1936  UNOFFICIAL PATTERN CROWN

Obverse:	King EDWARD VIII. Legend: EDWARD VIII. KING & EMPEROR
Reverse:	Squatting kangaroo Legend: AUSTRALIA - 1936
Edge:	Plain edge.
Weight:	28.27 grams (436.3 grains).
Size:	38.5 mm (diameter).
Composition:	1965: Nickel-Silver & Gilded Bronze 1996: Copper-Nickel & Gilding
Mintage:
Mintmarks:

Valuation :
1936 UNOFFICIAL PATTERN CROWN

Notes:

During 1965, unofficial crown size patterns of Edward VIII were offered for sale in the United Kingdom and the United States. The obverse of these patterns bore the effigy of Edward VIII and were available with four different motifs. These were: Australia - Kangaroo, United Kingdom - St. George and Dragon, Ceylon - Elephant and Bermuda - Sailing ship. All these patterns were dated 1936 and had a plain edge. These would appear to be restrikes of the patterns issued soon after the accession of Edward VIII.

Originally they were struck in very limited numbers, but owing to the popularity of crown size pieces, it appears that these have now been re-struck in larger numbers. In 1996, the Tower Mint in London released a further two unofficial Edward VIII crowns dated 1936. The coins, one struck in Copper-Nickel and the other in Gilding, each have a privy mark date below the bust on the obverse which reads '20.1.36 - 11.12.36' representing the short period of the monarch's reign before abdicating.