Authentic masterpieces...in silver

The rapid sell-out of last year’s Masterpieces in Silver – Coins of the 20th Century: Milestones illustrated the popularity of reviving classic pre-decimal designs. It took just one month for eager collectors to completely exhaust supplies of the 15 000 sets featuring reproductions of: the 1910, 1927, 1934-35, 1938, 1951 and 1954 florins; a 1937 crown; and 1966 and 1995 20 cent pieces.

In 1999, the three-year set continues with Coins of the 20th Century: Memories, also limited to 15 000 sets. Reproduced on the reverses in this year’s set are six exquisite fine silver proof designs. The year on each coin’s design reflects an important time in our history:

1918 sixpence: only 915 000 of these coins were ever minted. While our boys were at war, the 1918 sixpence gained special significance among Australians as the working man’s coin, with the same reverse design on all sixpences minted between 1910 and 1963.

1920 sovereign: while a sense of optimism gripped the nation following the end of the war, the Sydney Mint was going broke making money. Only 360 000 sovereigns were produced in Sydney in 1920, with just a handful known to exist today.

1930 penny: during this time of depression, no issues of 1930 pennies were made to the Commonwealth of Australia. Yet 3000 of them were struck. It’s thought 1930 penny dies were used by mint guides demonstrating how the presses worked – visitors souveniring these coins by swapping them with previously-released pennies.

1939 kangaroo halfpenny: without any real explanation, the 1939 halfpenny became the only non-commemorative coin to have two different designs circulating in the same year. In late 1939, the 782 000 minted ‘roo’ halfpennies were released into circulation.

1940 shilling: involved in WWII, Australia’s labour force was drained. With no manpower to mine silver this would become the lowest production run since the Great Depression. This shilling’s special place in history was also marked in 1991, when the Royal Australian Mint reproduced it as a commemorative 50 cent piece – the only circulating coin to span pre-decimal to decimal coinage.

1942 threepence: a shortage of coins saw Australia turn towards the San Francisco and Denver Mints to produce 24 million 1942 threepences. While these beared ‘S’ and ‘D’ mintmarks to identify origin, the real rarities are 1942 threepences with no mintmark – a group of only 528 000 struck in Australia.

Obverses of all the coins bear the new effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II designed by Ian Rank-Broadley.

These beautiful coins are, again, complimented by elegant deep-purple packaging. An informative booklet tells the story of each coin and its place in history. Photographs taken during these times help recall the Memories.

Owning the 1999 Masterpieces in Silver – Coins of the 20th Century: Memories is like holding pieces of history in your hand. It is the only way many collectors will ever come close to seeing designs from our most treasured coins – and most likely the only time in unblemished, faultless proof condition.

Nominal Specifications
Metal: Fine Silver (99.9%)
Finish: Proof

Price: AU$125.00 per set