This Great Britain shilling is dated 1826. There were over 6 million of these coins minted during the reign of King George IV, 1820-1830 This coin’s denomination is not inscribed on the coin but it has been identified as a shilling from information about the King George III currency 1816-1820. - This Shilling is 24mm (the same size as this coin) British coins such as this one shilling were in circulation in the colony of Australia until 1910, when the Commonwealth of Australia began producing its own coinage. This coin was minted by the Royal Mint at Royal Mint Court, in Little Tower Hill, London, England. Coins for circulation in the Kingdom of England, Great Britain and most of the British Empire were produced here until the 1960’s when the Royal Mint shifted location to Wales. The obverse side of the coin’s inscription translation is “George IV by the Grace of God”. The engraver of the obverse image was William Wyon. The reverse side’s inscription on the coin is translated " King of The British territories, Defender of the Faith” The engraver of the reverse image was William Wyon. AUSTRALIAN CURRENCY The early settlers of Australia brought their own currency with them so a wide variety of coins, tokens and even ‘promissory’ notes (often called IOU’s) were used in the exchange of goods and services. In 1813 40,000 silver Spanish dollars, purchased by the English government, were delivered to Sydney to help resolve the currency problem reported by Governor Macquarie. The coins were converted for use by punching a hole in the centre of the coin. Both the outer ring, called the holey dollar, and the punched out ‘hole’, called the dump, were then used as the official currency. The holey dollars hold the place of being the first distinctively Australian coins. In 1825 the British Government passed the Sterling Silver Currency Act, making the British Pound the only legal form of currency in the Australian colonies. Not enough British currency was imported into the colony so other forms of currency were still used. In the mid 1800’s Australia entered the Gold Rush period when many made their fortunes. Gold was used for trading, often shaped into ingots, stamped with their weight and purity, and one pound tokens. In 1852 the Adelaide Assay Office, without British approval, made Australia’s first gold coin to meet the need for currency in South Australia after the Gold Rush began. In 1855 the official Australian Mint opened in Sydney, operating as a branch of the Royal Mint in London, and the gold was turned into coins called ‘sovereigns’. Other branches also opened in Melbourne and Perth. Up to the time of Australia becoming a federation in 1901 its currency included British copper and silver coins, Australian gold sovereigns, locally minted copper trade tokens, private banknotes, New South Wales and Queensland government treasury notes and Queensland government banknotes. After Federation the Australian government began to overwrite privately issued notes and prepared for the introduction of its own currency. In 1910 a National Australian Currency was formed, based on the British currency of ‘pounds, shillings and pence’ and the first Commonwealth coining was produced. In 1966, on February 14th, Australia changed over to the decimal currency system of dollars and cents. Australia did not have its own currency in the colonial times. Settlers brought money from other countries and they also traded goods such as grain when currency was scarce. For a long time there was no standardised value for the different currencies. In 1825 British currency became the only official currency in the colony of Australia and coins such as this silver shilling were imported into Australia to replace the mixture of foreign currency. Australia became a Federated nation on 1st January 1901. In 1910 National Australian Currency was formed and Australia produced its own currency, based on the British ‘pounds, shillings and pence’. The British currency was no longer valid. This silver shilling is of national significance as it represents the British currency used in Australia from 1825-1910. Coin, Great Britain shilling. 1826. Silver coin, round. Obverse; King George IV bare head, looking left. Reverse; crowned lion; below, a large crown; below are a shamrock, rose and thistle united. Inscriptions on both sides of coin (denomination not inscribed).Obverse “GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA” and “1826” Reverse “BRITANNIARUM REX FIDEI DEFENSOR” flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, coin, currency, money, legal tender, australian currency history, royal mint, great britain shilling 1826, king george iv currency, colonial australia currency, william wyon, numismatics

The image on this coin shows a British monarch, the young Queen Victoria, at a time when Australia was a Colony of Britain.This coin represents the currency used in Australia in the 19th century.Coin, Queen Victorian Penny, 1870. Obverse shows the "Young Head" of Queen Victoria, Reverse shows Britannia. Coin well worn.Reverse: "1870"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, coin, british coin, currency, penny, 19th century, queen victoria, young queen victoria, 1870

