Showing 7283 items matching "british"
-
Running Rabbits Military Museum operated by the Upwey Belgrave RSL Sub Branch
Ammunition
Ammunition .303 British Armourerammunition, general -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Flag - LYDIA CHANCELLOR COLLECTION: BRITISH FLAG
Five replicas of the British flag.flags, national, britain, lydia chancellor, collection, flags, ensignias, flags, britain -
Running Rabbits Military Museum operated by the Upwey Belgrave RSL Sub Branch
Hat Badge
British South Wales Borderersbadge/buttons, ww1, army -
Running Rabbits Military Museum operated by the Upwey Belgrave RSL Sub Branch
Model
British Mk1 tank (female)model, ww1, army -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Coin - Half Penny, c.1886
1886 British Half pennyHalf Penny 1886 on obverse Victoria Dei Gra. Brit Regina Fid Def Ind Imp (By the Grace of God Victoria Queen of the Britons, (trans. Defender of the Faith and Empress of India.) 1886, coin -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - LYDIA CHANCELLOR COLLECTION: A ROYAL GARLAND
... British ...A large red coloured book titled 'A Royal Garland 'The Illustrated London News' Panorama of The Events of The Glorious Month of June 1953. A series of photos of the British Royal Family during June 1953. Printed and published by 'The Illustrated London News,' Ingram House, 195-198 Strand, London, W.C.2. 32 pgs.'The Illustrated London News,' Ingram House, 195-198 Strand, London, W.C.2.royalty, british, royal tour, lydia chancellor, british royal family, coronation, the queen, royal yacht -
Dandenong/Cranbourne RSL Sub Branch
WWI Campaign Medal, Circa 1920s
Two versions of the British War Medal were produced 6.5 million in silver and 110,000 in bronze. Obverse depicts King George IVs V Britt: Rex Et Ind : Imp. Reverse depicts nude rider on horseback - sword in hand - sun in background. 1914 - 1918.Campaign Medal of the United Kingdom. Medal was instituted on the 26th July 1919 for service between 5th August 1914 the day following the British Declaration of War and the Armistice 11th November 1918. Service # 2320 A-L-CP W. A. Renville. A.I.F. -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Commemorative mug, Queen Elizabeth 11 Coronation, 1953
This cup was produced as a memento of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. It was the official design of the British Pottery Manufacturers Federation. Queen Elizabeth II became Queen of England at the age of 25 following the death of her father in 1952. The Coronation was celebrated throughout the British Empire and a commemorative medal was issued. This cup is a high quality item and many such items would have been sold in Australia in 1953. This cup is retained as an example of the type of souvenir sold in Warrnambool and other parts of Australia in 1953. It is an attractive item and will be useful for display. This is a white china cup with a colour image of a crown and the initials ‘E11R’ on one side of the cup and a colour image of Queen Elizabeth in an oval shape surrounded by a crown, French lettering, British flags and foliage on the other side of the cup. The maker’s name and symbol are on the base of the cup. ‘Coronation June 2nd 1953’ ‘Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense’ ‘H.M. Queen Elizabeth 11’ ‘E 11 R’ ‘ Sol 391413 J. & G. Meakin England’ queen elizabeth 11 coronation, history of warrnambool -
Bendigo Military Museum
Equipment - MEDICAL ITEMS, c1939-1945
Francis Metternick - served in Merchant Navy WW2 - British or Australian ??1. Gauze bandage - white cotton, Dark Blue Paper wrap. 2. Pressure bandage - cotton twill - cream. 3. Container for Iodine - black plastic, brown screw top glass tube - attached to brown screw top. 4. Glass bottle with brown stopper containing liquid. 5. Glass syringes and i measurement pipette & 4 solid tapered glass tubes. 6. Dressings - 2 cotton, pink in blue labelled paper wrap,3.B Hax Iodine, Tincture British Pharmacopoeia Hack, 72 Red Lion Street, London, WC1. 4. Ammoniated Tincture/Quinine. Prepared in Accordance with the British Pharmacopoeia. Dose from half to one teaspoonful in a wine glass & water, Boots, Nottingham. 6. Boric Lint, Antiseptic dressing for surgical purposes. Australian Herbal stores, 10 Bath Street, Jersey C1. medical equipment, bandages, syringes -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Document - Navigation Chart, Portsmouth to Canary Islands, CA. 1928
