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Australia 1916 M Sixpence

Mint:Melbourne Mintage:1,767,884 Milling:Reeded
Weight:2.83 grams Diameter:19 mm Composition:92.5% Silver, 7.5% Copper
Click to enlarge
Wear
Obverse 2 - English
Click to enlarge
Wear
Reverse A - London
Designer: Sir (Edgar) Bertram Mackennal (Initials 'B.M.' raised on truncation)
Design:Left facing profile of George V
Legend:GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP: •
Denticle Count:140 teeth
Mint mark: None
Designer: William Henry James Blakemore (no attribution)
Design:Star above a Kangaroo and Emu standing left and right of the Armorial Ensigns of the Commonwealth of Australia. 'ADVANCE AUSTRALIA' in ribbon below. ∋ ∈
Legend:SIXPENCE
Denticle Count:140 teeth
Mint mark: 'M' below date
Click on Wear to show high points first susceptible to wear
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
BV
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
 
 
BV
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
 
 
BV
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
 
 
$10
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
 
 
$15
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
 
 
$20
+
NGC
1
 
PCGS
1
 
$35
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
1
 
$50
+
NGC
1
 
PCGS
1
 
$100
+
NGC
2
 
PCGS
 
 
$200
+
NGC
2
 
PCGS
2
 
$250
+
NGC
1
 
PCGS
2
 
$300
+
NGC
3
 
PCGS
3
 
$550
+
NGC
3
 
PCGS
8
 
$850
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
 
 
$1250
+
NGC
2
 
PCGS
1
 
$1750
+
NGC
1
 
PCGS
2
 
$3000
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
12
 
$4500
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
12
2
$9000
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
6
1
$13500
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
 
 
$22500
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
 
 
$40000
+
NGC
1
 
PCGS
1
 
$70000
+
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)
Last updated December 2024
Notes:
In 1916, the Melbourne Mint struck its first sixpences on working dies prepared by the London Mint beaing an 'M' mint mark. This mark also appeared on sixpences struck in 1917, 1918, 1919 and 1920. This mint mark does not appear on sixpences struck in 1921 but some coins show evidence of the 'M' having been removed from the die before striking. The Mint also issued a limited number (sixty) proofs of the threepence, sixpence, shilling and florin which were cased in a blue presentation box. The threepence and sixpence are easily recognisable as proof-strikes but the shilling and florin are better described as specimens.There is a theory that some, if not all, of the threepence and sixpence proofs were struck at the Royal Mint, London and that the Melbourne Mint struck the shilling and florin proofs to complete the sets. This would explain the variance in the quality of the strikes as the Melbourne Mint would have been using normal working dies, albeit under increased pressure, to strike the shilling and florin specimen/proofs. It has also been noted that the 1916 shillings that have been recognised as proofs have a 1 o'clock upset on the obverse, a mistake certainly the fault of the less experienced Melbourne Mint.