The image on this coin shows a British monarch, the young Queen Victoria, at a time when Australia was a Colony of Britain.This coin represents the currency used in Australia in the 19th century.Coin, Queen Victorian Penny, 1874, Obverse shows the "Young Head" of Queen Victoria. Reverse shows Britannia. Coin well worn. Obverse: "VICT ----- D G " "BRIT - - - - G : F : D: " Reverse: "----- -NNY" 1874"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, coin, british coin, currency, penny, 19th century, queen victoria, young queen victoria, brittania, 1874

The image on this coin shows a British monarch, the young Queen Victoria, at a time when Australia was a Colony of Britain.This coin represents the currency used in Australia in the 19th century.Coin, Queen Victorian Penny, 1877, Obverse shows the "Young Head" of Queen Victoria. Reverse shows Britannia. Coin well worn. Obverse: "VICTORIA : D: G:" "BRIT - - - - -F : D :" Reverse: "ONE PENNY" "1877"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, coin, british coin, currency, penny, 19th century, queen victoria, young queen victoria, brittania, 1877

The image on this coin shows a British monarch, the young Queen Victoria, at a time when Australia was a Colony of Britain.This coin represents the currency used in Australia in the 19th century.Coin, Queen Victorian Penny, 1890, Obverse shows the "Young Head" of Queen Victoria. Reverse shows Britannia. Coin well worn. Obverse: "VICTORIA : D : G :" "BRITT : REG : F : D :" Reverse: "PENNY" "1890"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, coin, british coin, currency, penny, 19th century, queen victoria, young queen victoria, brittania, 1890

The image on this coin shows a British monarch, the young Queen Victoria, at a time when Australia was a Colony of Britain.This coin represents the currency used in Australia in the 19th century.Coin, Queen Victorian Halfpenny, 1864, Obverse shows the "Young Head" of Queen Victoria. Reverse shows Britannia. Coin well worn. Obverse: "VICTORIA : D : G :" "BRITT " REG : F : D :" Reverse: "HALF PENNY" "1864"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, coin, british coin, currency, half penny, 19th century, queen victoria, young queen victoria, brittania, 1864

The image on this coin shows a British monarch, the young Queen Victoria, at a time when Australia was a Colony of Britain.This coin represents the currency used in Australia in the 19th century.Coin, Queen Victorian Halfpenny, 1882, Obverse shows the "Young Head" of Queen Victoria. Reverse shows Britannia. Coin well worn.Obverse: "VICTORIA : D: G :" "BRITT : REG : F : D :" Reverse: "HALF PENNY" "1882"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, coin, british coin, currency, half penny, 19th century, queen victoria, young queen victoria, brittania, 1882

Would have been issued to crews in order to hold coins within their cash bags and make giving change faster.Demonstrates the method by which conductors collected fare tender.Manufactured coin dispenser for 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent coins, made from black and white plastic with metal springs under each coin support plate. Held in position by three metal screws.btm, ballarat tramway museum, trams, conductors, currency, coin, fares, cash, cash handling, tickets

This is a coin shaped gold coloured medal sitting upright on top of a small plastic pedestal. On the front the coin contains representations of leaves, and a white cane across the top. Around the sides is an inscription: ' Alex Johnson Memorial Medal for devoted service to the blind' and across the bottom 'Blind Workers Union of Victoria'. On the back is inscribed in signature style ' Hugh H Jeffrey' 1972' inside a circle of leaves. 1 coin shaped medal on pedestalawards, hugh jeffrey

Numismatics - Victorian Railways Medallion belonging to Frank Baker VR employeestawell

Two up is a traditional Australian gambling game involving a designated "spinner" throwing two coins or pennies into the air. Players bet on whether the coins will fall with both heads up both tails up or with one coin head and one a tail. It is traditionally played on Anzac day in pubs and clubs throughout Australia in part to mark a shared experience with diggers through the ages.A game traditionally played on Anzac DayGreen cardboard package containing two coins and three timber paddles.1955 and 1984 pennies in a wooden board made in the Perth Mint Logo of Perth Mint embossed on board. Perth Mint EST 1899 together with Bird two up, anzac day

