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Australia 1921 (M & S) Sixpence

Mint:Melbourne & Sydney Mintage:(M) 2,631,288 + (S) 1,705,000 (T) 4,336,288 Milling:Reeded
Weight:2.83 grams Diameter:19 mm Composition:92.5% Silver, 7.5% Copper
Click to enlarge
Back
Wear
Obverse 2 - English
Click to enlarge
Back
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: None
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
 
 
$4
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
 
 
$6
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
 
 
$10
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
 
 
$15
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
 
 
$20
+
NGC
1
 
PCGS
 
 
$30
+
NGC
1
 
PCGS
 
 
$40
+
NGC
1
 
PCGS
1
 
$60
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
 
 
$90
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
8
 
$150
+
NGC
1
 
PCGS
4
 
$300
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
2
 
$350
+
NGC
3
 
PCGS
1
 
$400
+
NGC
4
 
PCGS
12
1
$600
+
NGC
3
 
PCGS
9
 
$1000
+
NGC
2
 
PCGS
19
3
$2000
+
NGC
2
 
PCGS
14
1
$3000
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
3
 
$5000
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
 
 
$9000
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
 
 
-
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
 
 
-
+
NGC
 
 
PCGS
 
 
N
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 1919 Great Britain began to reduce the silver content of its coinage to fifty per cent as a means to repay its large war debt. At the same time the steady rise in the unpegged price of silver caused Australia to contemplate the debasement of its silver coins, and pattern shillings and florins were prepared with the 'M' below the date and a star above the date to signify the change in metal content. The change appeared certain when silver spiked in early 1921 and master dies for sixpences and shillings were prepared with the star above the date but with the mint mark below removed. However, just as quickly the price of silver abated and the reason for the mark became obsolete. Some 1921 sixpences show evidence of a star having been removed from the die and so it is quite tempting to attribute the striking of these coins to the Sydney Mint which was responsible for the total mintage of 1921 * shillings. However, the relative scarcity of coins with an evident field depression does not match up with Sydney's production of 1,705,000 sixpences against Melbourne's 2,631,288 and so this conclusion cannot be justified. At this stage, it is not thought possible to distinguish the Melbourne and Sydney strikes of this date. Sixpences with a clear depression above the date appeal to variety collectors and can command a premium because of their relative scarcity.