Australasian Tokens and Coins
The Australian Pattern Shilling and Sixpence
These pieces, about which little is known, are generally supposed to have been issued from the Kangaroo Office originally. The dies certainly were prepared by W. J. Taylor in England, but whether either they or the pieces themselves were sent to Australia is unknown. When Dr. Roth made his inquiries in 1892 in England, Taylor had already passed away, and his successors were unable to state anything more definitely concerning the date and object of the issue than that they were struck in gold, silver, and copper, somewhere about 1855, or a little later.
Since that time one or more re-strikes have been issued, but it is believed that the original sets were all milled (and these are certainly the rarer), the sub- sequent issues having plain edges; there is also reason for supposing that the first issues had their reverses upset, but this is not certain. In the early sixties the reverse of the Australian shilling was muled with the obverse of two or three varieties of the English pattern“ Wiener” shillings, and copies taken both in silver and copper. A specimen of this, with patterns of the shilling and sixpence in gold, silver, and copper, both with milled and plain edges, are in the cabinet of the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
After Taylor's death the puncheons used for these coins passed into the hands of Dr. Bousfield, with other dies, and became part of his extensive collection.
790
* Pattern Shilling (n.d.). 22 mm. (W. J. Taylor fecit.) Pl. 56.
- Obverse. Head of Queen Victoria wreathed with rose, shamrock and thistle in centre. On broad raised engine-turned rim VICTORIA incuse above, AUSTRALIA below.
- Reverse. A large figure I (grained) in centre, and on broad raised engine-turned rim, ONE SHILLING incuse above. Edge milled.
791
* Pattern shilling (n.d.). 22 mm. Made in gold.
- Obverse. As No. 790.
- Reverse. As No. 790. Edge milled.
792
* Pattern shilling (n.d.). 22 mm. Made in copper.
- Obverse. As No. 790.
- Reverse. As No. 790. Edge milled.
793
Pattern shilling (n.d.). 22 mm. Silver.
- Obverse. Has a varied head of Queen Victoria by Wiener with his initials on the base of the neck and VICTORIA DEI GRATIA on the rim.
- Reverse. As No. 790. Edge plain.
794
* Pattern shilling (n.d.). 22 mm. Made in copper.
- Obverse. As No. 790.
- Reverse. As No. 790. Edge plain. Other varieties of shillings muled with other of Wiener's designs are known both in silver and copper.
795
* Pattern Sixpence (n.d.). 19 mm. Pl. 56.
- Obverse. As the shilling, No. 790.
- Reverse. As the shilling, No. 790, with a figure 6 in centre and SIXPENCE on the raised rim. Edge milled.
796
* Pattern Sixpence (n.d.). 19 mm. Made in gold.
- Obverse. As No. 795.
- Reverse. As No. 795. Edge milled.
797
* Pattern Sixpence (n.d.). 19 mm. Made in copper.
- Obverse. As No. 795.
- Reverse. As No. 795. Edge milled.
Patterns of this piece in gold, silver, and copper with plain edge are known.
