Australia 1951 PL Halfpenny
Mint: | London & Heaton | Mintage: | (L) 6,960,000 + (H) 5,040,000 = 12,000,000 | Milling: | Plain |
Weight: | 5.67 grams | Diameter: | 25.5 mm | Composition: | 97% Copper, 2.5% Zinc, 0.5% Tin |
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Obverse 4 - English
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Click on Wear to show high points first susceptible to wear |
Value
BM
Ad
NP
|
8
Good
VG10
|
10
VG
F12
|
12
about F
F15
|
15
Fine
VF20
|
20
good F
VF25
|
25
about VF
VF30
|
30
Very Fine
VF35
|
35
good VF
EF40
|
40
about EF
EF45
|
45
Ext Fine
AU50
|
50
good EF
AU53
|
53
about Unc
AU55
|
58+
virt Unc
AU58
|
58-60
Uncirc
MS60
|
58-61
Uncirc
MS61
|
58-62
Uncirc
MS62
|
63-64
Choice Unc
MS63
|
64-65
near Gem
MS64
|
65-66
Gem
MS65
|
66-67
Gem
MS66
|
67-68
Gem
MS67
|
68
near Flaw
MS68
|
69
virt Flaw
MS69
|
70
Flawless
MS70
|
Proof
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B |
BV
+
NGC
PCGS
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BV
+
NGC
PCGS
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BV
+
NGC
PCGS
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BV
+
NGC
PCGS
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BV
+
NGC
PCGS
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BV
+
NGC
PCGS
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BV
+
NGC
PCGS
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BV
+
NGC
PCGS
|
BV
+
NGC
PCGS
|
BV
+
NGC
PCGS
|
BV
+
NGC
PCGS
|
BV
+
NGC
PCGS
1
|
$3
+
NGC
2
PCGS
3
|
$5
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$10
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$15
+
NGC
3
PCGS
3
|
$30
+
NGC
PCGS
11
|
$40
+
NGC
1
PCGS
10
|
$60
+
NGC
1
PCGS
|
$125
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$250
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$500
+
NGC
PCGS
|
-
+
NGC
PCGS
|
-
+
NGC
PCGS
|
Y
|
RB |
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
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"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
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"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
BV
+
NGC
PCGS
|
BV
+
NGC
PCGS
|
BV
+
NGC
PCGS
|
BV
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$5
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$10
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$20
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$40
+
NGC
PCGS
3
|
$50
+
NGC
1
PCGS
16
|
$75
+
NGC
3
PCGS
55
1
|
$150
+
NGC
2
PCGS
26
|
$300
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$600
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$1000
+
NGC
PCGS
|
-
+
NGC
PCGS
|
-
+
NGC
PCGS
|
Y
|
R |
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
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"
+
NGC
PCGS
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"
+
NGC
PCGS
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"
+
NGC
PCGS
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"
+
NGC
PCGS
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"
+
NGC
PCGS
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"
+
NGC
PCGS
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$10
+
NGC
PCGS
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$20
+
NGC
PCGS
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$40
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$50
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$75
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$150
+
NGC
PCGS
19
|
$300
+
NGC
PCGS
38
|
$600
+
NGC
1
PCGS
12
1
|
$1000
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$2000
+
NGC
PCGS
|
-
+
NGC
PCGS
|
-
+
NGC
PCGS
|
Y
|
BM
Benchmark
Ad
Adjectival
NP
NGC/PCGS
Collectable grades
Does not exist by definition
Investment grades
-
Unlikely to exist
Aspirational grades
BV
Bullion or metal value
Not known in these grades
''
Value as above
Proof
Y (Yes)
N (Not known)
N (Not known)
Last updated April 2024
Notes:
The London Mint received an order late in 1951 for 12,000,000 Australian halfpennies. However, the branch mint at Perth had already released 1951 dated coins without a mint mark, and so, in a major break with tradition, the London Mint was forced to distinguish its coins by employing a new 'PL' mint mark. London was unable to complete the order on time, and in turn was obliged to sub-contract part of the order to the Heaton Mint, Birmingham which used the same mint mark. A study of the left cross-bar on the 'Y' of 'HALFPENNY' reveals some coins with a straight bar and some with a hook. The proofs of this date have a straight bar confirming these coins were struck in London. A limited survey we conducted of about 300 coins roughly split 60/40 (in line with the numbers struck by London and Birmingham) with the straight bar proportionately more common, and so it is makes sense that the hook on the cross-bar was a deliberate marker to distinguish the coins that were struck at the Heaton Mint.