Australia entered a new era post world war I. A carefree population keen to lessen the ties with Great Britain, establish a strong national identity and forge its own way.
Consideration was given to introducing a new currency, the Kookaburra Square Penny, a unique Australian coin that featured our native bird.
It was one of the instruments the Government believed would give us a greater awareness, and appreciation, of all things Australian.
To maximise impact, a new shape was planned with the move from circular to square. And bronze was to be discarded and a new metal taken up, that of cupro-nickel.
The Kookaburra Pennies that remain today are relics of our past, their engaging shape and design stirring up strong collector sentiment. And with such limited numbers available, collector thirst is also driven by their extreme rarity.
- 1919 -
- 1920 -
- 1921 -
Acquiring a single 1919 Kookaburra Square Penny will test a collector's resolve. The waiting time might be several years. A collector will have to stay committed to the task to acquire a 1920 Kookaburra Square Penny for they are extremely rare.
The wait may even be longer.
And that's not to make light of the effort required to procure a top quality 1921 Kookaburra Penny. A Type 11 might be sighted once each year.
This set is a unique opportunity for one buyer. It is highly historical and tells the story of the Kookaburra Square Penny. A three-year program conducted at the Melbourne Mint that started in 1919, continued into 1920, and finished in 1921, the aim to produce a uniquely Australian coin.
The set of three is captivating, each coin individually sensational and handpicked for quality. And yet each coin is different, in their obverse and reverse designs and their toning, which ultimately reflects the diversity of the series.
1919 Kookaburra Square Penny, Type 3
Choice Uncirculated
$40,000
This Square Penny has proof-like surfaces and is one of the finest we have handled.
The 1919 Type 3 Kookaburra Square Penny has a reverse design that is unique to its type. No other Kookaburra Penny has its design.
And the coin is rare. A collector can expect a waiting time of one to two years for a 1919 Kookaburra Penny to come onto the market.
1919 Kookaburra Square Penny, Type 3
• Choice Uncirculated
• $40,000
The 1919 Type 3 Kookaburra Square Penny has a reverse design that is unique to its type. No other Kookaburra Penny has its design.
And the coin is rare. A collector can expect a waiting time of one to two years for a 1919 Kookaburra Penny to come onto the market.
This Square Penny has proof-like surfaces and is one of the finest we have handled.
1920 Kookaburra Square Penny, Type 7
Choice Uncirculated
$50,000
The year 1920 is regarded as the glamour year of the entire series. And the Type 7, the most popular and most affordable.
A collector could realistically be looking at a waiting time of two to three years, maybe even four, for a Type 7 to be offered.
This Type 7 has brilliant surfaces and a highly detailed design.
1920 Kookaburra Square Penny, Type 7
• Choice Uncirculated
• $50,000
The year 1920 is regarded as the glamour year of the entire series. And the Type 7, the most popular and most affordable.
A collector could realistically be looking at a waiting time of two to three years, maybe even four, for a Type 7 to be offered.
This Type 7 has brilliant surfaces and a highly detailed design.
1921 Kookaburra Square Penny, Type 11
Choice Uncirculated
$30,000
Two designs were tested in 1921, the Type 11 and the Type 12 with the former the rarer of the two. Rarer and more aesthetically pleasing, for the Type 11 Kookaburra Pennies have proof-like surfaces. The Type 12s tend to be quite subdued.
A simply stunning coin with brilliant surfaces and handsome toning. Acquiring a top quality Type 11, comparable to this coin, will take several years.
1921 Kookaburra Square Penny, Type 11
• Choice Uncirculated
• $30,000
Two designs were tested in 1921, the Type 11 and the Type 12 with the former the rarer of the two. Rarer and more aesthetically pleasing, for the Type 11 Kookaburra Pennies have proof-like surfaces. The Type 12s tend to be quite subdued.
A simply stunning coin with brilliant surfaces and handsome toning.
Acquiring a top quality Type 11, comparable to this coin, will take several years.
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