1937 Proof Crown, featuring the portrait of George VI
Australians were eager to welcome in a new currency when Edward VIII became king in 1936. The threepence, shilling and florin were up for major design revisions, as was the penny. The changes were put on the back burner when Edward VIII abdicated the British throne. In 1937, to create a distraction from the Royal scandal, the Australian Government authorised the striking of its first crowned sized coin. The five shillings was struck in sterling silver and weighed 28.27 grams with a diameter of 38.5 mm. A trickle over 1 million crowns were released into circulation. One hundred 1937 Proof Crowns were especially struck to sell to the public. While the circulating crown is readily available, the 1937 Proof Crown, with its tight mintage, is extremely difficult to acquire, confirmed by the frequency of our offerings. Its been more than twelve months since we last offered a proof crown.
The Melbourne Mint was Australia’s second coining facility and opened in 1872 to strike gold sovereigns. The mint did not produce any presentation pieces to celebrate its opening in 1872, a missed opportunity for today's collectors.
In 1916 the Melbourne Mint welcomed in a new era and commenced striking silver coins for the newly formed Commonwealth of Australia. The numismatic shortcoming of not issuing specially struck celebratory issues in the year of its opening was addressed in 1916.
The Deputy Master of the Melbourne Mint authorised the production of sixty cased Presentation Sets, each set comprised of four 1916 dated silver coins, the florin, shilling, sixpence and threepence struck to a specimen finish.
The 1916 Sets were the very first 'commercial' issue to come out of an Australian Mint. A portion was earmarked to sell to collectors with a 2/-3d premium over face value. Others were gifted to dignitaries.
1937 Proof Crown
1937 Proof Crown
The Melbourne Mint continued to strike proof issues until it ceased minting operations in 1964. But the issues were struck sporadically, in only the years 1927, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1939 and 1953.
Two of the issues (1934 and 1935) were the result of a collaboration between the Melbourne Mint and the private sector: the mint tentative at striking proofs on a commercial basis.
The Melbourne Mint's issues, especially struck for collectors, are extremely scarce and they are celebrated as critical points in Australia's numismatic history.
The chart below indicates the collector issues that were struck between 1916 and 1953 and the mintage. The mintage figures have been determined from the mint's historical records including letters and sales ledgers and are shown in brackets.
• 1916 Specimen Set ( 60 )
• 1927 Proof Canberra Florin ( 400 )
• 1934 Proof Set ( 50 )
• 1935 Proof Pair ( 125 )
• 1937 Proof Crown ( 100 )
• 1938 Proof Set ( 68 )
• 1938 Proof Crown ( 52 )
• 1939 Proof Halfpenny ( 40 )
• 1953 Specimen Set ( 12 )
Richard Gavin Gardiner Casey was elected to federal parliament for the United Australia Party in 1931 and served as treasurer from 1935 to 1939. The notion of a crown sized coin was pushed by Casey and was - and still is - referred to as ‘Casey’s Cartwheel’.
As a collectible, the Proof 1937 Crown was an instant success, the mintage of one hundred a complete sell-out. Whereas the coin's bulk was a hindrance when it was used as currency, the size worked to the mint's advantage in the creation of a proof coin, the majestic design offset by an expanse of brilliant silver mirror fields.
The crown design on the reverse, designed by George Kruger Gray, is imposing offset by brilliant fields. The obverse has a beautiful expanse of fields to offset the portrait of George VI.
Natural attrition has taken it toll on the original mintage of Proof 1937 Crowns with coins being mishandled or pieces simply lost into circulation. We would be lucky to sight one quality example on the market annually.
This coin is a superb example from the original mintage of one hundred. We note heavy striations in the fields, reflecting careful die preparation.
© Copyright: Coinworks