Navigation charts are drawn by professional hydrographers and describe the geography of land and water, enabling a water based navigator on board vessels such as ships to safely negotiate between ports locally and around the world. They are drawn to a particular standard with common symbols noting landmarks. The charts are used in conjunction with other navigational instruments and tools to calculate the vessel’s exact location and a safe route to its destination.The set of charts and their chart are of significance as examples of equipment and documents used to navigate the oceans of the world, particularly to Australia. Migration to Australia is an important part of this country's history.British Admiralty Navigation Chart - Portsmouth to Canary Islands - printed on rectangular white paper. Published in London by the British Admiralty in 1928.warrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, chart, map, navigate, navigation, location, vessel, 1928, british admiralty, hydrographer, geography, admiralty chart, portsmouth, canary islands -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Document - Navigation Chart, North-East Coast of New Guinea with Bougainville, New Britain, New Ireland & Admiralty Islands
British Admiralty Navigation Chart - North-East Coast of New Guinea with Bougainville, New Britain, New Ireland & Admiralty Islandswarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, british admiralty navigation chart, navigation chart, new guinea, bougainville, north-east coast of new guinea, new britain, new ireland, admiralty islands -
Running Rabbits Military Museum operated by the Upwey Belgrave RSL Sub Branch
Photo
Artillery Battery Photo probably Britishphoto, army -
Lara RSL Sub Branch
Book, Beautiful Britain, 1894
A Graphic history of Stately Houses circa 1894.Souvenier from Great Britain from Mc Intyre family.Beautiful Britain Werner Company - 1894The Scenery &The Splendours of the United Kingdom. -
Running Rabbits Military Museum operated by the Upwey Belgrave RSL Sub Branch
Hat Badge
British West Yorkshire Hat slidebadge/buttons, 1685-1958, army -
Running Rabbits Military Museum operated by the Upwey Belgrave RSL Sub Branch
Hat Badge
British. The Border Regt. 1881-1959badge/buttons, 1881-1959, army -
Running Rabbits Military Museum operated by the Upwey Belgrave RSL Sub Branch
Bayonet
1888 pattern sword/bayonet, Britishweapon -
Running Rabbits Military Museum operated by the Upwey Belgrave RSL Sub Branch
Book
Instructions for British Servicemen in France 1944documents, ww2, army -
Running Rabbits Military Museum operated by the Upwey Belgrave RSL Sub Branch
Hat Badge
British. Royal Munster Fusileers. Bimetal.badge/buttons, 1881-1922, army -
Running Rabbits Military Museum operated by the Upwey Belgrave RSL Sub Branch
Gas Mask
Gas Mask with British markings HL7431equipment, ww2, uk army -
Running Rabbits Military Museum operated by the Upwey Belgrave RSL Sub Branch
Hat Badge
British East Lancashire. Bi Metalbadge/buttons, 1881-1958, army -
Running Rabbits Military Museum operated by the Upwey Belgrave RSL Sub Branch
Box
Cardboard box for .303 British ammunition.ammunition, ww2, army -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Document - Citizen Identity Cards World War II, Australian Federal Government, 1940s
These cards were issued during World War 11 to British subjects who were civilians. This included all non-indigenous adults born in Australia. The concept of Australian citizenship was only introduced by the Nationality and Citizenship Act of 1948. All adults had personal identity cards and were required to report changes of address to the government. These cards were particularly important in the identification and monitoring of Aliens (non-citizen residents) , particularly non-Europeans and Asian residents.Peter Frawley was a long-time resident of Wodonga. He was a veteran of Gallipoli and Fromelles. For his actions at Fromelles, he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre. After the war Peter became a successful jockey and one of his greatest successes was winning the Australian Steeple Chase at Caulfield in 1922. He was an active member of the Wodonga Turf Club and Bonegilla Race Club and a founding member of the Wodonga Show Society. Peter’s wife Connie was an integral member of the Wodonga Hospital fundraising committee, being awarded a life membership. Nereida Pearl Goyne (nee Emery) lived most of her life in Wodonga. She was actively engaged in the community until 2007 when she moved to Rutherglen where she passed away in January 2009.3 fawn coloured cards with black text, all stamped with the Beechworth Post Office stamp. They are identified as Form C.R.3 Civilian Registration (British Subjects).Written on both sides in ink: Detailed explanation of government regulations. On Card 1 in ink;" V13, M 31 ,30215" Signed "Peter George Frawley, South St Wodonga" Reversed signed by card holder and witness" On Card 2 in ink;" V13, M 02 ,2494" Signed Constance Frawley, South St Wodonga" Reversed signed C Frawley and witnessed P Frawley" Note - Ration book for 3 children" On Card 3 in ink;" V13, M 10 ,12251" Signed "Nereida Pearl Goyne, Bank St Wodonga" Reversed signed by card holder and witnessed by L.C. McCullough" Note Ration book for 2 children"identity cards, civilian registration, world war 2, ww11 -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Cup, Jubilee 1887, 1937
