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Australia George V

1919-M Florin

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The 1919 Florin was the fourth year that Florins had been produced at the Melbourne Mint and the final year that they would feature the 'M' mint-mark. The total mintage for the year was 1,677,000 which was the lowest mintage year of the 'M' mint-marked Florins and as a result it generally achieves the highest prices across these types. Population reports by PCGS show approximately twenty mint-state examples, with MS65 being the maximum, and the majority of pieces grading MS62. Collectors seeking a mint-state example of this year will struggle to find affordable options and may be better served looking at the more affordable 1916-M or 1917-M.

Melbourne 'M' mint-mark on a 1919-M Florin.

After the outbreak of World War I in 1914 the Royal Mint in London became heavily involved in manufacturing military materials. This wartime necessity reduced the Mint's ability to fulfil Australia's demand for new currency. In 1914 and 1915 this problem was resolved by a number of additional coins being produced under contract by the private mint of Heaton & Sons in Birmingham. In late 1915 it was decided that production should shift to Australia and on the 1st of November the Melbourne Mint was instructed to prepare to strike silver coinage. New dies for the Australia Florin, Shilling, Sixpence and Threepence were produced in London for use at Melbourne Mint with a small 'M' mint-mark. Melbourne would continue to produce Florins with the 'M' mint-mark until 1921 when the Commonwealth Government removed the mint-marks as they wanted the dies to be interchangeable between mints in Australia.