Australia Penny Appraisal

1943 Australia Penny

This is a 1943 Australian penny, a circulating coin made of bronze, consisting primarily of copper, tin, and zinc. The reverse of the coin features the iconic bounding kangaroo facing left, a design by George Edward Kruger Gray. Above the kangaroo, the word 'AUSTRALIA' is embossed, and below it, the word 'PENNY' resides, with the year '1943' placed to the right of the kangaroo. The coin measures approximately 30.8 mm in diameter with a plain edge. This specific specimen exhibits a deep brownish-red patina, indicative of significant age and circulation. The condition is roughly 'Fine' to 'Very Fine' based on visible wear; the kangaroo's surface details such as the eye and fur texture are somewhat flattened, and the rim shows minor bruising and smoothing. There is a noticeable amount of surface dirt and possibly minor oxidation spots across both the fields and the raised relief elements. While no specific mint mark is clearly visible in this resolution (which for 1943 could be 'I' for Bombay or 'Y.' for Perth), the strike remains bold enough for the text and main motifs to be clearly defined. The craftsmanship displays the standard quality of World War II-era colonial coinage, produced under the reign of King George VI.