This cup was sold as a souvenir of the Coronation of King George VI of England in 1937. It was probably bought locally as devotion to the British Empire was strong in the 1930s. The coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth took place on 12 May 1937 at Westminster Abbey. This followed the abdication of Edward VIII. This cup is retained as an example of the high quality souvenirs of the 1937 Coronation of King George VI sold to those in British Empire countries. It will be useful for display.This is a white china cup with a gilt edge around the top rim and on the handle. On one side of the cup are images of a crown, British flags, photographs of King George and Queen Elizabeth in oval frames and some lettering.‘H.M. King George VI H.M. Queen Elizabeth Coronation 1937’ ‘Made in England’ coronation of king george vi of england 1937, history of warrnambool -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Weapon - Historic Rifles, Royal Small Arms Factory, 1877-1900
... British ...Martini-Henry Artillery Carbin rifles were made by the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield, Britain, from 1877 until 1900. Many were distributed to the British Colonies, including this pair, which was allocated to the Woodford Police, Victoria Police District of Warrnambool, Southwest Victoria. The Carbine model rifles were shorter than the standard rifles and more suited to mounted police and troopers. It is likely that in the early 20th century, Victoria Police replaced the two carbines with more modern firearms, and the outdated guns were stored in the stables. The rifles were left there and likely forgotten about due to changes in police staff. In 1915, police authorities announced that they would be replacing patrol horses with bicycles and would also close some smaller police stations. This affected Woodford Police Station, which closed in 1917. The forgotten firearms remained in the stables and were noticed by schoolboy Robert Jellie in 1940 and seen again in 1946. In 1995, the property was sold by the Education Department to a private owner. The Woodford Community donated the pair of Martini-Henry Carbines to the Victoria Police Museum in the late 1990s for mounting and display, which was funded by the Victoria Police Historical Society Inc. The decorative wood and glass display case and frame were designed to preserve the significant history of the guns. On November 1st 1999, the display was presented to Warrnambool Police and the local community due to the historical significance of the Woodford Police Station. In 2025, these items were formally deaccessioned by the Victoria Police Museum, and ownership was transferred to the Warrnambool Police Station. On March 10th, 2025, the display was transferred to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village, where the historical story of the Martini-Henry Carbines could continue to be preserved and accessed by local families, the community, visitors to the area, and online visitors. WOODFORD POLICE: - The small settlement at Woodford was established in the 1840s around the Merri River where there was a ford across the water and a bridge from 1848 to 1851. The area was settled very early in Victoria’s history, and the river crossing provided travellers with access to the early route between Port Fairy (named Belfast at that time), Warrnambool and Melbourne. Occasionally, a Warrnambool police trooper would ride through Woodford and the district. In December 1854, Woodford Police barracks and stables were built on the hill by the Merri River on Bridge Road east, where Jubilee Park now stands. A local mounted trooper kept law and order in the area. In 1856, a lock-up was installed, and the first Woodford Police Station was in action in 1857. By 1871, the police station had been moved from the hill to land across the Merri River bridge, on the southern side of Bridge Road west, near Mill Street. In 1890, the police residence there was replaced by a stone Edwardian-style building with the stables and lock-up behind it and the old police station at the rear. The police continued to have a presence in Woodford until it was closed by the Police Commissioner in July 1917 for economic reasons. The