Commemorative coins presented to members and/or visitorsCommemorative Coin presented by Glenroy Chamber of Commerce3 Circular Commemorative Gold coloured coins with blue and yellow enameling.Around edge: Glenroy Chamber/ of Commerce/ in unity strength commemorative coin, glenroy chamber of commerce, yellow, blue

The image on this coin shows a British monarch, the mature Queen Victoria, in 1900. This was the period just prior to Australia's Federation in 1901,This coin represents the currency used in Australia at the turn of the 20th century, and just prior to the Federation of Australia in 1901..Coin, Queen Victorian Half Penny, 1900, Obverse shows the "Old Head" of Queen Victoria. Reverse shows Britannia. Coin well worn.Obverse: "VICTORIA : DEI : GRA : BRITT : REGINA : FID : IND : IMP : Reverse: "HALF PENNY" "1900"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, coin, british coin, currency, half penny, 20th century, queen victoria, old queen victoria, brittania, 1900, prior to federation

Coin found at Camp 13 when huts were being dismantled and relocated.Japanese coin featuring motifs and Japanese characters/currency value.coins, camp 13, japan, japanese currency

Coin collections have a long and varied history. Coins were often collected in churches in a box located near the entrance/exit, and later via a collection plate that was passed amongst the congregation Funds were used to repair the church or feed the poorest of the parish. The donation of coins is and was considered part of religious life and mentioned in Christian, Jewish and Islamic texts. With the need and expansion of charitable works occurring outside religious life, charity boxes began to spread into hospitals, orphanages and asylums. The need for non-fixed boxes grew with the rise in charities and their activities outside a fixed building. Collection boxes could be large (and therefore hard to move) or could be held by individuals acting as collection agents, working at a specific location, moving between dwellings or at events. In this example, the Vision Australia tin could be used gathering coins at events such as Carols by Candlelight or other special marketing days.1 metal coin collection tin with paper wrapPaper wrapper around tin: Help me to break down the barriers and achieve greater heights Vision Australia blindness and low vision services Paper on top of tin: Thank you for your support Vision Australia blindness and low vision servicesvision australia, fundraising

Coin collections have a long and varied history. Coins were often collected in churches in a box located near the entrance/exit, and later via a collection plate that was passed amongst the congregation Funds were used to repair the church or feed the poorest of the parish. The donation of coins is and was considered part of religious life and mentioned in Christian, Jewish and Islamic texts. With the need and expansion of charitable works occurring outside religious life, charity boxes began to spread into hospitals, orphanages and asylums. The need for non-fixed boxes grew with the rise in charities and their activities outside a fixed building. Collection boxes could be large (and therefore hard to move) or could be held by individuals acting as collection agents, working at a specific location, moving between dwellings or at events. In this example, the 3RPH tin could be used gathering coins at events such as outside broadcasts or other special marketing days.1 metal coin collection tin with handle and paper wrap1170 Radio 3RPH For the print handicapped A service of the Association for the Blindassociation for the blind, 3rph radio station

The image on this coin shows a British monarch, the young Queen Victoria, at a time when Australia was a Colony of Britain.This coin represents the currency used in Australia in the 19th century.Coin, Queen Victorian Penny, 1888, Obverse shows the "Young Head" of Queen Victoria. Reverse shows Britannia. Coin well worn. Obverse has an unknown imprint and the border is inconsistent.Obverse: "VICTORIA : D : G :" "BRITT : RE- : F : D :" Reverse: "ONE --- Y" "1888"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, coin, british coin, currency, penny, 19th century, queen victoria, young queen victoria, brittania, 1888

Coin found in Happy Valley Crossing area by the Geelong Prospectors' Club.Small coin with square hole in centre, believed to date from 19th century.coins, chinese

Coin collections have a long and varied history. Coins were often collected in churches in a box located near the entrance/exit, and later via a collection plate that was passed amongst the congregation Funds were used to repair the church or feed the poorest of the parish. The donation of coins is and was considered part of religious life and mentioned in Christian, Jewish and Islamic texts. With the need and expansion of charitable works occurring outside religious life, charity boxes began to spread into hospitals, orphanages and asylums. The need for non-fixed boxes grew with the rise in charities and their activities outside a fixed building. Collection boxes could be large (and therefore hard to move) or could be held by individuals acting as collection agents, working at a specific location, moving between dwellings or at events. In this example, the RVIB tin could be used gathering coins at events such as Carols by Candlelight, White Cane day or other special marketing days.1 metal coin collection tin with handle and paper wrapYour Donation Supports the Work of The Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind RVIB lighthouse logo 557 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Telephone 9529 3544royal victorian institute for the blind, equipment

