The sixpences cannot be distinguished so the proper designation is X26MS.2B signifying sixpence, 1926, Melbourne and Sydney mints, obverse 2, reverse B and the total mintage is about 3.7 million.

The 1926 sixpence occurs in two documented varieties distinguished by the shape of the 2 in the date. One variety has a 2 with a thick base and no serif, the other has a slightly thinner base with a pronounced serif. Both Dean¹ and Skinner² list the serif 2 as the primary variety and the sans-serif as the secondary variety whereas Clarke⁴ has them the other way around. I examined 54 specimens and found 46 sans-serif and 8 serif coins, suggesting that Clarke's assignment is correct.

It is tempting to speculate that the serif coins were the Sydney issue but there is nothing in the mint records to support such a conjecture. One possibility is that the serif broke off on the working punch.

Reverse of 1926 sixpence

	X26MS.2B.1
	X26MS.2B.2

Close-up views of the date

	X26MS.2B.1 Sans-serif 2 in date
	X26.MS.2B.2 Pronounced serif on the baseline of the 2.

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