1921 Kookaburra Square Penny
There has never been a better time to buy a Kookaburra Square Penny. The coin is a 'blue-chip' coin rarity. Yet in 2022, prices are a little subdued. This Uncirculated 1921 Kookaburra Penny is offered at $25,000. The price is indicative of a market that has simply forgotten just how extremely rare and important the coin is. We are not phased. It's a pattern that we have seen before amongst Australia's top coin rarities, including the iconic 1930 Penny. Yes, even Australia's favourite copper coin, the 1930 Penny, went through a quiet phase in the lead up to 2022. And it's now taken off and prices have accelerated! Shares, property and rare coins ... subdued prices present great buying opportunities. And at $25,000, this Kookaburra Square Penny is one such opportunity. It’s rare, the quality is fabulous and it’s a definite one-off. The technical shots below re-affirm its superb state.
The Kookaburra Penny and Halfpenny were trailblazers: Australia's first attempt at independent design in our coinage, produced in 1919, 1920 and 1921 at the Melbourne Mint. Coins with simple design elegance, produced for Australians, by Australians.
Avand-guard and adventurous, the historical significance of the kookaburra coins cannot be overstated.
The coins pushed the boundaries of traditional design practices, using a 'never-tried before' concept of depicting wildlife unique to Australia. And introduced an innovative material of cupro-nickel. All of which were taken up in 1966 with Australia's decimal currency changeover!
The Government planned to introduce a square penny with our native bird on the reverse. And the monarch minus his crown on the obverse!
Provocative and contentious but uniquely Australian.
Australia entered a modern age post World War I. For many Australians, it was a time for breaking out socially, 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.
The 1921 Type 12 Kookaburra Penny features an uncrowned portrait of George V.
The year 1921 hosts two design types, the Type 11 and the Type 12. And they are the most available in the series. Again we state that this is not a criticism, simply a statement of fact for both coins are still extremely scarce, and infrequently offered. It is these coins that have in effect created a market for the kookaburra coins. Some elementary economics tells us that a market is created when buyers and sellers interact, driven by a mutual interest in exchanging goods. This interaction establishes a price based on supply and demand. If every coin in the kookaburra series was like a Type 4, offered once a decade, you simply wouldn't have a vigorous market.
The availability of the Type 12 and its affordability, makes it a very popular choice for buyers to enter the Kookaburra series. It is noted that the Type 12 Kookaburra Pennies have satin surfaces and tone, but not in the same manner or to the extent of the 1921 Type 11 Kookaburra Penny. While we suggest that forty examples of the 1921 Type 12 Kookaburra Penny may exist, the collector that introduces quality into the selection process will find that the pool of available examples is vastly reduced.
Adding further to its appeal, the 1921 Type 12 Kookaburra Penny is matched in design, on both obverse and reverse, with the 1921 Type 2 Kookaburra Halfpenny. An ideal pair for collectors.
The 1921 Kookaburra Penny design R12 reverse.
Rarity - one of an estimated thirty-five to forty known. On average, a Type 12 Kookaburra Penny would be offered every six to eight months.
Composition - Nickel 75% Copper 25%
Reverse - A design shared with the Type 2 Kookaburra Halfpenny, a plump bird resting on a short, thick branch, the word 'AUSTRALIA' curved, the penny denomination in one line across the base of the coin.
Obverse - Uncrowned effigy of George V, designed by Australian sculptor, Sir Edgar Bertram Mackennal, the initials 'BM' appearing on truncation, and shared with the Type 2 Kookaburra Halfpenny. The legend reads GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN:REX and appears on all the halfpennies Type 1 and Type 2 and the pennies Type 6 through to 12. The date '1921' appears below the portrait, an ornamental dot separating it from the legend.
This Square Penny was struck in the final year of testing at the Melbourne Mint - 1921 - and features a plump kookaburra with the words ‘AUSTRALIA’ AND ‘ONE PENNY’ above and below it. The coin is referenced, Renniks Type 12.
The design is unique to the date 1921. No other Square Penny has this bird.
The coin has an additional feature that collectors enjoy. It is extremely rare for we would be lucky to sight one, maybe two, Type 12 Square Pennies on the market every year.
So if you are excited by the prospect of owning a 1921 Square Penny then you can be even more excited by the prospect of owning this particular example because it is well struck and well preserved.
The technical shots confirm its superb state.
When the Kookaburra Square Penny was created, Australians were recovering from the war and determined to lessen the ties with Great Britain. The mood even filtered through to our coinage!
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