The first British gold sovereign was minted as long ago as 1489 under the reign of Henry VII. Subsequent monarchs issued their own gold coins until the reign of James I, crowned King of England and Scotland in 1603 when the practice died out. The modern use of the sovereign and half sovereign coins as common currency in Britain began in 1817. In Australia, the Sydney Mint was established as a branch of the Royal Mint in London in 1855. Its primary role, together with the mints of Melbourne (1872-1931) and Perth (1899-1931) was to strike Sovereigns and Half Sovereigns from the gold that had been discovered in the goldfields of Victoria and New South Wales in 1851. During the First World War, the Sovereign - like most gold and silver coins - was gradually withdrawn from general circulation, although special limited issue coins have frequently been minted for special events, such as the Platinum Jubilee and recent death of Queen Elizabeth 11. Sovereign cases were small portable boxes usually in cylindrical shape and made from various metals with snapshut covers to contain the coin. The spring in the base allowed several coins to be stored in a small container. These fob holders were particularly common in the late 19th to early 20th century and were frequently used by men who could then safely carry coins in their suit pockets. This case was used by a member of the Raper family of Wodonga, Victoria. This item is from the Raper Collection donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by Mrs. Jean Raper.A small silver case with a fob attachment designed to hold sovereign and half sovereign coins. Inside the case are 2 circular spring loaded receptacles to hold the coins. The lid is lined with velvet. A clip and fob is attached to the front of the case.currency, predecimal coins

HMAS Sydney sank on 19 November 1941 with all crew members. The coin is issued as an acknowledgement of the 645 crew members who lost their lives.Uncirculated fine silver proof coin commemorating HMAS Sydney II. Coin is packaged in a presentation case. Focal point is a representation of Sydney II next to the words "HMAS Sydney".

For security reasons, tokens were used in Australian WW11 Internment Camps. They were introduced in 19433 to replace the paper canteen coupons. This token was used at the internment camp at Bete Bolong just outside Orbost during WW11. This camp was established in 1943 and was there until 1946. The internees had been transferred from the camp at Murchison East to provide farm labour. The coin was given to Lindsay Thomson when he was a student.This token was used at the Bete Bolong POW camp from 1943-1945. This camp housed Italian POWs, some of whom remained/returned after the war to settle in Orbost.An internment camp coin. This is a one penny coin token with a hole in the centre. It is made of brass.ONE PENNY INTERNMENT CAMPStoken ww11 bete-bolong internment-camp

The 50 Reichspfennig coin was minted by Nazi Germany between 1939 and 1944 during World War II. It is worth 1/2 or .50 of a Reichsmark. Made entirely of aluminium, the 50 Reichspfennig is an emergency issue type, similar to the zinc 1, 5, and 10 Reichspfennig coins from the same period. Country Germany - Third Reich Denomination 10 reichspfennig Year 1939 Period Nazi Germany (Third Reich) (1933 - 1945) Coin type Circulation coins Edge type Reeded Shape Round Alignment Medal (0°) Obverse: Eagle above swastika within wreath Reverse: Denomination, oak leaves belowthird reich, beck, coin, currency

