in 1930-31 but even the common dates are costly in nice condition. The type was issued 1911-36.

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.

Recorded mintage: 370,000 plus proofs.

Specifications: 5.67 g, bronze, 25.5 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM 22.

Sources:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• McDonald, Greg, The Pocket Guide to Australian Coins and Banknotes, 23rd ed., Lavington, Australia, 2017.
• ^[1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3032, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2014.

Link to:

• 1925 half penny
• 1930 penny
• 1931-M sovereign
• 1931-P sovereign
• 1934 ½ penny
• Coins and currency dated 1931
• return to Australia