residence was used for government housing until 1923, when it was taken over by the Education Department for the school teacher’s home. In 1995, it became privately owned. THE MARTINI-HENRY ARTILLERY CARBINE: - The Martini-Henry rifles were made in Britain from 1871 at the Royal Small Arms factory at Enfield and were stamped with the symbol of the Royal Cipher (Crown over VR) over ENFIELD to identify their origin. They were named after two of several people who helped design this method: Swiss Friederich von Martini and Scotsman Alexander Henry. The design was breech-loaded, and the inner barrel was rifled. A thumb rest was incorporated into the top right of the bullet receiver’s chamber. The small teardrop lever on the right side of the rifle showed whether the rifle was ready to be shot. In 1877, the shorter, lighter-weight Carbine version of the firearm was produced for mounted troops and artillery. Its official name was “Carbine, B.L., Rifled, Martini-Henry.” The bullets were slightly lighter in weight than those used for the longer rifle. The sight position was adjusted for the shorter gun, and wings were added to the sight on the tip, making it easier to slide the rifle back into a saddle bag. Some of the later Carbines also had leather sight covers screwed to the stock to prevent them from catching on the saddle bags. The Carbines had accessories available, such as barrel extensions with bayonets and swivels for adding slings. The Martini-Henry Carbine designs were later modified to fire the British .303 ammunition. Eventually, by 1900, the Martini-Henry Carbines were replaced by the Lee Enfield gun design. The pair of Martini-Henry Carbine firearms represents policing in the early pre-1900 days of colonial settlement; Woodford was one of the first townships settled in Victoria, and it had a police presence from 1854 until 1917. The rifles and display provide a historic connection between the location of Woodford and relatives and associates. The carbine rifles show a stage in the evolution of weapon design, adapted to suit mounted troops, and adding features to streamline use and storage. The ammunition was also improved during this progression. The carbines are important for their connection to policing law and order in a remote area. They are significant for their association with the township of Woodford, which was important to travel in the southwest Victoria district, providing access across a river for a road between Port Fairy and Melbourne, and later Warrnambool, and supplying food, goods and accommodation for the travellers. A pair of mounted rifles is mounted behind glass in a timer case, accompanied by a framed display of two photographs and an account of the rifles’ history. The case and display each have a horizontal board with a gently curved edge and carved decorations added. The identical firearms are British-made Martini Henry Carbine breach-loaded rifled guns, supplied by Britain to its Colonial troops from around 1877. The rifles are lever-action, single-shot .500 calibre weapons. They have a teardrop lever on their right side. They were used by Victoria Police mounted troops at the Woodford Police Station, Victoria. The black and white photographs were taken in 1946. The left photograph has a circled area; the right photograph is an enlarged view of the circled area, showing the Woodford Police Station in detail. The printed text is on textured paper with the Victoria Police watermark. It gives a summary of the rifle’s history. There is an inscription on the left photograph. Left photograph, handwritten in white pen: “WOODFORD” Document’s print: “During the late 1840s the small town of Woodford grew around the crossing of the Merri River on the Melbourne/Port Fairy Rad. Woodford was proclaimed a township in 1854 and a police quarters was established there in 1857. The police station remained until 1917 when it was closed and police service from then on was provided from Warrnambool. The building was then used as a school residence and is now privately owned. In !940 Robert JELLIE, then a schoolboy, observed two rifles mounted on the wall of the disused stable at the rear of the old police building. Following the devastating flood of 1946 (see photograph above) the rifles were again seen in the room next to the stable but were not seen again until the building was sold by the Education Department many years later. It was a recognition of the historical value of the rifles which led to their donation to the Warrnambool Police Complex. The rifles have been authenticated by the Victoria Police Armoury as being Victoria Police issue some time before 1900. The rifles are an identical pair of the famous