This Great Britain shilling is dated 1835. There were over 3 million of these coins minted during the reign of King William IV, 1830-1837. British coins such as this one shilling were in circulation in the colony of Australia until 1910, when the Commonwealth of Australia began producing its own coinage. This coin was minted by the Royal Mint at Royal Mint Court, in Little Tower Hill, London, England. Coins for circulation in the Kingdom of England, Great Britain and most of the British Empire were produced here until the 1960’s when the Royal Mint shifted location to Wales. The obverse side of the coin’s inscription translation is “William IV by the Grace of God, King of the British territories, Defender of the Faith”. The engraver of the obverse image was William Wyon. The reverse side’s inscription on the coin is translated " King of The British territories, Defender of the Faith” The engraver of the reverse image was Jean Baptiste Merlen. AUSTRALIAN CURRENCY The early settlers of Australia brought their own currency with them so a wide variety of coins, tokens and even ‘promissory’ notes (often called IOU’s) were used in the exchange of goods and services. In 1813 40,000 silver Spanish dollars, purchased by the English government, were delivered to Sydney to help resolve the currency problem reported by Governor Macquarie. The coins were converted for use by punching a hole in the centre of the coin. Both the outer ring, called the holey dollar, and the punched out ‘hole’, called the dump, were then used as the official currency. The holey dollars hold the place of being the first distinctively Australian coins. In 1825 the British Government passed the Sterling Silver Currency Act, making the British Pound the only legal form of currency in the Australian colonies. Not enough British currency was imported into the colony so other forms of currency were still used. In the mid 1800’s Australia entered the Gold Rush period when many made their fortunes. Gold was used for trading, often shaped into ingots, stamped with their weight and purity, and one pound tokens. In 1852 the Adelaide Assay Office, without British approval, made Australia’s first gold coin to meet the need for currency in South Australia after the Gold Rush began. In 1855 the official Australian Mint opened in Sydney, operating as a branch of the Royal Mint in London, and the gold was turned into coins called ‘sovereigns’. Other branches also opened in Melbourne and Perth. Up to the time of Australia becoming a federation in 1901 its currency included British copper and silver coins, Australian gold sovereigns, locally minted copper trade tokens, private banknotes, New South Wales and Queensland government treasury notes and Queensland government banknotes. After Federation the Australian government began to overwrite privately issued notes and prepared for the introduction of its own currency. In 1910 a National Australian Currency was formed, based on the British currency of ‘pounds, shillings and pence’ and the first Commonwealth coining was produced. In 1966, on February 14th, Australia changed over to the decimal currency system of dollars and cents. Australia did not have its own currency in the colonial times. Settlers brought money from other countries and they also traded goods such as grain when currency was scarce. For a long time there was no standardised value for the different currencies. In 1825 British currency became the only official currency in the colony of Australia and coins such as this silver shilling were imported into Australia to replace the mixture of foreign currency. Australia became a Federated nation on 1st January 1901. In 1910 National Australian Currency was formed and Australia produced its own currency, based on the British ‘pounds, shillings and pence’. The British currency was no longer valid. This silver shilling is of national significance as it represents the British currency used in Australia from 1825-1910. Coin, Great Britain shilling. 1835. Silver coin, round. Obverse; King William IV bare head, looking right. Reverse; crown above denomination, surrounded by wreath, year below wreath. Inscription on both sides.Obverse “GULIELMUS IIII D : G : BRITANNIAR : REX F : D :” Reverse “ONE SHILLING” and “1835” flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, coin, currency, money, legal tender, australian currency history, royal mint, great britain shilling 1835, king william iv currency, colonial australia currency, william wyon, jean baptiste merlen, numismatics

Coin commemorating Transvaal War 1900 for The First Australian Imperial Contingent.Small metal Commemorative coin, brown in colour, with a small hole drilled at the top to allow hanging.Side 1 - Impressed with "British Transvaal War" & Queen Victoria Profile. Side 2 - Impressed with "Success to 1st Aust Imperial Contingent" & picture of mounted soldier.transvaal war, boer war

HMAS Sydney sank on 19 November 1941 with all crew members. The coin is issued as an acknowledgement of the 645 crew members who lost their lives.$1 coin uncirculated. Fine silver proof commemorating HMAS Sydney II. Coin is packaged in presentation case. Focal point is a representation of "Sydney II" next to the words "HMAS Sydney II".

