This 1936 Proof Florin was not struck for collectors as part of any mass-marketing sales campaign. It was struck for the mint's archives and the privileged few. Because it was a specially arranged striking, only a handful of coins were struck.

Australian pre-decimal coins that were struck as proofs - but not destined for collectors - are technically referred to as Coins of Record. The term, COIN OF RECORD, is to a large extent self-explanatory. It is a coin that has been minted to put on record a date. Or to record a design.

What is not self-explanatory is that Coins of Record were struck to a proof or specimen finish as presentation pieces. And were struck in the most minute numbers satisfying the requirements of the mint rather than the wants of collectors. Forget the notion of striking ten thousand proofs as collectors are accustomed to today. Let's talk about striking a total of ten coins ... or in the case of this coin a lot less!

For today’s collectors the Coins of Record offer a wonderful link to the past and are extremely rare, two reasons that make them so popular.

There was no commercial angle in the production of Coins of Record. The mints were not out to make money from the exercise. Quite the reverse, striking a proof coin in our pre-decimal era was a very labour intensive (and hence costly) exercise that would have dented the mints annual budget quite considerably. The prime reason why so few coins were struck.

In the striking of a proof coin, the mint’s intention was to create a single masterpiece, coining perfection. Perfection in the dies. Wire brushed so that they are razor sharp. Perfection in the design, highly detailed, expertly crafted. Perfection in the fields, achieved by hand selecting unblemished blanks, polished to create a mirror shine. Perfection in the edges to encase the design … exactly what a ‘picture frame does to a canvass’.

The coins were individually crafted, the process time-consuming and the mintages tiny, therefore. 

• The dies were struck twice onto the blanks to create a well-defined, three-dimensional design.

• The rims encircling the coins were high, creating a picture frame effect, encasing the coin.

• The pristine nature of the striking is particularly evident in the denticles. They are crisp and uniformly spaced around the circumference of the coin.

This is a unique opportunity to acquire an important piece of Australia’s minting history.

1936 Proof Florin struck as a Coin of Record at the Melbourne Mint and one of four known 

Nobles Auction July 2001, Lot 1460

$25,000

FDC, with much brilliance under handsome smoky toning. Heavy striations on both obverse and reverse confirm careful die preparation. 

This 1936 Proof Florin was especially struck at the Melbourne Mint as a Coin of Record.

A piece of great historical significance, it was struck to mark the final year of George V’s reign (1910 – 1936).

Australia’s Coins of Record are admired and respected worldwide. As with fine art and fine jewellery, they have prestige value.

The crown jewels of coinage, Coins of Record add glamour and exceptionality to any collection.