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Description
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Price
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TO
PLACE AN ORDER:
If you wish to make a purchase, please send an email to
oldcoins@senet.com.au
or telephone, Midday
to 6pm AEST - Monday to Sunday,
08
8165 3446 to
confirm your purchase.
If necessary, leave a
phone message and a time to call and you will be answered. We know there are a lot of coins marked Sold
in this section of the website. It is a popular area with collectors
and authentic stock can be hard to get. Many of the coins marked as Sold are left there as a reference to collectors to give them an idea of the items available in this area of coinage.
The
Australian Proclamation
of 1800 fixed 11 world
coin values in Australia at a higher value than overseas. This
was an attempt to keep overseas coins in Australia. The
coins mentioned in the Proclamation were: Portuguese
Johanna &
Half Johanna, Netherlands
Ducat & Guilden, Indian
Mohur, Pagoda & Rupee, Spanish
Dollar, Great
Britain
Guinea, Shilling and Penny. These
coins all had a higher value in Australia than elsewhere during the
period 1800-1825. The Johanna and Half Johanna and the Spanish Dollars
and Dutch guilders and Ducats were all widely traded world
silver or gold trade coinage of the period. Fractionals of the
above mentioned coins were eagerly accepted. The Australian
Proclamation coinage values were repealed by the Monetary Act of 1825,
following the introduction of quantities of British coins produced
after 1816. British
coins of nearly any
denomination available were traded in Australia during the
Proclamation period, 1788 - 1825 and most were readily accepted as
currency right up to about 1920, after which British silver
coins began to have considerably less silver content than
Australian coins.
Transportation of
convicts to Australia began with the first fleet in 1788 and
ended with the coming of the Gold Rush in the early 1850s.
Transportation was, in fact, another version of slavery and many
were harshly sentenced for comparatively minor crimes. It was a
source of cheap labour and a chance for England to rid itself of
excess population, caused in part by the Industrial
Revolution.
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Aust
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Photocopies
of the chapter of
"Proclamation" coins 1788-1825, by Greg McDonald
(Australia's
foremost numismatic author).
His highly informative and well researched 10 page essay
reproduced here for your education on this fascinating series.
Prices are WAY out of date (written 1991) but the background
info is fascinating. Post included. OTHER
McDonald Publications
available - please ask.
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$10
for
10
page
essay
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Click on thumbnail image to see larger
photo.
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Silver Pieces
of eight or
Spanish 8 reales and their fractions, were traded widely between
1550 and 1850 and adopted as currency by a number of countries
including Australia... Machine made pieces of eight or dollars were
legal tender in Australia, 1788-1825. Spanish gold coins also circulated widely during this period.
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$
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| SPAINISH Dollars or "Pieces of Eight" | $ |
| SPAIN - 1757 Charles III Mexico Pillar Half Dollar or "Piece of Four" Much scarcer than the 8 reales coins, KM 95. Very Fine. | $495 |
| SPAIN - 1769 Charles III Mexico Pillar Dollar or "Piece of Eight" A few of the usual small merchant chop marks, Very Fine. | $550 |
| SPAIN - 1770 Charles III Mexico Pillar Dollar or "Piece of Eight" With one small Chinese merchant or chop mark, which happened quite
often with this series. Variable strike, Fine. | $350 |
| 1813Australia Holey Dollar and Dump, modern copies. The first coin types made in Australia from Spanish silver dollars. Originals in better grade cost $100,000+. | Sold |
| Spanish & Portugese coins from the Proclamation period. | |
| Johanna Brass Guinea weight. 27mm diameter, thick flan, used for checking the weights of Johanna coins.
| $30 |
| Portugal, Brazil, 1730M Gold Johanna. John
V (1706-1750), gold 12800 Reis, Minas Gerais mint. Lightly wiped, EF
and well struck. 28.60g. KM-139, Fr 55. Rare & impressive
large size gold coin, the king of the Australian proclamation series.
