Description
British Empire, Australia, King George V (1910-1936 AD), Silver Florin (11.30g, 28mm), 1934-35, 100th Anniversary of Victora and Melbourne commemorative issue, Royal mint Melbourne branch. Obverse: Crowned bust of King George V facing to the left, wearing coronation robes, legend surrounds, “GEORGE V KING EMPEROR”. Reverse: Naked rider advancing to the left on horseback, laureate and holding torch aloft in right hand, engraver’s initials “KG” (George Kruger Gray) to the left above exergual-ground line, denomination in exergue, legend surrounds, “CENTENARY· VICTORIA· MELBOURNE· 1934-35·”. KM-33. Mintage 54,000. Some minor hairlines and little rim bump to 4h rev., otherwise bold and most impressive detail, a very collectible example, near Mint State.
Issued to commemorate the 100th year anniversary of the State of Victoria (1834) and her capital city Melbourne (1835), the ‘Melbourne-Centenary’ Florin was struck to a mintage of 75,000 and sold at a premium of 1 shilling over face, 3 shillings total, during the celebrations. At the close of the event, 54,000 florins had been sold and the 21,000 remaining were sent back to the Royal mint Melbourne branch to be melted down.