Elizabeth II Copper Coinage 1953 - 1964

Queen Elizabeth II Copper

Halfpennies

The Perth Mint struck halfpennies in 1953 , 1954 , 1955 , 1960 , 1961 , 1962 , 1963 & 1964.
The Melbourne mint issued coins only in 1959. At decimilization in 1966 the coin was phased out very quickly being exchanged at the rate of 2 for one of the new 1c pieces.
Mintages were very high with coins in average circulated very common. Bulk halfpennies are generally available at rates of between 10 & 20c each in bags of 1000 coins.

Uncirculated specimens are another matter. Halfpennies of Elizabeth in MS 65 or above virtually do not exist The two dates available in the highest grades are the 1959 and the 1962.
All dates in the series have turned up in Mint rolls in the last decade , the 1953 , 1954 & 1955 issues being only a single roll of each. Generally coins in rolls range between MS 62 & MS 64

The strikes of this series are generally poor. The best struck coin is the 1959 with the 1953 & 1955 being the poorest , some examples barely having a date visible. Issues are generally typical of the Perth mint being red & brown in colour. The 1959 being a Melbourne mint does come full mint red , sometimes with golden hints.

Date	Mintage (000)	Ranking	$ MS60	$ MS63	$ MS64
1953	23,967	3/9	5	25	50
1954	21,962	1/9	10	30	75
1955	9,342	2/9	8	30	50
1959	11,193	4/9	2	5	20
1960	24,364	6/9	1	3	5
1961	24,364	7/9	1	3	10
1962	16,410	5/9	1	3	8
1963	22,000	9/9	1	3	4
1964	18,230	8/9	1	3	4

In grades of MS 64 the halfpenny may command a higher price than above table indicates as 
the coin is generally scarce and the seller may want a higher premium. In this short series coins below uncirculated are not desirable

Pennies

The Australian penny is after the florin the most strongly collected series. In the reign of Elizabeth II pennies were produced at both the Perth and Melbourne mints in very large
quantities. In bulk coins of average grade sell at roughly 20c each for quantities of 1000 or more. This is not to say that all issues are common,  like the halfpenny  coins in high grades of preservation are scarce to very scarce.

Pennies in the series were made at both Melbourne and Perth in 1953. No pennies were produced in 1954. Melborne made coins in 1955 , 1956 , 1958 , 1959 and 1964. Perth issues are 1955 , 1956 , 1957 , 1958 , 1959 , 1960 , 1961 , 1962 , 1963 and 1964. Typically coins
produced in Melbourne are very well struck and are red to full red , occasionally an attractive unblemished golden brown. Perth coins , again typical of this mint are brown or red & brown
and not as well struck. Perth issues , especially in the 1950's are very scarce in MS 64 some issues virtually unobtainable in high grade ( eg the 1957). Melbourne coins are fairly obtainable
in MS 63 and scarce in MS 64. Coins above MS 64 are virtually non existant.

Mint rolls have survived of 1953 , 1953 Perth , 1955 , 1956 , 1962 , 1963 and both mint of 1964. Coins from rolls are generally in the range of MS 63 and MS 64. Mint rolls of 1964 issues are still very common. The other dates mentioned from rolls are extant probably from only one or two rolls.

This series does contain a few "sleeper " coins. The series is very undervalued for the rarity of the coins. The 1960 can be sometimes found at around $10 , as can the 1957 but both coins should be worth much more. Even issues such as the 1961 & 1962 which in relation to their mintages should be common just arn't out there in any quantities. 

Date	Mintage (1000)	Ranking	$ MS60	$ MS63	$ MS 64
1953	6,936	3/16	15	40	75
1953A*	6,202	2/16	15	35	75
1955	6,936	9/16	5	25	75
1955*	6,202	3/16	10	25	75
1956	13,872	8/16	5	25	75
1956*	12,121	4/16	5	25	75
1957*	15,978	5/16	3	15	50
1958	10,012	10/16	3	15	35
1958*	14,428	6/16	3	15	50
1959	1,617	1/16	20	75	150
1959*	14,428	11/16	3	15	45
1960*	20,515	7/16	5	15	50
1961*	30,607	12/16	1	10	30
1962*	34,851	13/16	50c	5	20
1963*	10,258	14/16	50c	2	10
1964	25,000	16/16	50c	2	10
1964*	54,590	15/16	50c	2	10
*Perth

 Similiarly to the halfpenny pennies in MS 64 or better might command a premium on prices in the above table. Most dates don't turn up with a few exceptions. Note that acouple of dates notably the 1964 and suprisingly the 1959 do turn up in MS 65.

 

Date Added: 02/03/2002

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