Collecting Old Australian Coins
Threepence
The next denomination, the threepence is a small coin coming in at just 17mm. It was the lowest denomination issued in silver in Australia and was equivalent to three penny coins. The issue started in 1910 and continued until 1964.
The 1910 was the only Australian threepence to bear the bust of King Edward VII who subsequently died and the throne acceded by King George V in 1911. This is a relatively common issue which should please collectors seeking to build type sets, that being collections of one of each design irrespective of date. In circulated grades it can be found for a few dollars while in mint state it starts at about $60.
The George V series was issued from 1911 to 1936 and while most dates can be found for a few dollars in low grades and a few hundred dollars in mint state, except to pay at least $1000 for the 1912, 1914, and 1915, with the last being considerably more.
There were also two overdates issued, a 1922/21 threepence and a 1934/3 threepence. An overdate is a coin which was struck from a die which has had the date changed from a re-used die from a previous year.
The 1922/21 is quite rare and starts at about $5000 for a problem-free example while the 1934/3 can be found for under $100 in lower grades. The 1922/21 isn't known to exist in mint state and is actually rare than the 1930 penny but the 1934/3 is known and some rather exceptional examples have survived.
The coin was struck in all years of George V's reign other than 1913, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, and 1933 with the final four being missing as the Great Depression decreased the need for new circulating currency.
The only mintmark used in the series was the M mintmark from 1916 to 1921 and though the 1921 is available without a mintmark, it too was struck in Melbourne.
The George VI series started in 1938 and went up until 1952 though patterns exist dated 1937. The coins were generally struck at Melbourne, though the San Francisco mint assisted production in 1942, 1943 and 1944 along with the Denver mint in 1942 and 1943. This was due to additional demand for circulating currency from American troops stationed in Australia. These are indicated by either an S or D mintmark on the right-hand-side of the reverse.
The toughest date in the series is the 1942 Melbourne as indicated by the lack of an S or D mintmark. These start for about $15 in lower grades and $1000 in mint state. Other dates can be found for under $100 in mint state.
The final run of threepence were all struck in Melbourne from 1953 to 1964. None of these dates are particularly scarce in lower grades though the 1954 can command quite a premium in mint state and tends to start at around $100.