Australia 1939 Halfpenny (Kangaroo Reverse)

Mint:	Melbourne	Mintage:	Part 782,400 Estimate 1,000	Milling:	Plain
Weight:	5.67 grams	Diameter:	25.5 mm	Composition:	97% Copper, 2.5% Zinc, 0.5% Tin

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Obverse 3 - English

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Reverse B - London

Designer:	Thomas Hugh Paget (Initials 'HP' raised below truncation)
Design:	Left facing profile of George VI
Legend:	GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX F : D : IND : IMP .
Denticle Count:	147 teeth
Mint mark:	None

Designer:	George Edward Kruger-Gray (Initials 'KG' raised under tail)
Design:	Kangaroo facing right *
Legend:	AUSTRALIA HALF PENNY
Denticle Count:	106 thick & 106 thin teeth
Mint mark:	None
Characteristics:	Downstrokes on 'H' of 'HALF' align with thin denticles Double foot on 'Y' of 'HALF PENNY' On early strikes the rib cage of the kangaroo is fully defined and there are detailed fur lines on the paws, tail and ear. Short edge denticles

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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	$25 + NGC PCGS	$50 + NGC PCGS	$75 + NGC PCGS	$150 + NGC PCGS	$200 + NGC PCGS	$300 + NGC PCGS	$400 + NGC PCGS	$500 + NGC PCGS	$750 + NGC PCGS	$1000 + NGC PCGS	$1500 + NGC PCGS	$2000 + NGC PCGS	$3500 + NGC PCGS	$4000 + NGC PCGS	$5000 + NGC PCGS	$6000 + NGC PCGS	$10000 + NGC PCGS	$15000 + NGC PCGS	$25000 + NGC PCGS 1	$35000 + NGC PCGS	- + 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	" + NGC PCGS	" + NGC PCGS	" + NGC PCGS	$4000 + NGC PCGS	$5000 + NGC PCGS	$6000 + NGC PCGS	$7500 + NGC PCGS	$12500 + NGC PCGS	$20000 + NGC PCGS	$30000 + NGC PCGS	$40000 + NGC PCGS	- + NGC PCGS	- + 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	- + NGC PCGS	- + NGC PCGS	- + NGC PCGS	- + NGC PCGS	- + NGC PCGS	- + NGC PCGS	- + NGC PCGS	- + NGC PCGS	- + NGC PCGS	- + NGC PCGS	- + NGC PCGS	- + NGC PCGS	Y

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Benchmark

Adjectival

NGC/PCGS

Collectable grades

Does not exist by definition

Investment grades

Unlikely to exist

Aspirational grades

Bullion or metal value

Not known in these grades

Value as above

Proof

Y (Yes)
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 at some point 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 (type B) 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 on the 'Y' of 'HALFPENNY'. To date the only known circulation coin came out of the collection of H. C. (Nugget) Coombs the Governor of the Commonwealth (Reserve) Bank from 1949 - 1968 and which is graded PCGS MS65 BN. There is also a solitary proof coin graded PCGS PR65 BN which like the circulation coin was probably struck at the London Mint.

The much more common reverse (Type Bm) reflected alterations undertaken by the Melbourne Mint, and is generally less detailed. This variety is readily identified by the foot of the 'Y' of 'HALFPENNY' which is truncated on the right hand side, and is best described as having a single foot.

Interestingly, both types of the 1939 'Roo' halfpenny have strong fur lines in the ear, a design feature that disappeared with the single foot 'Y' halfpennies produced from 1940 to 1949. Evident fur lines in the ear did not reappear until the double foot 'Y' Halfpenny re-emerged in 1950.