Collection
Shilling, 1946
The first silver coin produced by The Perth Mint
The Perth Mint
On display in the Pennies and Centre: Small change display case.
The 1946 shilling is the first silver coin produced by The Perth Mint. Coin dies from the Melbourne Mint were used and The Perth Mint incorporated a special identifying mintmark, a dot, before the 'S' of shilling on the reverse.
The reverse of the coin bore the celebrated merino ram's head design by English designer George Kruger Gray.
Reverse 1946 Perth Mint shilling
Credit: The Perth Mint
The obverse featured the Thomas Humphrey Paget's effigy of King George VI.
Obverse of 1946 Perth Mint shilling
Credit: The Perth Mint
1946 was the year that the shilling was debased, with the silver content reduced from 92.5 percent to 50 percent. The new alloy was particularly frustrating to work with. It would not cool properly, resulting in striking difficulties and many rejections.