1999 TWENTY CENTS - .999 Silver 1942 Threepence

Obverse:Queen Elizabeth II - Design by Ian Rank-Broadley.
Legend: ELIZABETH. II. AUSTRALIA 1999 - TWENTY CENTS
Reverse:1942 Threepence - Design by George Kruger Gray.
Legend: AUSTRALIA THREEPENCE 1942
Edge:Plain edge.
Weight:2.99 grams.
Size:17.53 mm (diameter).
Composition:.999 Silver
Mintage:Canberra - 15,000.
Mintmarks:None.

Valuation :
1999 TWENTY CENTS - .999 Silver - 1942 Threepence

Proof
2002

Notes:

This coin was not issued for circulation. It was included as part of a 6 coin proof Masterpieces in Silver - Coins of the 20th Century - Memories set released by the Canberra mint.

Overpaid, Oversexed and Over Here

American soldiers, or GI's as they were known, were not only accused of stealing Australian women, but have also been blamed for the shortage of coins in Australia at that time. Their great spending power often cleaned out banks of available cash, so it was decided to turn to their home country to alleviate the shortage.

In 1942, George Kruger Gray's design and a small 'S' mintmark featured on almost 16 million threepences which came to Australia via the San Francisco Mint.

A further 8 million threepences distinguished by a small 'D' mintmark below the ribbon and '42' part of the date were issued by the Denver Mint. No mintmark was used on the 1942 threepences struck in Australia, making the 528,000 pieces a rare issue in the George VI and Elizabeth II series.

Source: Booklet accompanying the 1999 Masterpieces in Silver - Coins of the 20th Century - Memories - Set.

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