| Sold |
| Portugal, Brazil, Maria I Gold 6400 reis or Half Johanna, 1791 R. Rio mint. 13.79. KM-218.1, Fr 86. With lustre, Extremely Fine. | $2250 |
| Netherlands coins from the Proclamation period. | |
| NETHERLANDS. 1701 Utrecht, Silver Guilder, KM 102.1. Crowned arms rev standing female leaning
on column holding pole with cap. Fine. | $100 |
| NETHERLANDS. 1714 Holland, Silver Guilder, Crowned arms rev standing female leaning
on column holding pole with cap.KM 63. aVF. | $165 |
| NETHERLANDS. 1735 Zeeland, Silver Ducat, struck on oversized flan. Delm 976. Good Fine. | $375 |
| NETHERLANDS. 1762 Holland, Silver Guilder, Crowned arms rev standing female leaning
on column holding pole with cap. KM-73. Very Fine. | $195 |
| NETHERLANDS. 1762 Gelderland, Silver Guilder, Crowned arms rev standing female leaning
on column holding pole with cap. A few old marks, Good Fine. | $150 |
| NETHERLANDS. HOLLAND. 1780 Gold Ducat. 22mm, 3.45 grams. KM-12.3. Extremely Fine. Famous trade coinage. | Sold |
| NETHERLANDS. 1792 West Friesland, Silver Guilder, Crowned arms rev standing female leaning
on column holding pole with cap. KM-97.5. Good Very Fine. | $295 |
| NETHERLANDS. 1795 Holland, Silver Guilder, Crowned arms rev standing female leaning
on column holding pole with cap. KM-8.2. Toned, About Very Fine. | $100 |
Click thumbnail to get larger image.
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INDIAN
coins traded
as legal tender in Australia during this period 1800-1825
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Aust
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| INDIA, Mughal, Ahmad Shah Bahadur,
(AH.1161-1167, A.D.1748-1754), silver rupee, (11.21 g), Akbarabad Mint, RY 2, AH
[1162], (KM.446.2); gVF.
| $75 |
| INDIA, Aziz ud-Din Alamgir II, (AH 1167-173, A.D. 1754-1759), silver rupee (11.29 g), Muhammadabad Banaras Mint, RY 3, AH 1170, (KM.460.6). gVF | $75 |
| INDIA, 1754-1760 period silver rupee. East India Company, Bombay Presidency, in the name of Aziz-ud-din
Alamgir II, (A.H. 1167-1173, 1754-1759), silver rupee, (11.51 g), from
of the Mumbai mint, with star symbol above mint, RY5 frozen date, [AD
1760], (KM.32). Toned, nearly very fine and rare, with collector's descriptive flip. | $95 |
| INDIA, EIC, Bombay Presidency,
in the name of Aziz-ud-din Alamgir II, (A.H. 1167-1173, 1754-1759),
silver rupee, (11.46 g), from of the Mumbai mint, but struck in Calcutta
for Malabar Coast, RY1, [AD 1754], (KM.-, Stevens 7.18, Pridmore 294,
BMC 79). Bright, very fine or better, with collector's descriptive flip. | $135 |
| INDIA, East India Company, Benghal Presidency, 1759-1806, silver rupee, frozen date (1793) Toned, Good Very Fine. Indian rupees were often used as currency in early Australia. | $150 |
| INDIA, East India Company, Bombay Presidency, 1800-1824, silver rupees, Toned, Very Fine. Indian rupees were often used as currency in early Australia. | $75 ea. |
| INDIA, Madras Presidency, East India Company, gold star pagoda, (1740-1807) 12mm, 3.36 grams. KM #303. Good Extremely Fine. | Sold |
| India. Gold Mohur of the Benghal Presidency
1793. East India Company Gold Mohur, 26mm, 12.36 grams. Murshidabad
(Calcutta) mint. Dated AH 1202; RY 19 of Shah Alam II Couplet in five
lines; AH date in lower field; mint secret mark present / “Struck
Murshidabad year 19 of reign associated with prosperity” in Arabic.
Edge: grained left. KM 102. Fully lustrous, UNC. | $2250 |
| India. Gold Mohur of the Benghal Presidency
1793. East India Company Gold Mohur, 26mm, 12.36 grams. Murshidabad
(Calcutta) mint. Dated AH 1202; RY 19 of Shah Alam II Couplet in five
lines; AH date in lower field; mint secret mark present / “Struck
Murshidabad year 19 of reign associated with prosperity” in Arabic.
Edge: grained left. KM 102. Slabbed by PCGS as MS 64. Fully lustrous,
UNC. | $2950 |
Click photo to enlarge.
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BRITISH
Coins from
the c1700-1825 period. These were the most often encountered in
Colonial Australia and most were legal tender up to 1910 and indeed, many were used in Australia up to the 1960s. Listed
in denomination value descending from
1 Guinea. See
our "Machine Made coins circa 1650-1950" section of
this website
for many more British coins circa 1650s to 20th century.
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Aust
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| GB
George III 1772 Brass Guinea Weight. 18mm, brass, with counterstamp. | $50 |
Click photo to enlarge. | Guinea & Johanna coin weights
in brass
from George II & George III period. From
the "First World War" c 1670-1815 where England,
Holland, France & Spain fought for domination of the New
World. | Aust |
| GB
18th century Half Johanna coin weight for 36 shillings.
