Australia 1953 A. Halfpenny

Mint:	Perth	Mintage:	23,967,360	Milling:	Plain
Weight:	5.67 grams	Diameter:	25.5 mm	Composition:	97% Copper, 2.5% Zinc, 0.5% Tin

Click to enlarge

Back

Wear Next Prev

Obverse 6 - English

Click to enlarge

Back

Wear Next Prev

Reverse B - London

Designer:	Mary Gillick (Initials 'M.G.' incuse on truncation)
Design:	Right facing profile of Elizabeth II
Legend:	ELIZABETH ♦ II ♦ DEI ♦ GRATIA ♦ REGINA +
Denticle Count:	112 beads
Mint mark:	None
Characteristics:	Round beads replaced elongated denticles First upstroke on 'H' of 'ELIZABETH' falls between two beads Stops in legend are diamond-shaped ' + ' (Christian cross) appears above the monarch's head in lieu of 'FIDEI DEF' (Defender of the Faith)

Designer:	George Edward Kruger-Gray (Initials 'KG' raised under tail)
Design:	Kangaroo facing right *
Legend:	AUSTRALIA HALF PENNY
Denticle Count:	106 thick & 106 thin teeth
Mint mark:	'.' after 'A' of 'AUSTRALIA'
Characteristics:	Downstrokes on 'H' of 'HALF' align with thin denticles Double foot on 'Y' of 'HALF PENNY' Strong fur lines in ear Short edge denticles

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
B	BV + NGC PCGS	BV + NGC PCGS	BV + NGC PCGS	BV + NGC PCGS	BV + NGC PCGS	BV + NGC PCGS	BV + NGC PCGS	BV + NGC PCGS	BV + NGC PCGS	BV + NGC PCGS 2	BV + NGC PCGS	BV + NGC PCGS	$3 + NGC 2 PCGS 4	$5 + NGC PCGS	$10 + NGC 2 PCGS	$15 + NGC 5 PCGS 6	$30 + NGC 2 PCGS 34	$40 + NGC PCGS 51	$60 + NGC PCGS 8	$125 + NGC PCGS	$250 + NGC PCGS	$500 + NGC PCGS	- + NGC PCGS	- + NGC PCGS	Y
RB	" + NGC PCGS	" + NGC PCGS	" + NGC PCGS	" + NGC PCGS	" + NGC PCGS	" + NGC PCGS	" + NGC PCGS	" + 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 13	$50 + NGC 4 PCGS 168	$75 + NGC 2 PCGS 64	$150 + NGC PCGS 4	$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	" + NGC PCGS	" + NGC PCGS	" + NGC PCGS	" + NGC PCGS	" + NGC PCGS	" + NGC PCGS	$10 + NGC PCGS	$20 + NGC PCGS	$40 + NGC PCGS	$50 + NGC PCGS	$75 + NGC PCGS	$150 + NGC PCGS 1	$300 + NGC PCGS 1	$600 + NGC PCGS	$1000 + NGC PCGS	$2000 + NGC PCGS	- + NGC PCGS	- + NGC PCGS	Y

Click here for Half Penny quick reference price guide

Benchmark

Adjectival

NGC/PCGS

Collectable grades

Does not exist by definition

Investment grades

Unlikely to exist

Aspirational grades

Bullion or metal value

Not known in these grades

Value as above

Proof

Y (Yes)
N (Not known)

Last updated April 2024

Notes:

In 1952, Elizabeth II ascended the throne and both the Perth and Melbourne mints were experimenting with low relief reverse dies to match the shallow portrait of the new queen which was to appear on the 1953 halfpenny. The 'A•' mint mark occurred for just two years and it is possible, but hard to establish, that it was used to distinguish an experimental shallow reverse on a small stop gap run of 1952 halfpennies bearing the portrait of George VI and the larger production of Queen Elizabeth II halfpennies struck in 1953. The dies for the new obverse were supplied by the Melbourne Mint from a London master, and for the first time feature diamond shaped stops in the legend. Also for the first time a form of the Christian cross appeared in the legend above the head of Queen Elizabeth in lieu of 'FIDEI DEF' (Defender of the Faith). This substitution was not understood by the conservative population and an abbreviated 'F:D' was re-instated on the 1959 Halfpenny.