Looking at coins

 

This is one of the fun ones, but I suppose I would say that, because I was once an amateur numismatist, working in the Commonwealth Treasury Department, and used to answer all the odd public enquiries about money and other things. You will need a range of coins of different ages.

The best fun comes with pre-decimal coins (earlier than 1966), so ask your grandparents if they have any. There are fine details hidden away on coins, like the abbreviated Latin details around the sovereign’s head, but there are also mint marks and designers’ initials.

On the pre-decimal coins, look for the abbreviated Latin description around the sovereign’s head, but there are also mint marks and designers’ initials.

A 1951 sixpence, minted in London. In 1966, the sixpence became the new five-cent coin.

Some 1951 Australian coins have PL on them, telling us they were minted in London (nobody knows what it means, but “it is traditional”, and the L is probably for Londinium, the name the Roman invaders gave to London). 

Pennies and halfpennies have KG near the kangaroo, but it doesn’t mean KanGaroo, it reminds us that George Kruger Grey designed it (and also the shilling coin, which later became 10 cents).

A 1942 penny: the dots each side of .PENNY. tell you where it was minted.

The head of King George V was done by Bertram MacKennal, so there is a BM under the neck. Herbert Paget (HP) did King George VI. I can’t recall who did Queen Elizabeth II, but there were four or five different queen heads, I think.

An old florin (two shillings, which became the 20 cents), minted in San Francisco. 

Most of the decimal “silver” was designed by Stuart Devlin (SD), and if you look at coins minted during World Wars I and II, you will find many foreign mint marks like S (San Francisco), D (Denver), I (for India, meaning Calcutta).

Spot the designer’s initials on the Australian 10 cent coin, between the lyrebird’s tail and foot.

Of course, if you can’t get any of those older coins, there are still plenty of other surprises, like gashes, scratches and other marks.

Now take a look at this image below: do you know where it came from? I came across the shot in my files, and even though it was one I had personally taken with a clip-on. I had to check where it came from. It is an Australian coin, but foreign coins have secrets as well.

Let the hunt begin! Clearly there are many more puzzles like the ones suggested here for you to explore!

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