Sixpence (Australian)
The Coinage Act of 1909–1947, authorised the issue of Australian coins in the select denominations, including the sixpence.
[3] 'The money ran through nursery rhymes up to Shakespeare; on the land, "a pound for a pound" meant good news for wool growers; two-up schools needed pennies to play; and slang words for the money, zac, traybob, deena, and quid, littered the language'.
[4] With the establishment of the Commonwealth in 1901, the Australian currency consisted of gold, silver and bronze coins from the United Kingdom.
[1] The Coinage Act of 1909 made Australian sixpence, florin, shilling, threepence, penny and half-penny coins legal tender.
[4] On 1 March 1910 R.M.S Otranto arrived in Sydney carrying the initial shipment of Australian Commonwealth Silver shillings from the Royal Mint, London[2] Other coins, including sixpence, arrived later in the year, completing the set of new Australian silver currency.
[5] This is believed to have begun with Charles II, who refused to have his portrait painted the same way as Oliver Cromwell,[7] his way to turn his back towards the man who beheaded his father.
[8] 1910: The obverse of the sixpence in circulation during 1910 had Edward VII crowned and robed facing the right, and the arms of the Commonwealth of Australia on the reverse, as authorised by royal warrant.
[2] William DeSaulles, the Chief Engraver at the Royal mint, designed the obverse of the Edward VII sixpence.
[2] The Royal Mints impressed nature associated with Coin designer, Thomas High Paget's job on the 1935 Prince of Wales commemorative medal, led Paget to be asked to join the competition the new coins for Edward VIII's ascension to the throne.
1953: Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne on the death of her father, George VI, in February 1952.
[5] This is considered surprising as the 1908 coat of arms symbol was changed in 1912 within Australia, and as such was obsolete for most of the pre-decimal currency period.
The sixpence was the most favoured medium of exchange, so that a collector would struggle to obtain all the varieties in good quality, as most were well-used and worn.
[14] The introduction of a decimal currency would simplify calculations, and increase financial efficiency, eventuating in a positive economic outcome for Australia.
[14] Gerard McManus stated in Management Today, February 2014, "After almost 50 years, in terms of implementation of a government programme, decimalisation remains arguably one of the most seamless and best executed reforms in Australia's history".
