Mintage:3,014,000 Mint:MelbourneMonarch:George VIReverse Designer:W. H. J. BlakemoreObverse Designer:Thomas H. PagetSize:25.5mmWeight:5.67gEdge:PlainComposition:97% Copper 2.5% Zinc 0.5% Tin
Values
Sales History
Current listings
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In 1938, 7 months after the coronation of King George VI, Australian coins bearing his majesty's bust were produced. All
denominations except the half penny and sixpence were produced bearing the new Kruger Gray
reverse designs. The half penny would later get it in 1939. The 1938 half penny is a relatively easy date to acquire,
with a high
mintage
figure of over 3 million pieces, date set collectors should have no trouble obtaining the date
in circulated grades. In mint state the coin is also relatively easy to acquire due to its relatively
unique appearance, pairing the Old reverse with the new bust of King
George VI, a combination which would last just two years and as such the coin was frequently the target of hoarders.
Obtaining the coin above MS64 however, can still be quite a challenge with the date, like previous years being prone to
surface hairlines limiting the grading.The coin is almost always well struck up with some early
strikes exhibiting
proof-like
characteristics. Such coins are likely to have been struck from the commercial proofdies
of which 100
proof
half pennies were produced. The flat appearance of the
proof
strike tends to result in the
proof-like
examples, which were not struck on polished planchets
looking rather dull and unlike the
proof-like
1934 half pennies,
proof-like
1938 half pennies do not tend to carry a premium over regular business strikes.
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