Australia • Threepence (3 pence)

Australian Half-Silver Threepence — 1947–1964 Issues

Australian half-silver threepence coins contain .500 silver by nominal fineness. The reference reports 1.41 g gross mass and .0227 fine silver troy ounce per matching coin. Confirmed issue years run continuously from 1947 through 1964 across four portrait and legend types. A threepence is three predecimal pennies. The genuine photographs show a 1952 Melbourne George VI working strike, not every design or finish in the family.

1952 Australian half-silver threepence obverse — George VI portrait with original museum scale
Obverse — Actual 1952 Melbourne working strike NU5498; not a proof or authentication of another coin.
Naomi Andrzejeski / Museums Victoria; CC BY 4.0; WebP conversion · Image source · CC BY 4.0
1952 Australian half-silver threepence reverse — wheat stalks dividing 1952, with original museum scale
Reverse — Actual 1952 Melbourne working strike NU5498; not a proof or authentication of another coin.
Naomi Andrzejeski / Museums Victoria; CC BY 4.0; WebP conversion · Image source · CC BY 4.0

When a fresh spot bid is available, melt values use fine-metal content × spot bid. CashForCoins guide buying offers use the separately configured percentage for each metal. Selected rare/numismatic coins require an appraisal. Dollar amounts remain unavailable when a fresh quote or buying percentage is missing.

Verified coin specifications

Country
Australia
Face denomination
Threepence (3 pence)
Composition
50% silver; 50% alloy remainder
Gross weight (grams)
1.41
Fineness
0.5
Fine-metal weight (troy oz)
0.0227
Diameter (mm)
16
Edge
Plain
Mint
Melbourne and PL-marked issue; identify coin
Mint mark
The reference (m) and PL: issue-specific codes
Restrikes
Patterns, tokens and later replicas excluded
Issue years
1947–1964

Eighteen confirmed annual dates across four .500 silver types. George VI loses IND IMP in 1949; Elizabeth II begins in 1953 and adds F D in 1955. The reference lists both regular and proof 1951 PL issues; a mint code does not establish finish. Earlier sterling, tokens, patterns and later replicas are excluded.

Source precision
The reference’s designated world-silver melt reference and four dated half-silver types agree on 1.41 g nominal gross mass, .500 fineness and .0227 reference fine silver troy ounce. The dated tables give 16 mm diameter. Museums Victoria measures the illustrated individual working strike at 1.419 g and 16 mm; its measured mass does not replace the nominal standard. The museum identifies a plain edge. No thickness is verified. Reported ASW is rounded reference content, not an assay of an individual coin. Earlier sterling types, tokens and patterns are outside this calculation.

Calculate this coin’s metal content

One coin contains 0.0227 troy oz of fine silver.

Formula: specified fine-metal troy ounces × quantity. Dollar melt value additionally requires an approved current metal price.

Obverse: identify the front

The illustrated portrait faces left, with GEORGIVS VI around the rim and a legend ending FIDEI DEF. HP appears beneath the neck. The reference credits T. H. Paget for George VI’s portrait and identifies the KM44 legend without IND IMP. The later Elizabeth II types show Mary Gillick’s laureate bust facing right. Read the actual monarch and legend rather than assuming every wheat-reverse threepence belongs to this half-silver group.

Reverse: identify the back

Three upright wheat ears divide the illustrated date into 19 and 52. AUSTRALIA appears above and THREE PENCE below, with the stalks bound by a curved ribbon and KG at the ribbon. The reference credits George Kruger Gray for the reverse. The actual denomination, country and full split date distinguish this example from other small silver coins; the wheat image by itself does not determine alloy, year or authenticity.

History and purpose

The reference distinguishes the half-silver Australian threepence beginning in 1947 from the earlier sterling family. The four supported types span George VI and Elizabeth II. The 1949 legend drops IND IMP; the 1955 Elizabeth II legend adds F D. The annual tables confirm the final 1964 date within this scope. Museums Victoria records the illustrated coin as working strike NU5498, issued in 1952 and minted in Melbourne.

How to identify this variant

Confirm AUSTRALIA and THREE PENCE, read the full date on both sides of the wheat, and match the portrait and legend to the appropriate dated type. The nominal reference is 1.41 g with a 16-mm diameter and plain edge. Document actual measurements separately. An earlier wheat-reverse George VI threepence can be sterling, while a British brass threepence has a different design and metal standard. Similar size or colour alone cannot identify silver content.

