Coin
½ Penny - George V (1914) — Australia
Australia • 1914 • KM# 22, Schön# 13
Overview
A 1914 bronze ½ Penny coin from Australia, part of the Standard circulation coins series featuring King George V. Minted at the London Mint.
Specifications
- Country
- Australia
- Year
- 1914
- Composition
- Bronze
- Weight
- 5.67 g
- Diameter
- 25.5 mm
- Thickness
- 1.7 mm
- Mint
- Royal Mint (Tower Hill), London, United Kingdom (1810-1975)
- Shape
- Round
- Technique
- Milled
- References
- KM# 22, Schön# 13
- Issuer
- Australia
Design details
Obverse
Crowned and robed bust of George V facing left. Lettering: GEORGIVS V D.G.BRITT: OMN:REX F.D.IND:IMP: B. M.
Reverse
In the center within a circle of beads, the words ONE HALF PENNY in three lines above a plain scroll; around the circle of beads, COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.
Collector insights
- Design heritage: Edgar Bertram MacKennal (obverse), William Henry James Blakemore (reverse) is credited as the designer for the Standard circulation coins series. Designer attribution helps distinguish this issue from later restrikes or unofficial copies that reuse only the motif.
- Struck at: Royal Mint (Tower Hill), London, United Kingdom (1810-1975). Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
- Mintage vs. survival: A moderate mintage of 1,440,000. Grade rarity is usually the driver of value here — mid-grade circulated pieces are common, but original-surface uncirculated coins can command a strong premium.
- Catalogue reference: Listed as
KM# 22, Schön# 13. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.
Curator Insights
Historical context
During 1914, Australian coinage was still heavily reliant on British production facilities, as the Melbourne and Perth mints primarily focused on gold sovereigns. This issue reflects the early years of the Australian pound system, which replaced the British sterling as legal tender following the 1909 Coinage Act. The onset of World War I during this year began a shift in logistical priorities for trade and minting across the British Empire.
Design heritage
The obverse features the crowned and robed bust of King George V by Australian sculptor Edgar Bertram MacKennal, whose 'B.M.' initials appear at the base of the truncated neck. The reverse displays a utilitarian design by William Henry James Blakemore, characterized by a central beaded circle containing the denomination and a decorative scroll. This standardized reverse motif was intended to provide clear legibility for the local population within the newly unified currency system.
Varieties and technical notes
Collectors should examine the mint marks or lack thereof, as some years in this series were struck at different facilities; the 1914 issue was produced specifically at the Royal Mint in London. The coin features a plain edge and a milled technique typical of the bronze series. In the absence of documented major die errors for this year, focus should be placed on strike sharpness and the presence of original mint luster on the bronze surfaces.
Survival and modern availability
With a mintage of 1,440,000, this date is relatively common in circulated grades but becomes increasingly difficult to source in high mint state conditions. Many examples suffered from heavy circulation attrition as the half penny was a workhorse denomination for daily transactions. Survival rates were also impacted by the eventual decimalization transition in 1966, though the coins were never formally demonetized.
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Explore more
Browse more items in the full catalog or view Australia in the country guide.