1942S Shilling Uncirculated

WWII Aussie Coins – Born in the USA!

Struck at the San Francisco Mint as the US assisted Australian coin production during the Second World War, the King George VI 1942S Shilling is a unique piece of Australia’s numismatic – and wartime – history.

Australia struggled to cope with producing enough coinage during WWII, with the heightened need for currency largely due to the post-Depression recovery and the influx of heavy spending American servicemen. Even with the Perth Mint brought out of ‘retirement’ to assist the Melbourne Mint, Australia could not strike sufficient coinage to meet demand, and the US was asked to step up to the plate. One of the most fascinating chapters of Australia’s predecimal story, Aussie silver coins were struck at the Denver and San Francisco Mints – including the 1942S Shilling.

The first of only three Australian shilling dates struck at the San Francisco Mint, the 1942S Shilling is distinguished by an S mintmark immediately below George Kruger Gray’s iconic Ram’s Head motif on the reverse. Upon the obverse is found the portrait of King George VI, designed by Humphrey Paget.

Increasingly scarce in Uncirculated condition, as here, we have only a tiny number in stock. Click add to cart now!

Australia and the USA – a bond forged in the crucible of war…

“Without any inhibitions of any kind, I make it quite clear that Australia looks to America, free of any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship with the United Kingdom”

John Curtin, Australian Prime Minister,
Herald, 27/12/1941

Australia’s very public call to the USA for a joint effort in the Pacific theatre of war marked a turning point in Australia’s political, social and economic history. From this point on, the USA was to become Australia’s strongest partner; as the British Empire dissolved, the world’s nations sought to focus upon a new power base.

Successful Japanese operations to Australia’s north provided the immediate context in which America’s aid was sought. However, the ways in which the bond was cemented varied widely. Australia had coinage minted overseas during wartime before, in India, during the Great War. In the second global conflict of the 20th century, Australia sought American assistance.

Why was this so? The surge in mintage figures in Australia during the war years indicates that the demand for circulating currency was high. Indeed, the fact that Australia sought American aid to strike even more silver coinage indicates that this demand outstripped our capacity for production.

The answer lies partly in the economic recovery the war provided to Australia as it climbed back from the Great Depression. The increase in commerce and employment necessitated a greater amount of currency. The huge influx of heavy spending American servicemen also required a gigantic infusion of money into the economy. We may also speculate that the fear of invasion caused a great deal of silver hoarding, with precious metal providing security against the threat of the unknown in a post war Australia. The demand for coinage was far greater than Australian mints could handle, and the US stepped up to the plate.

Of the greatest historical significance, the Australian silver coins struck at the USA’s Denver and San Francisco Mints during the Second World War deserve a prime place in any Australian collection.