Coins of the Australian pound

Federation in 1901 gave the Commonwealth a constitutional power to issue coins and removed this power from the States. However, British coins continued in use until 1910, when Australian silver coins were introduced. These included florins, shillings, sixpences and threepences. They had a portrait of King Edward VII on one side. Australian pennies and half-pennies were introduced into circulation the following year. In 1931 gold sovereigns stopped being minted in Australia. A crown or five-shilling coin was minted in 1937 and 1938.

In 1898 the British government allowed two colonies, New South Wales and Victoria, to mint silver and bronze coins at their mints in Sydney and Melbourne respectively.

In 1946, due to costs incurred during World War II, the silver content of the coins was reduced from 0.925 to 0.500 of the coin weight, which lasted until decimalisation on 14 February 1966. One coin highly sought-after by collectors is the 1930 penny. Its rarity is so well known amongst Australians, that demand for what is akin to a blue-chip investment has pushed prices to approximately A$26,000 for an average standard example. A proof example of the same coin recently changed hands for over A$620,000, making it the most expensive copper coin in the world.

See also: Half penny, Penny, threepence, sixpence, shilling, florin, crown.

Florin = 2 shillings

1927 Australian florin commemorating the opening of the original Parliament House

1934-35 Australian florin commemorating the centenary of Victoria and the establishment of Melbourne

...
Wikipedia