Australia 1939 Halfpenny (Kangaroo Reverse)
| Mint: | Melbourne | Mintage: | Part 782,400 Estimate 781,400 | Milling: | Plain |
| Weight: | 5.67 grams | Diameter: | 25.5 mm | Composition: | 97% Copper, 2.5% Zinc, 0.5% Tin |
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Wear
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Obverse 3 - English
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Reverse Bm - London (melbourne modified)
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Value
|
BM
Ad
NP
|
8
Good
VG10
|
10
VG
F12
|
12
about F
F15
|
15
Fine
VF20
|
20
good F
VF25
|
25
about VF
VF30
|
30
Very Fine
VF35
|
35
good VF
EF40
|
40
about EF
EF45
|
45
Ext Fine
AU50
|
50
good EF
AU53
|
53
about Unc
AU55
|
58+
virt Unc
AU58
|
58-60
Uncirc
MS60
|
58-61
Uncirc
MS61
|
58-62
Uncirc
MS62
|
63-64
Choice Unc
MS63
|
64-65
near Gem
MS64
|
65-66
Gem
MS65
|
66-67
Gem
MS66
|
67-68
Gem
MS67
|
68
near Flaw
MS68
|
69
virt Flaw
MS69
|
70
Flawless
MS70
|
Proof
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B |
$5
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$8
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$12
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$30
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$40
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$50
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$60
+
NGC
PCGS
1
|
$75
+
NGC
2
PCGS
3
|
$100
+
NGC
6
PCGS
15
|
$125
+
NGC
5
PCGS
15
|
$175
+
NGC
6
PCGS
16
|
$200
+
NGC
6
PCGS
31
|
$300
+
NGC
9
PCGS
33
|
$400
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$500
+
NGC
PCGS
2
|
$600
+
NGC
2
PCGS
20
1
|
$1250
+
NGC
4
PCGS
47
|
$2250
+
NGC
2
PCGS
23
|
$4000
+
NGC
1
PCGS
1
|
$6000
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$9000
+
NGC
PCGS
|
-
+
NGC
PCGS
|
-
+
NGC
PCGS
|
-
+
NGC
PCGS
|
Y
|
| RB |
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$175
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$200
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$300
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$400
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$500
+
NGC
PCGS
1
|
$600
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$1000
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$1500
+
NGC
PCGS
1
|
$2500
+
NGC
1
PCGS
9
|
$4000
+
NGC
PCGS
14
1
|
$7500
+
NGC
PCGS
1
|
$10000
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$15000
+
NGC
PCGS
|
-
+
NGC
PCGS
|
-
+
NGC
PCGS
|
-
+
NGC
PCGS
|
Y
|
| R |
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
"
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$600
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$1000
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$1500
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$2500
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$4000
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$7500
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$10000
+
NGC
PCGS
|
$15000
+
NGC
PCGS
|
-
+
NGC
PCGS
|
-
+
NGC
PCGS
|
-
+
NGC
PCGS
|
-
+
NGC
PCGS
|
Y
|
BM
Benchmark
Ad
Adjectival
NP
NGC/PCGS
Collectable grades
Does not exist by definition
Investment grades
-
Unlikely to exist
Aspirational grades
BV
Bullion or metal value
Not known in these grades
''
Value as above
Proof
Y (Yes)
N (Not known)
N (Not known)
Last updated December 2024
Notes:
The 1939 Halfpenny started out with the long standing • COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA • reverse introduced in 1911, but during the year's production a new design was adopted featuring a scaled down version of the new kangaroo reverse used on the pennies. However, on the halfpennies the kangaroo was reversed to face right whereas on the pennies it faced left. The positioning of the designer's initials, 'K.G', was also moved to below the tail from its position above the tail on the pennies.There were two distinct versions of the new 'Roo' reverse used on the halfpennies. The first unaltered London reverse is rare and is characterised by very detailed fur lines on the paws of the kangaroo and on the underside of the tail and the ear, as well as a series of prominent rib lines found at the juncture of the leg and torso. However, these features may only be visible on early strikes and so the easiest diagnostic feature for this variety is the double foot in the 'Y' in 'HALFPENNY'.
The common reverse with alterations undertaken by the Melbourne Mint, is generally less detailed and the rib lines on the Kangaroo have largely disappeared except for light evidence on the proofs. The most visible difference on this type is the foot of the 'Y' of 'HALFPENNY' which is truncated on the right hand side, and is best described as having a single foot. Since 1919, the Melbourne Mint had a record of altering dies, and the slight differences to the design would have occurred when a new master hub was created from the London master. The dies derived from this new master went on to produce the bulk of the 1939 'Roo' halfpennies, and the altered design was used exclusively by the Melbourne and Perth mints on halfpennies throughout the 1940s.