Numismatics: Australia: Pennies

Penny reverse master die types

Contents:

The lettered reverses of George V
Distinguishing the lettered reverses
The kangaroo reverses

The lettered reverses

Reverse A: "London"

Used at London, Melbourne and Sydney mints, 1911-1931. 174 rim denticles.

Reverse B: "Birmingham"

Used at the Heaton, London, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth mints, 1912-1936. 177 rim denticles.

Reverse C: "Calcutta"

Used at the Calcutta, Sydney and Melbourne mints, 1916-1920. 178 rim denticles.

**The lettered reverses**
	Reverse A: "London" Used at London, Melbourne and Sydney mints, 1911-1931. 174 rim denticles.
	Reverse B: "Birmingham" Used at the Heaton, London, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth mints, 1912-1936. 177 rim denticles.
	Reverse C: "Calcutta" Used at the Calcutta, Sydney and Melbourne mints, 1916-1920. 178 rim denticles.

The lettered reverses are easy enough to distinguish without counting rim denticles. Paul Holland documented the following methods, all based on the letters ALIA in AUSTRALIA.

Distinguishing the lettered reverses

Reverse A: (London)

AL aligned with rim denticles, IA aligned with gaps between denticles.

Reverse B: (Birmingham)

AL aligned between denticles, IA aligned with denticles.

Reverse C: (Calcutta)

L aligned under a rim denticle, both As and the I aligned with gaps between denticles.

The kangaroo reverses

Reverse D "Melbourne"

Used at Melbourne and Perth, 1938-1964. Rim embellishment comprises alternating thick and thin denticles, 81 of each. The vertical strokes of the P in PENNY and of the U in AUSTRALIA point at thick denticles while those of the L and I point at thin denticles.

Reverse E: "Bombay 42"

Used at the Bombay mint in 1942 and for a small portion of the 1943 minting. Similar to reverse D except that the rim denticles are considerably taller, there are only 77 of each. Also, the kangaroo is in lower relief and the lettering is somewhat bolder than on reverse D. Both the P and the Y of PENNY are aligned with thicker rim denticles and there are large dots before and after the P and Y respectively.

Reverse F: "Bombay 43"

Identical to reverse E except that the rim denticles are shorter, more like those of reverse D. Used at the Bombay mint for most of the 1943 issue.

Reverse G "Perth"

Very similar to reverse D, also having 81 thick and thin denticles. Differences include the alignment of the P in PENNY which now points at a thin denticle and the L and I in AUSTRALIA which point at wide denticles. This reverse was used at the London and Perth mints, 1951-1955.

Reverse H

Again very similar to reverse D with 81 denticle pairs. The uprights of the U in AUSTRALIA point at thin denticles. Used at the Melbourne mint 1953-1959.

Reverse I

Used at the Perth mint1956-1964 this is yet again similar to reverse D. The uprights of the first N in PENNY point at thick denticles and those of the second N point at thin denticles. The vertical strokes of the U, L and I in AUSTRALIA all point at thick denticles.

**Distinguishing the lettered reverses**
	Reverse A: (London) AL aligned with rim denticles, IA aligned with gaps between denticles.
	Reverse B: (Birmingham) AL aligned between denticles, IA aligned with denticles.
	Reverse C: (Calcutta) L aligned under a rim denticle, both As and the I aligned with gaps between denticles.

**The kangaroo reverses**
	Reverse D "Melbourne" Used at Melbourne and Perth, 1938-1964. Rim embellishment comprises alternating thick and thin denticles, 81 of each. The vertical strokes of the P in PENNY and of the U in AUSTRALIA point at thick denticles while those of the L and I point at thin denticles.
	Reverse E: "Bombay 42" Used at the Bombay mint in 1942 and for a small portion of the 1943 minting. Similar to reverse D except that the rim denticles are considerably taller, there are only 77 of each. Also, the kangaroo is in lower relief and the lettering is somewhat bolder than on reverse D. Both the P and the Y of PENNY are aligned with thicker rim denticles and there are large dots before and after the P and Y respectively.
	Reverse F: "Bombay 43" Identical to reverse E except that the rim denticles are shorter, more like those of reverse D. Used at the Bombay mint for most of the 1943 issue.
	Reverse G "Perth" Very similar to reverse D, also having 81 thick and thin denticles. Differences include the alignment of the P in PENNY which now points at a thin denticle and the L and I in AUSTRALIA which point at wide denticles. This reverse was used at the London and Perth mints, 1951-1955.
	Reverse H Again very similar to reverse D with 81 denticle pairs. The uprights of the U in AUSTRALIA point at thin denticles. Used at the Melbourne mint 1953-1959.
	Reverse I Used at the Perth mint1956-1964 this is yet again similar to reverse D. The uprights of the first N in PENNY point at thick denticles and those of the second N point at thin denticles. The vertical strokes of the U, L and I in AUSTRALIA all point at thick denticles.

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