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The 1922 penny Australia value was struck primarily at the Sydney and Melbourne Mints. Some were produced at Calcutta under British supervision. This made it one of the few Australian issues of that decade with a shared mint origin, which slightly altered the die style and metal composition across batches. Serious collectors place these coins among Australia’s rarest pennies.
Introduction
“The 1922 penny reflects a turning point in the post-war minting cycle. Its quality and consistency reveal how Australia moved toward full mint independence.”
– Mark Van Blarcom, numismatist
The Australian Coin Review, 1998
Introduction to the 1922 Australian Penny
Composition | Bronze |
Weight | 9.45 grams |
Diameter | 30.8 mm |
Mintage | 12,697,000 |
Edge | Plain |
Minted | Melbourne, Perth |
Collectors recognize this coin as the twelfth issue in the George V penny series. Mackennal’s masterful obverse portrait of George V pairs with the familiar COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA reverse. The warm bronze colour and crisp lettering make it a visually satisfying piece.
While the design followed earlier patterns, mint marks set apart the 1922 issue. Coins without a mint mark came from Melbourne, while those struck in Sydney often show a small dot near the scroll on the reverse.
These features influence 1922 Australia item value, since they help identify origin. High-grade uncirculated pieces display strong detail in the king’s beard and crown band.
Design and Features of the 1922 Penny
Design continuity defines the 1922 Australian penny, which retains the 1911 layout. The obverse displays a left‑facing bust of King George V, paired with the standard Latin legend GEORGIVS V D.G. BRITT: OMN: REX F.D. IND: IMP., encoding the monarch’s imperial and royal titles.
Melbourne Mint: 12 million pennies
Perth Mint: 3.6 million
Collectors should know: no 1922 pennies came from the Sydney Mint. However, you can spot Melbourne Mint coins from 1919 and 1920 by the dot near the scroll mintmark.
Coin Value
The 1922 one penny Australia value depends on strike clarity and surface color. Dark chocolate patina often signals natural oxidation, while bright tones may suggest cleaning — a detail that lowers grade.
VG | F | VF | EF | aUnc | Unc |
$1 | $8 | $55 | $165 | $550 | $1.5k+ |
The 1922 Australian penny value rises for coins with unusual die marks or clean rims. Proof examples are rare since no official sets were issued, but a few presentation pieces exist in institutional collections.
Historical Legacy
Australia had begun to assert its independence in coinage after the heavy reliance on British mints during World War I. This coin demonstrates how local craftsmanship matured alongside industrial production.
Its legacy lies in its connection to later issues. The 1922 Australian item laid groundwork for refined bronze composition and sharper rim design used in later decades. It sits chronologically between early experimental strikes of the 1910s and the smoother finish of late-1930s pennies. As example, for collectors aiming to complete the series, the 1921 penny is highly sought after and prized by numismatists.
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