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Australia George VI

1943-S Sixpence

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The 1943-S Sixpence was struck at the San Francisco Mint with a total mintage of 4,000,000. In the same year a further 8,000,000 pieces were struck at the Denver Mint. The San Francisco variety can be differentiated from the others by a small 'S' mint-mark located above the date on the reverse. The variety is the most valuable of the American struck sixpences. The type is still affordable into mint-state although it becomes quite expensive around MS65. Collectors seeking a mint-marked sixpence may prefer a more affordable 1942-S or 1944-S.

San Francisco 'S' mint-mark on the reverse of a 1943-S Sixpence.

The high overall mintage of the sixpence in 1942 was a response against a major shortage of both silver and copper coinage. One of the key reasons for this shortage was the mass arrival of United States soldiers in Australia from the Middle Eastern theatre. These troops, along with a general increase in public spending, created an unprecedented demand for coins. The Melbourne and Perth Mint simply could not make supply match demand so a deal was struck with the United States. Under President Roosevelt's Lend-Lease Policy the United States agreed to provide Australia with a substantial quantity of silver coins. Australia guaranteed to then return an equal amount of silver after the war.

President Theodore Roosevelt had created the extensive Lend-Lease Policy in 1941 as a way to assist allied forces during the Second World War. The program allowed the United States to provide war materials included but not limited to ammunition, aeroplanes, and food that could then be paid for "...in kind or property, or any other direct or indirect benefit which the President deems satisfactory." The program proved essential to the allied war effort with the total value of the aid reaching $49,100,000,000. (Britannica, 2017)