Sydney Harbour Bridge on Australian Medals
By CAA | Friday, 17 May 2024
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a few hundred thousand tonnes of steel and rock fashioned into a convenient and functional structure, has become a symbol of the nation and is photographed thousands of time each month.
Back in 1815, Francis Greenway, architect, proposed to Governor Macquarie to build a bridge to connect Dawes Point to the northern side of the colony. Decades later, in 1857, Peter Henderson, engineer, prepared the first drawing of the Harbour Bridge. It was only in 1878 that J.E. Garbett proposed a floating bridge. The proposition was accepted in 1881, but a change of government caused it to fail.
Many other possibilities were considered, then discarded in subsequent years. After 9 years of construction work, the Harbour Bridge finally opened in March 1932. It is often nicknamed The Coathanger because of its arch-based design, the bridge carries rail, vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
Medal 1932 - Opening of Sydney Harbour Bridge
This medal was made for the opening of the Harbour Bridge. Just before Jack Lang, Premier of New South Wales, was about to cut the ribbon, man in military uniform rode up on a horse, slashing the ribbon with his sword and opening the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the name of the people of New South Wales before the official ceremony began. He was promptly arrested.
Issuer, mintage and distribution unknown, this medal is often seen cased.
Specifications and features
- Composition: Copper and Silver
- Weight: Copper: 39.4 g, Silver: 99.9 g
- Diameter: 63 mm
- Thickness: 3.1 mm
- Edge: Plain
- Mint: Angus & Coote
- Artist: Rose M. Phipps
- Reverse: Wreath with ribbon at base. Legend: Harbour Bridge Sydney. N.S.W Opened March 1932 Labore Honore E T.
- Obverse: Sydney Harbour Bridge with ship steaming under it. Engineer seated and behind him standing, a worker holding rivet gun in right hand tools and gears around. Legend: R.M. PHIPPS
Steel Medal 1932 - Opening of Sydney Harbour Bridge
Despite the bridge opening in the midst of the Great Depression, opening celebrations were organised by the Citizens of Sydney Organising Committe.
Specifications and features
- Composition: Steel
- Weight: 13.75 g
- Diameter: 26 mm
- Thickness: 3 mm
- Edge: Plain
- Reverse legend: Harbour Bridge Sydney
- Obverse: Harbour Bridge Sydney.
Medal 1932 - Opening of Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sometimes seen cased and/or with edge inscription.
Specifications and features
- Composition: Silver and copper
- Weight: 53 g (copper), 61 g (silver)
- Diameter: 51 mm
- Thickness: 3.5 mm
- Mint: W.J. Amor
- Issuer: Sydney Municipal Council
- Reverse legend: Aerial view of the Harbour Bridge Sydney.
- Obverse: Coat of arms of City of Sydney. Legend: Sydney Harbour Bridge Openend 19th March 1932 Inaugural Celebrations I Take But I Surrender.
Rectangular medal
Specifications and features
- Composition: Brass
- Weight: 11.21 g
- Size: 52x28 mm
- Edge: Plain
- Reverse: As obverse, incuse.
- Obverse: View of Sydney Harbour Bridge with small ship steaming beneath and three ferries around.
Medal with ring
Specifications and features
- Weight: 5.5 g
- Diameter: 25.6 mm
- Thickness: 1.2 mm
- Edge: Plain
- Reverse legend: Made in Sydney
- Obverse legend: Opened March 19 1932
Medal - The Big Store
This medal was produced for advertising prupose for the department store Marcus Clark & Co Ltd. Because several dies were used to strike these medals, several minor varieties exist. Plated gilt and silver copies exist with 2956 on reverse.
Specifications and features
- Composition: Brass
- Weight: 25.5 g
- Diameter: 38.7 mm
- Thickness: 2.8 mm
- Edge: Plain
- Mint: Miller
- Reverse: Frontal view of Marcus Clark's George St emporium. Legend: The Big Store Marcus Clark & Co. Lt.d. • Sydney •
- Obverse: View of the bridge from south side. Legend: Harbour Bridge Sydney Opened 1932
Medal 1932-1982 - Jubilee
In 1982, the 50th anniversary of the opening of the bridge was celebrated. For the first time since its opening in 1932, the bridge was closed to most vehicles with the exception of vintage vehicles, and pedestrians were allowed full access for the day.
Specifications and features
- Composition: Gilt bronze
- Weight: 13.4 g
- Diameter: 32 mm
- Edge: Plain
- Axis: ↑↑
- Mint: Amor
- Issuer: M.R. Roberts Ltd
- Reverse: Sydney Harbour Bridge with Sydney Opera House in background. Legend: Issued by M R Roberts'
- Obverse: Sydney Harbour Bridge with Luna Park in background. Legend: Sydney Harbour Bridge Jubilee 1932 1982
Medal 1988 - Bicentennial Australia Day celebrations
Australia's bicentennial celebrations on January 26, 1988 attracted large crowds in the bridge's vicinity. The highlight was the biggest parade of sail ever held in Sydney, square-riggers from all over the world, surrounded by hundreds of smaller craft of every description, passing under the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Specifications and features
- Composition: Gilding metal
- Weight: 55 g
- Size: 69x40 mm
- Edge: Stamped
- Axis: ↑↑
- Mint: Hafner
- Reverse: Sydney in 1988 including Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Luna Park. Legend: Mcmlxxxviii Numismatic Association of Victoria L.T.P.
- Obverse: First Fleet led by H.M.S. Sirius passing rugged headland with single tree. Legend: H.M.S. Sirius Transports & Storeships Entering Pt. Jackson 26th. Jany. 1788
Born in the 1920s, Emil Hafner graduated in 1948 at the Art and Trade College in Czechoslovakia. Between 1948 and 1952 he focussed on gun engraving and die sinking in Germany and England. He continued his work in Australia with K.G. Luke and later with the House of Hawke, as well as teaching part-time at Royal Institute of Technology for nine years. He subsequently established his own company, Hafner Mint Manufacturing, specialising in high quality medals for special occasions and Numismatic Clubs.
Medal 1788-1988 - Bicentenary
This medal struck for sale to collectors as a commemoration of the Australian Bicentenary in 1988. The day's festivities culminated in a fireworks display in which the bridge was the focal point of the finale, with fireworks streaming from the arch and roadway.
Specifications and features
- Composition: Gold plated
- Weight: 14 g
- Diameter: 32 mm
- Edge: Plain
- Axis: ↑↑
- Mint: Hafner
- Issuer: Downie, P.J. Ltd
- Reverse: Australian Bicentenary logo. Legend: Australian Bicentenary AUstralia 1788-1988
- Obverse: Sydney Harbour in 1988 with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background, the Opera House in front pleasure craft and ferries. Legend: Bicentenaryt 1788-1988
Toll Token
Starting in 1989 and withdrawn in 1991.
Specifications and features
- Composition: Brass
- Weight: 8.5 g
- Diameter: 26.5 mm
- Axis: ↑↑
- Reverse: Waratah flower. Legend: Sydney Harbour Bridge Toll Token Waratah
- Obverse: Sydney Harbour Bridge. Legend: Sydney Harbour Bridge Toll Token
More medals
Modern coins
Many coins also feature the Harbour Bridge. Here are a few of them:
Postage stamps
On March 14, 1932, 3 postage stamps were issued to commemorate the imminent opening of the bridge.