This Great Britain one shilling coin is dated 1896, which is during the reign of Queen Victoria. There were over 9 million of these coins minted. Queen Victoria succeeded King William IV to the British Throne in 1837 – she was only 18 years old at the time – and she ruled until 1901. British coins such as this one shilling were in circulation in the colony of Australia until 1910, when the Commonwealth of Australia began producing its own coinage. This one shilling coin was minted by the Royal Mint at Royal Mint Court, in Little Tower Hill, London, England. Coins for circulation in the Kingdom of England, Great Britain and most of the British Empire were produced here until the 1960’s when the Royal Mint shifted location to Wales. There are three main groups of shillings produced during Queen Victoria’s reign:- - The Young Head; 1837-1887, in 8 different versions, on the obverse showing the Queen’s maturing face over 50 years. - The Junior Head; 1887-1892, minted when Queen Victoria had been reigning for 50 years. Her head was smaller on the coins minted 1887-1889 than on those shillings minted 1889-1892. - The Old Head; 1893-1901, shows the veiled head of Queen Victoria. The obverse side of the coin was designed by Thomas Brock. The inscription’s translation is “Victoria by the Grace of God, Queen of the British territories, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India”. The reverse side of the coin was designed by Edward Paynter. The inscription "HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE" translates as "Evil be to him who evil thinks". AUSTRALIAN CURRENCY The early settlers of Australia brought their own currency with them so a wide variety of coins, tokens and even ‘promissory’ notes (often called IOU’s) were used in the exchange of goods and services. In 1813 Spanish dollars were imported and converted for use by punching a hole in the centre of the coin. Both the outer ring, called the holey dollar, and the punched out ‘hole’, called the dump, were then used as the official currency. In 1825 the British Government passed the Sterling Silver Currency Act, making the British Pound the only legal form of currency in the Australian colonies. Not enough British currency was imported into the colony so other forms of currency were still used. In the mid 1800’s Australia entered the Gold Rush period when many made their fortunes. Gold was used for trading, often shaped into ingots, stamped with their weight and purity, and one pound tokens. In 1852 the Adelaide Assay Office, without British approval, made Australia’s first gold coin to meet the need for currency in South Australia after the Gold Rush began. In 1855 the official Australian Mint opened in Sydney, operating as a branch of the Royal Mint in London, and the gold was turned into coins called ‘sovereigns’. Other branches also opened in Melbourne and Perth. Up to the time of Australia becoming a federation in 1901 its currency included British copper and silver coins, Australian gold sovereigns, locally minted copper trade tokens, private banknotes, New South Wales and Queensland government treasury notes and Queensland government banknotes. After Federation the Australian government began to overwrite privately issued notes and prepared for the introduction of its own currency. In 1910 a National Australian Currency was formed, based on the British currency of ‘pounds, shillings and pence’ and the first Commonwealth coining was produced. In 1966, on February 14th, Australia changed over to the decimal currency system of dollars and cents. Australia did not have its own currency in the colonial times. Settlers brought money from other countries and they also traded goods such as grain when currency was scarce. For a long time there was no standardised value for the different currencies. In 1825 British currency became the only official currency in the colony of Australia and coins such as this silver shilling were imported into Australia to replace the mixture of foreign currency. Australia became a Federated nation on 1st January 1901. In 1910 National Australian Currency was formed and Australia produced its own currency, based on the British ‘pounds, shillings and pence’. The British currency was no longer valid. This silver shilling is of national significance as it represents the British currency used in Australia from 1825-1910. This silver shilling is also of significance to Australia as part one of the British Colonies ruled by Queen Victoria. It is part of the special silver and gold coins minted 1887-1893 to celebrate the 50 years Jubilee of Queen Victoria’s reign 1837-1887.Coin, Great Britain Shilling, 1896. Silver coin, round. Obverse; Queen Victoria head, ‘Old Head’, looking left. Reverse; 3 shields (each crowned) - 3 passant lions (England), 1 rampant lion (Scotland), golden harp (Northern Ireland) - floral symbols between them – 1 rose, 2 thistles. Inscriptions on both sides of coin.Obverse “VICTORIA . DEI . GRA . BRITT . REGINA . FID . DEF . IND . IMP” Reverse “ONE SHILLING, 1896, Inner band, some letters hidden - HONI SO VI Y PENSE” flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, coin, currency, money, legal tender, australian currency history, royal mint, british shilling 1896, thomas brock, edward paynter, great britain shilling, queen victoria currency, queen victoria 50 years golden jubilee shilling, colonial australia currency, numismatics

