Australia 1934-35 Centenary Florin

In 1934 the Melbourne Centenary Committee (MCC) entered into arrangements with the Commonwealth Government for the minting of 75000 commemorative florins to the face value of £7,500. Under those arrangements the florins were to be sold for 3/- with all profits going to a fund under the control of the MCC to offset costs from the celebrations. The coin was intended to be sold as a souvenir. The obverse consisted of the crowned effigy of George V and the reverse featured a torch bearer astride a horse and the words CENTENARY VICTORIA MELBOURNE 1934-35  FLORIN.  This reverse depicted the official emblem of the MCC and the obverse was the first appearance of that effigy.ⁱⁱ

Authorization for the minting appeared by way of proclamation in a special Commonwealth Gazette on 8^th October 1934.  The first coin was minted at the Melbourne Mint by the then Victorian Governor, Lord Huntingfield, on 9^th October 1934.

Despite optimism that the florin would be eagerly sought after by collectors as late as 5^th May 1935 65,000 of the 75,000 florins minted remained unsold.  This was attributed to a belief by collectors that the coin would be available at the face value of 2/- after the celebrations however the MCC determined that any unsold coins as at 30^th June 1935 would be returned to the mint.  However some respite became available on 14^th June 1935 when a department store chain “Foy and Gibson Pty Ltd” purchased 30,000 coins to distribute to customers to celebrate the opening of the new store in Bourke St Melbourne although some were distributed to their stores in Adelaide and Perth.ⁱⁱⁱ

Foy and Gibson coins were sold in small branded envelopes which also remain collectable.

There were also reports of other negotiations for the sale of a further 30,000 coins but there are no records of that sale proceeding.

In total 53,405 of the florins were sold and 21,595 were returned to the mint.ⁱⁱⁱⁱ

Coin Information

Obverse: Crowned George V
Obverse Legend: GEORGE V KING EMPEROR
Reverse: Mounted equestrian holding a torch
Reverse Legend: CENTENARY VICTORIA MELBOURNE 1934-35 FLORIN
Obverse Designer: Sir Edgar B (Bertram) Mackennalⁱ
Reverse Designer: George Kruger Gray
Mint: Melbourne
Edge: Reeded
Composition: Sterling Silver (92.5% Silver, 7.5% Copper)
Diameter: 28.5 millimetre
Mass: 11.31 grams
Mintage: 53,405