Catalog
1/2 Penny - George V Trial Strike
| Issuer | New Guinea |
|---|---|
| Year | 1929 |
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| Shape | Round with a round hole |
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| Obverse description | Central circular hole flanked by two ornate royal sceptres crossed diagonally, each entwined with serpents, surmounted by a royal crown at top center. The denomination fraction '1/2' appears below the hole between two decorative stars. The surrounding legend reads 'GEORGIUS V DG REX ET IND IMP' arranged around the periphery in Latin script, referencing King George V as King and Emperor of India. The design is executed in a bold, deeply struck relief characteristic of pattern coinage. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
New Guinea's coinage was administered under Australian mandate following Germany's loss of the territory after World War I. The 1929 issues — including this trial strike in nickel — were produced to test compositions before the approved bronze series entered circulation. The nickel trials were never adopted, making them genuine pattern pieces rather than business strikes.
KM#1a is among the scarcer New Guinea trial entries. Most surviving examples come from the Royal Australian Mint's own archives rather than from circulation or trade.