This Great Britain one shilling coin is dated 1896, which is during the reign of Queen Victoria. There were over 9 million of these coins minted. Queen Victoria succeeded King William IV to the British Throne in 1837 – she was only 18 years old at the time – and she ruled until 1901. British coins such as this one shilling were in circulation in the colony of Australia until 1910, when the Commonwealth of Australia began producing its own coinage. This one shilling coin was minted by the Royal Mint at Royal Mint Court, in Little Tower Hill, London, England. Coins for circulation in the Kingdom of England, Great Britain and most of the British Empire were produced here until the 1960’s when the Royal Mint shifted location to Wales. There are three main groups of shillings produced during Queen Victoria’s reign:- - The Young Head; 1837-1887, in 8 different versions, on the obverse showing the Queen’s maturing face over 50 years. - The Junior Head; 1887-1892, minted when Queen Victoria had been reigning for 50 years. Her head was smaller on the coins minted 1887-1889 than on those shillings minted 1889-1892. - The Old Head; 1893-1901, shows the veiled head of Queen Victoria. The obverse side of the coin was designed by Thomas Brock. The inscription’s translation is “Victoria by the Grace of God, Queen of the British territories, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India”. The reverse side of the coin was designed by Edward Paynter. The inscription "HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE" translates as "Evil be to him who evil thinks". AUSTRALIAN CURRENCY The early settlers of Australia brought their own currency with them so a wide variety of coins, tokens and even ‘promissory’ notes (often called IOU’s) were used in the exchange of goods and services. In 1813 Spanish dollars were imported and converted for use by punching a hole in the centre of the coin. Both the outer ring, called the holey dollar, and the punched out ‘hole’, called the dump, were then used as the official currency. In 1825 the British Government passed the Sterling Silver Currency Act, making the British Pound the only legal form of currency in the Australian colonies. Not enough British currency was imported into the colony so other forms of currency were still used. In the mid 1800’s Australia entered the Gold Rush period when many made their fortunes. Gold was used for trading, often shaped into ingots, stamped with their weight and purity, and one pound tokens. In 1852 the Adelaide Assay Office, without British approval, made Australia’s first gold coin to meet the need for currency in South Australia after the Gold Rush began. In 1855 the official Australian Mint opened in Sydney, operating as a branch of the Royal Mint in London, and the gold was turned into coins called ‘sovereigns’. Other branches also opened in Melbourne and Perth. Up to the time of Australia becoming a federation in 1901 its currency included British copper and silver coins, Australian gold sovereigns, locally minted copper trade tokens, private banknotes, New South Wales and Queensland government treasury notes and Queensland government banknotes. After Federation the Australian government began to overwrite privately issued notes and prepared for the introduction of its own currency. In 1910 a National Australian Currency was formed, based on the British currency of ‘pounds, shillings and pence’ and the first Commonwealth coining was produced. In 1966, on February 14th, Australia changed over to the decimal currency system of dollars and cents. Australia did not have its own currency in the colonial times. Settlers brought money from other countries and they also traded goods such as grain when currency was scarce. For a long time there was no standardised value for the different currencies. In 1825 British currency became the only official currency in the colony of Australia and coins such as this silver shilling were imported into Australia to replace the mixture of foreign currency. Australia became a Federated nation on 1st January 1901. In 1910 National Australian Currency was formed and Australia produced its own currency, based on the British ‘pounds, shillings and pence’. The British currency was no longer valid. This silver shilling is of national significance as it represents the British currency used in Australia from 1825-1910. This silver shilling is also of significance to Australia as part one of the British Colonies ruled by Queen Victoria. It is part of the special silver and gold coins minted 1887-1893 to celebrate the 50 years Jubilee of Queen Victoria’s reign 1837-1887. Coin, Great Britain Shilling, 1896. Silver coin, round. Obverse; Queen Victoria head, ‘Old Head’, looking left. Reverse; 3 shields (each crowned) - 3 passant lions (England), 1 rampant lion (Scotland), golden harp (Northern Ireland) - floral symbols between them – 1 rose, 2 thistles. Inscriptions on both sides of coin.Obverse “VICTORIA . DEI . GRA . BRITT . REGINA . FID . DEF . IND . IMP” Reverse “ONE SHILLING, 1896”, Inner band, [some letters hidden] “HONI SO VI Y PENSE” flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, coin, currency, money, legal tender, australian currency history, royal mint, british shilling 1896, thomas brock, edward paynter, great britain shilling, queen victoria currency, queen victoria 50 years golden jubilee shilling, colonial australia currency, numismatics