Understanding its metal content

One matching half-silver threepence contributes .0227 reference fine silver troy ounce. Three matching coins total .0681 reference ounce and 4.23 nominal gross grams. Nominal silver mass is 1.41 g × .500 = .705 g per coin. Use the reference’s reported ASW consistently; gross mass includes the alloy remainder. Separate earlier sterling coins and unidentified pieces before counting. This reference amount is not a current dollar price or an assay result.

Dates, varieties and composition changes

Confirmed issue years are 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964. The four the reference dated tables jointly cover every year in the 1947–1964 display. Catalogue (m) is a Melbourne attribution, not an assumed literal mark. The KM44 table includes PL-marked 1951 regular and proof entries. The presence of a proof row does not establish that an individual coin is a proof.

Four half-silver portrait and legend types

George VI KM37a — 1947–1948

Bare head faces left with the wheat reverse. The reference confirms both dates at .500 fineness; the older sterling KM37 is a different composition scope.

George VI KM44 — 1949–1952

The obverse drops IND IMP. The reference lists Melbourne issues and 1951 PL-marked regular and proof entries. PL is an issue attribution, not proof status by itself.

Elizabeth II KM51 — 1953–1954

Mary Gillick’s laureate bust faces right. The wheat design continues; the reference lists regular and proof entries in each year.

Elizabeth II KM57 — 1955–1964

F D is added to the legend. All ten annual dates are listed, with proof rows through 1963. A date alone does not establish finish.

Melt value versus collector value

Preserve the actual date, portrait, legend, mint attribution and finish when documenting a collection. Proof status and condition may matter independently of reference silver content. The 1951 PL attribution should be recorded separately from any proof determination. Keep supporting packaging and certificates with the matching coin, and avoid cleaning surfaces. The museum specimen is a working strike and supplies identification imagery rather than a grade or price for a customer’s coin.

Authenticity and condition

Photograph the entire portrait face, the complete wheat face and the actual edge. Record observed mass and diameter with appropriate tools, and distinguish those observations from nominal values. Correct lettering and approximate size are useful evidence but do not prove authenticity or silver purity. Keep altered, plated, replica or unresolved pieces outside the counted lot pending examination. These genuine museum photographs do not authenticate another coin or substitute for testing its composition.

Selling this coin

Sort Australian half-silver threepence apart from earlier sterling issues, sixpence and larger denominations, foreign threepence and tokens. Count only coins identified to the supported .500 family. Use the existing appraisal form with clear faces, the full split date, any PL attribution and real measurements when available. Current dollar melt prices remain unavailable. The educational silver calculation does not establish a purchase offer, numismatic premium or guaranteed payment.

Sources and calculation methodology

The reference’s designated world-silver melt reference and four dated half-silver types agree on 1.41 g nominal gross mass, .500 fineness and .0227 reference fine silver troy ounce. The dated tables give 16 mm diameter. Museums Victoria measures the illustrated individual working strike at 1.419 g and 16 mm; its measured mass does not replace the nominal standard. The museum identifies a plain edge. No thickness is verified. Reported ASW is rounded reference content, not an assay of an individual coin. Earlier sterling types, tokens and patterns are outside this calculation. All eighteen issue years were read from the four actual the reference annual tables, with portrait, legend and finish distinctions retained. Each image-specific Museums Victoria reuse panel permits CC BY 4.0 and credits Naomi Andrzejeski. Media 215545 visibly shows the George VI portrait; 215546 shows the dated wheat reverse. Source images and separate rights observations are retained. WebP conversion keeps the original 483 × 500 pixels and photographic scale without upscaling, invented detail or design alteration.

Common questions

How much silver is in a 1952 Australian threepence?

The reference’s .500 silver KM44 type reports .0227 fine silver troy ounce and 1.41 g nominal gross mass per coin. Three matching coins total .0681 reference silver ounce. Identify the actual coin before applying this amount.

Which years were half-silver Australian threepence issued?

The four the reference dated types jointly confirm every year from 1947 through 1964. George VI and Elizabeth II portrait and legend types differ within that sequence. The year list does not establish every mint and finish combination.

Does PL mean a 1951 threepence is a proof?

No. The reference’s KM44 annual table lists both regular and proof 1951 PL entries. Record the mint attribution and evaluate finish separately. The supported silver standard remains .500 fineness and .0227 reference ASW.

References

Issue-year references

Content maintained by CashForCoins. Last substantive record update: 2026-10-11. Report a specification or attribution issue through our contact page.

Related coins

1945 Australian sterling florin obverse — George VI left-facing portrait, with original museum scale

Australian Sterling Florin — 1910–1945 Issues

Photo credits and rights on the linked coin profile.

Australia • 92.5% silver; 7.5% alloy remainder

Issue years: 1910–1928, 1931–1936, 1938–1945

Fine silver: 0.336300 troy oz

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