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1 Penny - George V Kookaburra Pattern - Type 13 (Renniks 12)
| Issuer | Australia |
|---|---|
| Year | 1921 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Penny (1⁄240) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | GEORGIVS V D.G.BRITT.OMN:REX BM 1921 (Translation: George V by the Grace of God, King of all the British territories) |
| Reverse description | A naturalistically rendered kookaburra perches in profile facing right upon a short, thick branch positioned in the central field. The bird is depicted with fine feather detailing and a characteristically large, robust bill. The legend 'AUSTRALIA' arcs along the upper portion of the square flan, while 'ONE PENNY' is boldly inscribed along the lower margin. The design fills the square field with rounded corners effectively, giving the pattern a bold and distinctive aesthetic that distinguished it from the circulating round penny coinage of the era. |
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| Additional information |
Australia's penny coinage question dragged on for years. By 1921, the federal government had grown serious about replacing the inherited British bronze penny with something distinctly Australian, and the kookaburra became the leading candidate for the reverse design. Dozens of pattern types were struck in varying compositions and sizes — Renniks catalogued at least 15 distinct kookaburra penny varieties from this period alone.
The copper-nickel composition of this Type 13 piece reflects experimentation driven partly by postwar metal economics and partly by genuine uncertainty about what alloy would best suit Australian conditions. The programme was ultimately abandoned; the kookaburra never reached circulation, and Australia continued using the British-style bronze penny until decimal conversion in 1966.