Halfpenny (Australian)
The Australian pre-decimal halfpenny coin, commonly known as a ha’penny (pronounced ), was the smallest denomination of the Australian Pound in circulation. It was a unit of currency that equalled half of a penny, of a shilling, or of a pound. The coin was made to be equivalent to the British halfpenny; its dimensions, composition and values were equivalent, and additionally, the two currencies were fixed at par. The coin was first introduced in 1911, and minting ceased in 1965 with the introduction of the decimal system. When decimalisation occurred on 14 February 1966, the coin value was made equivalent to of a cent (= 0.41666 c). The obverse of the coin featured the current reigning monarch of Australia (excluding 1936 when Edward VIII was King). Three monarchs were featured; King George V, King George VI, and Queen Elizabeth II. All halfpennies produced with George VI and Elizabeth II had the Kangaroo Reverse. Australian Halfpennies were minted at different locational, nationally and internationally over the years from 1911 to 1964. Within Australia, halfpennies were minted in Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Internationally, they were minted in India (Calcutta and Bombay), and England (London and Birmingham), each signified by different mint marks. History King George V (1911–1936) George V became King of the United Kingdom in 1910 after the death of King Edward VII. Subsequently, coins minted for Australia by the Royal Mint, London, dated 1911, were altered on the obverse only. Bronze halfpennies (and pennies) were issued for the first time this year. Australian halfpennies depicting George V feature him robed and crowned on the obverse, facing to the left and from bust up. The effigy of George V used is known to "grace the vast majority of Australia’s rarest and most desirable Commonwealth coins." The reverse during this time consisted of the words "ONE HALF PENNY" in three lines at the centre, surrounded by a beaded circle. A small scroll is located under the word "PENNY" within the beaded circle, and the legend "COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA" with the issued date surrounding the circle of beads. Depending on the place of mintage, certain coins could also contain a small mintmark located under the scroll. In 1916, during minting of Australian halfpennies in Kolkata, an extremely rare error coin was produced in which a coin blank with a halfpenny reverse and an Indian quarter anna obverse was struck. The error came to light in 1965, and around 7 to 9 are known to exist. In 1936, Edward VIII was crowned as king from 20 January, until he abdicated that same year, on 11 December. However, during this year, all Australian coins continued to bear the bust of George V. King George VI (1938–1952) On 11 December 1936, George VI came to the throne on the abdication of Edward VIII. In the first few years of his reign, the halfpenny continued to use the "Commonwealth of Australia" design. However, In 1939, there were two different types of the reverse struck—one of the previous