Coin
½ Penny - George V (1934) — Australia
Australia • 1934 • KM# 22, Schön# 13
Overview
A 1934 proof bronze ½ Penny coin from Australia, part of the Standard circulation coins series featuring King George V. Minted at the Melbourne Mint.
Specifications
- Country
- Australia
- Year
- 1934
- Composition
- Bronze
- Weight
- 5.67 g
- Diameter
- 25.5 mm
- Thickness
- 1.7 mm
- Mint
- Royal Mint, Melbourne, Australia (1872-1969)
- 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, Melbourne, Australia (1872-1969). Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
- Low mintage: Only 50 pieces reported. This puts the issue into key-date territory for its series; expect steep grade-based price scaling and a higher counterfeit risk — provenance and third-party grading matter.
- 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 1934, Australia was gradually recovering from the effects of the Great Depression, which had significant impacts on national coinage production earlier in the decade. The Commonwealth maintained a rigid currency link to the British Pound, utilizing the same denominations and alloy standards. This issue was part of the final years of the King George V series before the 1937 design overhaul.
Design heritage
The obverse features the crowned and robed portrait of King George V by Sir Edgar Bertram MacKennal, whose initials appear as B.M. on the truncation. The reverse displays a classic utilitarian layout by William Henry James Blakemore, emphasizing the denomination within a beaded circle. This design reflects the traditional colonial aesthetic that characterized Australian bronze coinage from 1911 through 1936.
Varieties and technical notes
This specific issue was struck at the Melbourne Mint and possesses a plain edge as standard for the denomination. Collectors should inspect the alignment of the beaded circles and the clarity of the scrollwork on the reverse for representative strikes. While proofs were struck in extremely limited quantities for the era, standard circulation strikes are the primary survivors.
Survival and modern availability
With a recorded mintage of only 50 pieces, this 1934 specimen is an extreme rarity within the Australian half penny series. Such a low figure suggests these were likely special strikes or archival records rather than a general circulation release. Finding examples in any condition is a significant challenge for numismatists focusing on the George V era.
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Explore more
Browse more items in the full catalog or view Australia in the country guide.