British-made Martini Henry, a .500 inch calibre military weapon widely used by British Colonial troops. Victoria Police and the wider community of Warrnambool are indebted to the members of the Woodford community for their fine gesture in donating the rifles for mounting so that their historical importance can be preserved and they can be displayed for generations to come. This display was funded by the Victoria Police Historical Society Incorporated, and presented on the first day of November, 1999.”flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, martini henry, victoria police, woodford police station, rifle, carbine, display case, british, martini henry carbine, breech-loaded, rifled, colonial, single-shot, .500 calibre, weapon, gun, 1877, troops, mounted troops, merri river, victoria police woodford, victoria police warrnambool, victoria police melbourne, police quarters, robert jellie, school residence, stable, 1946 flood, victoria police armoury, identical pair, british colonial troops, victoria police historical society incorporated, woodford, bicycles, found by a schoolboy, edwardian-style building, victoria police museum, warrnambool police station -
Clunes Museum
Photograph
... british ...PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN ON TALBOT ROAD, OPPOSITE THE TURN TO CEMETERY LOOKING EAST.BLUE STONE BUILDING LEFT OF ROAD ACROSS KILKENNY CREEK WITH CAMEL HUMPED ROOF OF THE OLD BRITISH HOTEL RUN BY JOHN CONRAD WEICKHARDT UP TIL 1905 OR SO. IT WAS ON 40 ACRES WERE FAMILY RAN A FEW COWS, PIGS POULTRY, KILLED AND MADE THEIR OWN SAUSAGES, BLACK PUDDINGS ETC. ALSO MADE BUTTER & CREAM.LAMINATED COLOUR PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN ON TALBOT ROAD LOOKING EAST AND DESCRIPTIVE LETTER RE PHOTOGRAPH AND FAMILY INTERESTS.local history, photography, photographs, hotels, british -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book - British Military Uniforms, T.H. Holding, London, Uniforms- Holding, 1894
A Guide to the Making of British Military and Naval UniformsThis is a book of 82 pages. It has a red cover with gold printing, scroll work, heraldic flags and the official British crest. The pages contain printed text and sketches of military and naval uniforms, hats, badges and other accoutrements. A colour photograph of the Duke of York has a tissue covering. The spine is partly damaged.non-fictionA Guide to the Making of British Military and Naval Uniformsbritish military and naval uniforms, t h holding, 1894 british uniforms -
Bendigo Military Museum
Souvenir - MEDALLION, BOER WAR, c.1900
Souvenir token issued to acknowledge the return of Australian troops from the South African (Boer) War in December 1900.Two sided circular copper coloured disc struck as a souvenir to welcome home troops from the South African War. The device has a profile of a woman's head surrounded by flags & a crown. Under the head are words: British Transvaal 1899-1900. The reverse has two hands joined. Surrounded by words. A hole has been drilled in the top to take a chain.Obverse side: “British Transvaal 1899-1900” Reverse side: “Return of troops from South Africa Dec 1900. Welcome home Australians”numismatics - medals - commemorative, metalcraft - copperware, souvenir, boer war -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Archive - Personal papers, Leonard James Baker Collection, 1918-1971
A collection of items owned by Leonard James Baker who enlisted in the British Army in WWI then migrated to Australia and enlisted in the Australian Army in WWII. The period covered by the collection is 1918-1971.1. Photograph of Len Baker in WWI British Army uniform 2. Certificate of Transfer to Reserve 1918 3. Photograph of Len and Edie Baker's wedding in 1932 4. Letter from St Paul's Church of England, East Kew vicarage 1940 5. Letter from City of Kew 1941 6. Wallet from City of Kew given in WWII 7. 2nd Australian Imperial Force Certificate of Discharge, dated 7 May 1941 8. Australian Military Forces Volunteer Defence Corps Certificate of Discharge dated 15/3/42 - 9/10/45 9. British Passport issued 20 April 1971 from British High Commission Canberra 10. One original and two copied photographs of his wedding. The items were donated by the great-niece of Len Baker. Many can be viewed in the image carousel above.ww1 (1914-1918), second world war (1939-1945), first world war (1914-1918), ww2 (1939-1945), wwii (1939-1945), wwi (1914-1918), len baker, city of kew -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Currency - Coin, 1826
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 -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Currency - Coin, 1826
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