In brass, 24mm diameter, VF. | $30 |
Click small photo to see larger photo.
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British coins
from crown to penny, 1662-1825. These
were what was mostly traded in colonial Australia. Many more British
coins available in the "Machine Made Coins" section of this website.
Medals of relevance to the period listed first, then listed in order of
denomination descending from Crown to sixpence.
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$
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| GB. Sir Joseph Banks 1820. (38mm,
32 g). Silver Prize medal, uninscribed, bearing a fine portrait of
Joseph Banks, with a rich antique tone. Extremely Fine. | $100 |
| GB. Sir Joseph Banks 1820. (38mm,
32 g). Silver Prize medal, bearing a fine portrait of Joseph
Banks, with antique tone. Inscribed F.Ducane Godman Esq FRS.
Rhododendrons Feb 28th 1905. Extremely Fine.
Sir
Joseph Banks, 1st Baronet, GCB, PRS
(13 February 1743 – 19 June 1820) was an British naturalist, botanist and
patron of the natural sciences. He took part in Captain James Cook's first
great voyage (1768–1771). Banks is credited with the introduction to the
Western world of eucalyptus, acacia, mimosa, and the genus named after him,
Banksia. Approximately 80 species of plants bear Banks's name. Banks was also
the leading founder of the African Association, a British organization dedicated
to the exploration of Africa, and a member of the Society of Dilettanti, which
helped to establish the Royal
Academy. It was Banks's own time in Australia,
however, that led to his interest in the British colonisation of that
continent. He was to be the greatest proponent of settlement in New South Wales, as is hinted by its early colloquial
name, Botany Bay. The identification might
have been even closer, as the name "Banksia" was proposed for the
region by Linnaeus. In the end a genus of Proteaceae was named in his honour as
Banksia. In 1779 Banks, giving evidence before a committee of the House
of Commons, had stated that in his opinion the place most eligible for the
reception of convicts "was Botany Bay, on the coast of New
Holland". His interest did not stop there, for when the
settlement was made, and for 20 years afterwards, his fostering care and
influence was always being exercised. He was in fact the general adviser to the
government on all Australian matters. He arranged that a large number of useful
trees and plants should be sent out in the supply ship Guardian which, however,
was wrecked, and every vessel that came from New South Wales brought plants or animals or
geological and other specimens to Banks. He was continually called on for help
in developing the agriculture and trade of the colony, and his influence was
used in connection with the sending out of early free settlers, one of whom, a
young gardener George Suttor, afterwards wrote a memoir of Banks. The three
early governors, Arthur Phillip, John Hunter, and Philip Gidley King, were
continually in correspondence with him. He was interested in the explorations
of Matthew Flinders, George Bass and Lieutenant James Grant, and among his paid
helpers were George Caley, Robert Brown and Allan Cunningham. | $120 |
| GB. George III. 1760-1820. Silver Emergency Issue Dollar. Oval countermark in the centre of obverse of Charles IIII Mexico Mint eight reales, 1792, Fine, some marks, scarce.
In the late 18th century, the circulating coinage in Britain was in a pathetic
state. Counterfeit coins, both in copper and silver, were the rule, rather than
the exception. The Royal mint, rather than competing with the flood of false
issues, simply shut its doors. In 1788, industrialist Matthew Boulton
stepped in to attempt reform the copper coinage where the government would not.
A wealthy industrialist and partner of the steam-engine inventor James Watt,
Boulton had made his fortune manufacturing other small metallic objects. Using
the steam technology at his disposal, he created the first modern mint at Soho
in Birmingham. Yet Boulton was initially unable to obtain a patent to strike
coinage and instead opened his mint to merchants. The vast majority of
provincial tokens struck in England at this time originated from the Soho
mint. Meanwhile,
the Bank of England endeavored to stabilize the silver coinage. Taking
Spanish eight reales coins, they stamped on them a small image of King
George, valuing them at a dollar or five shillings. This simple
solution did not fare well with the public; the silver value of these
coins being only about 4s and 4d. The failed issue spawned a
popular rhyme, “The Bank to make their Spanish dollars pass,
stamped the head of a fool on the neck of an ass.” The Bank soon turned
to Boulton and his steam presses. By 1805, fully struck 1804 dollars from the Soho mint could be seen in change. | $950 |
| GB.
George III. 1804 Five Shillings Bank of England Crown. S 3768, overstruck on Spanish 8 reales coin, VF/aVF. | $425 |
| GB.
George III. 1804 Five Shillings Bank of England Crown. S 3768. Golden Grey tone, overstruck on Spanish 8 reales coin, Good Very Fine. | $495 |
| GB.
