1919 Kookaburra Square Penny, Type 5
This Kookaburra Penny has an extremely rare design, known as the Type 5. It has a kookaburra reverse that is unique to its design type and that is not shared with any other coin in the series. Given to dignitaries to assess their reaction, there was no packaging for the kookaburra coins (perhaps tissue paper) a factor that immediately introduces the potential of mishandling. This coin, a case in point. It has, in its lifetime, endured a bit of rough treatment, perhaps may have been cleaned. And that’s the way it goes for some of the kookaburra coins for, aside from the lack of packaging, they were gifted to non-collectors, simply a curiosity to attract comments. Politicians and dignitaries that were not trained to handle them with the utmost care. Collectors of the Kookaburra coins know that the Type 5 is rare. And this example, at Extremely Fine has been priced accordingly to reflect its quality ranking. At $15,000, it is priced to sell.
In 1919, the Government put forward a proposal to replace the round 'British-styled' penny and halfpenny in use at the time with completely new Australian coins. Proudly nationalistic, crafted on one side, with a kookaburra sitting on a branch, underneath the word 'AUSTRALIA' and on the other side, a portrait of George V.
It was Australia's first attempt at independent design in our coinage. A currency that was Australian in imagery, concept and form. Coins with simple design elegance, produced for Australians, by Australians, in 1919, 1920 and 1921. Eleven variations of the penny and two of the halfpenny were produced over three years, each a variation on the one kookaburra theme and each variation assigned a numeric design type, Type 1 to Type 13, to make it easy for collectors.
The program of testing did not move forward beyond 1921. And the coins did not move into production. It is believed that over the three-year period two hundred pieces, of various designs, were produced.
We estimate that one hundred and fifty kookaburra coins are available to collectors. The best thing for collectors is that the one hundred and fifty coins do not bear the same design.
The Melbourne Mint tested many different styles of both obverse and reverse introducing enormous interest, personal choice and procurement challenges into the series.
Four variations on the one kookaburra theme were produced in 1919 and they are designated the Type 3, Type 4, Type 5 and Type 6 Kookaburra Pennies.
The Type 5 Kookaburra Penny has a unique kookaburra reverse design.
It is acknowledged that the Type 4 and Type 6 share the same kookaburra reverse. But the Type 5 has subtle differences that have often been overlooked. The kookaburra presents a slightly slimmer version to the Type 4 (and Type 6) with a shorter beak, that extends only as far as the 'L' in 'AUSTRALIA'.
The obverse is the same as the Type 3 and the Type 4 and was the last time the legend 'GEORGE V D. G. BRITT: OMN:REX' was used. The Type 6 introduced a new legend.
We have sold only three examples of the Type 5 Kookaburra Penny. The first in 2000, the second in 2009 that was later re-sold in 2021. And the third example sold in 2011. This will be the fourth.
Rarity - One of seven known. An example would be offered every four to five years.
Composition - Nickel 75% Copper 25%
Reverse - Kookaburra perched on a section of a tree branch, the word 'AUSTRALIA' sharply curved in large lettering, the penny denomination over two lines. The kookaburra presents a slightly slimmer version to the type 4 (and type 6) with a shorter beak that extends only as far as the 'L' in 'AUSTRALIA'. The tail has four feathers, the eye incuse. It is a design that is unique to the type 5 Kookaburra.
Obverse - Uncrowned effigy of George V, portrait reduced from a metal die supplied by Australian manufacturer, Stokes & Son and shared with the Type 3 and Type 4 Kookaburra Penny. The circular legend reads, GEORGE V D. G. BRITT: OMN:REX, the date appearing below the portrait with ornamental stops separating it from the legend.
The Melbourne Mint commenced striking Australia's Commonwealth copper pennies in 1919. No sooner had the mint started issuing coins, than it was directed by Treasury to commence testing an entirely new penny concept, a square coin made from cupro-nickel.
The Melbourne Mint was established in 1872, and was a producer of gold and silver coins and had just commenced production of bronze pennies in 1919. While new to the mint, the striking of nickel coinage as legal tender had been incorporated into the Commonwealth's Coinage Act of 1909 (No. 6 of 1909), passed after Federation.
The period 1919 to 1921, sits squarely in the post–World War I period, the first years of peace after immense war-time loss. And an experimental era when Australia was rebuilding its national confidence and defining its own national identity through design. Or through whatever means it could.
For many Australians, it was a time for breaking out, of questioning and changing old values and behaviour and enjoying the good life. It was a time of great change. People forgot the old and embraced the new in an attempt to leave the hardship and struggles of the war behind them. New technology was being created, like toasters and cars, things that today we take for granted. The fashion world was exploding, Australians embracing great change in their styles of dress.
Australians were identifying with their own culture, keen to lessen the emotional and cultural ties with Great Britain. The Government wanted to tap into this nationalistic sentiment and create a new, totally Australian coinage, the Kookaburra Penny and Kookaburra Halfpenny, envisaging coins that would be unique to Australia.
It was one of the instruments the Government believed would give us a greater awareness, and appreciation, of all things Australian. A mechanism to promote national spirit.
The proposal was contentious in that King George V was depicted on the obverse without a crown. It is noted that all coins struck under the newly formed Commonwealth of Australia depicted a crowned monarch.
Contentious also the use of the word 'Australia' in the design and not 'Commonwealth of Australia'. It was a hard road to Federation, uniting the six colonies under one banner, involving decades of negotiation and intense debate. Ultimately, the six separate British colonies united under the banner Commonwealth of Australia on January 1, 1901. Again it is noted that Australia's bronze pennies and halfpennies issued by the newly formed Commonwealth of Australia acknowledged the nation's federated status in the legend.
Trials commenced at the Melbourne Mint in 1919 and continued until 1921, the mint producing different designs, each a variation of the one theme of a kookaburra sitting on a branch and on the other side, an uncrowned portrait of George V. The test pieces ultimately passed to dignitaries and Government officials to assess their reaction.
The program of testing did not move forward beyond 1921. And the coins did not move into production. It is believed that over the three-year period two hundred pieces, of various designs, were produced, of which we estimate, one hundred and fifty are available to collectors.
There is no consensus as to why the coins did not move into production. The resignation in 1920 of Treasurer, William Watts, a supporter of the Kookaburra coinage did not impact on the program as his replacement Sir Joseph Cook was strongly in favour. That vending machines required a circular coin is also refuted as is the claim that it was unpopular with the general population.
Our view is that it was simply too soon in the national psyche.
While shaping our identity was politically expedient, uniting the states under the banner of Commonwealth of Australia was deemed a higher and more important priority. And the reality is the words 'Commonwealth of Australia' could never have been incorporated into the kookaburra design, given the size of the coins.
The quest to define Australia's national identity began with the Kookaburra Pennies and Halfpennies. It was Australia's first attempt at independent design in our coinage, a currency that was Australian in imagery, concept and form.
Transitioning to a more independent identity commenced in 1937/1938. And was extended in 1966, when Australia changed to decimal currency. On the five denominations, one, two, five, ten and twenty cent, the word 'Australia' appeared on the obverse and animals native to Australia appeared on the reverse.
For many collectors the fascination with the Kookaburra Penny and Halfpenny takes them on a journey to acquire more than one example. The coins are engaging and their rarity offers collectors the challenge they so often seek.
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