Australian Kangaroo Penny

Australia (Melbourne / Perth / Sydney / Bombay Mints) · 1943

A bronze Australian penny featuring the uncrowned portrait of King George VI on the obverse and a bounding kangaroo with a seven-pointed star on the reverse.

Country: Australia (Melbourne / Perth / Sydney / Bombay Mints)
Year: 1943
Denomination: One Penny
Metal: 97% Copper, 0.5% Tin, 2.5% Zinc

This report is AI-generated and can be wrong. Always verify grade, authenticity, and value with a qualified dealer or certified grading service before buying, selling, or insuring.

Identified August 27, 2026More australia (melbourne / perth / sydney / bombay mints) coins →

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Overview

A bronze Australian penny featuring the uncrowned portrait of King George VI on the obverse and a bounding kangaroo with a seven-pointed star on the reverse.

Historical significance

Issued during the height of World War II, Australian coinage experienced significant production changes as mints across Australia and abroad (such as Bombay and Denver) assisted in striking currency to meet wartime demand.

Obverse (front)

Bare head of King George VI facing left, surrounded by the legend 'GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX F:D:IND:IMP.'

Reverse (back)

A bounding kangaroo facing left with the word 'AUSTRALIA' arched above, 'PENNY' below, the date '1943' to the right, and a seven-pointed federation star to the left. Designer initials KG are visible to the right of the kangaroo's tail.

Estimated value

$2 - $15 depending on condition (higher for uncirculated or rare mint marks like the 1943-I Bombay mint)

What drives this coin's value

Overall condition, presence of original mint red, wartime mint marks, and specific die varieties

Grade assessment

About Uncirculated (AU) to Mint State (MS) with nice original luster and minimal wear

Mintage & rarity

Common, though certain wartime mint mark varieties carry higher premiums

Authenticity & counterfeit red flags

Check weight and dimensions precisely; modern counterfeits are rare for common date Australian bronze pennies due to low face value, but beware of altered dates.

Notable varieties & errors

Wartime mint marks (such as 1943-I from Bombay) and various minor doublings or die cracks

Similar coins

British pennies of George VI, Australian half pennies from the same era

Care & preservation

Store in a cool, dry place in archival-safe flips or holders. Do not clean, as harsh cleaning destroys original mint luster and severely reduces numismatic value.