George III. 1812 Three Shilling Bank Token. S 3770. Laureate Head, pleasing antique tone, Good Very Fine. | $225 |
| GB.
George III. 1811 1/6d Bank Token. S 3771. Bust draped in armour type, Very Fine. | $100 |
| GB.
George III. 1815 1/6d Bank Token. Laureate Head. S 3772. Attractive old tone, gVF. | $125 |
| GB.
George III. 1787 Shilling. S
3746. Near Extremely Fine. | $165 |
| GB.
George III. 1787 Sixpence. S
3749, with semee of hearts, near EF. | $100 |
Click smaller photo to see larger
photo.
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Official Great
Britain copper
coins
from George I, II & III circulated very widely in Australia and
America, pre 1825. 1797 Cartwheel pennies and 2d were much used and
some were defaced as a sign of anger towards Geo III, some were made
into smugglers coins, some into love tokens, also they were often used
as weights, as they weighed exactly 1 oz for the 1d and 2 oz for the
2d. The penny forms part of the Australian Proclamation Coin series
used 1800-1825 period.
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$
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Click small photo to see larger photo. | Australian convict and colonial era small change coinage, c 1788-1830s period pennies, halfpennies, farthings. | $ |
| GB.
1797. Cartwheel Twopenny. S
3776. Better than average, sharp detail, EF for type. The first coins made in Great
Britain using the steam press by Watt & Boulton and
historically interesting as such. Could be used as a weight, the
1d weighs 1oz and the 2d is 2 oz. Could be used as a measure.
Were unpopular as currency because of their weight. Used in
Colonial Australia & 18th early 19th century America. | Sold |
| GB.
George III 1797 Cartwheel Penny. S
3777. Australian Proclamation coin, decent detail for type, most come along well worn, Very Fine. First coins made in Great
Britain using the steam press by Watt & Boulton and
historically interesting as such. Could be used as a weight, the
1d weighs 1oz and the 2d is 2 oz. Could be used as a measure.
Were unpopular as currency because of their weight. Used in
Colonial Australia & 18th early 19th century America. | Sold |
| GB.
George III 1806 Penny. S
3780. Australian Proclamation period coin, VF/gVF. | $50 |
| GB.
George III Bronze Coins. 1799 Halfpenny, S3778, Fine $25 1799 Halfpenny, S3778, Very Fine Sold 1799 Halfpenny, S3778, gVF $40 1806 Halfpenny, S3781, gF $15 1807 Penny, S3780, aF Sold 1807 Halfpenny, S3781, gF $20 | Email to save |
| Convict and other colonial period related items. | |
| GB, CAPTAIN JAMES COOK. 1784 Bronze medal by Pingo. 43mm.
(MH 374, BHM 258, Eimer 780) Extremely Fine and rare, only 577 made, sold
at the time of minting for Half a Guinea (10s 6d)
James Cook had first seen the Americas when, as a Master of the Mercury he
surveyed the St Lawrence River as part of General Wolf's Expedition to capture
Quebec. He continued to serve on the North American station until 1767. He twice
circumnavigated the world, first in 1768-71 and later 1772-1775. Discovered the east coast of Australia in 1770. He had left on
his 3rd voyage in 1776 and was killed by natives of the Sandwich islands in
1779. The Royal Society issued this medal in 1784 in the following quantities -
Gold 19, Silver 291 and Bronzed Copper 577. | Sold |
| Convict perid. 1823 Van Diemens Land one shilling banknote. Currency Note, John Weavell, one shilling, Hobart
Town (Dec 1) 182(3) No (53) (MVR fig. 172). Struck down to backing
paper, horizontal tear right across, frail edge, otherwise good and
nearly a full note and very rare. Ex
Spink Australia, sale 1, lot 92, 1977, also a bit of numismatic history
there, from the first sale made in Australia by Jim Noble, all those
years ago.. 46 years later, he and Colin are still flying the flag for
numismatics in Australia. National treasures they both are.. | $995 |
| Convict: Van Diemen's Land: 1850s
Ticket of Leave (a pass to allow convict to travel between his place of
work & designated destination) issued by Police Office in closest
town. Original unissued form printed in black on wove paper with
counterfoil. Approx 110 x 200mm. Minor ageing, gVF. Scarce. | $250 |
| Convict. 1853 Cessation of Transportation medal. White metal, 58mm, Carlisle 1853/2. Rim bump at top, VF. | $325 |
| Convict. 1853 Cessation of Transportation medal. White metal, 58mm, Carlisle 1853/2. Reverse toned, gVF. | $375 |
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