Australian Rarity

Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) recently graded one of the rarest items in Australian numismatics—a silver 1860 Australian shilling pattern that bears the Kangaroo Office of Port Phillip reverse. There are other examples of this pattern known in copper, but this silver specimen is unique. 

British medallist and engraver William Joseph Taylor designed multiple types of patterns for the Port Phillip Kangaroo Office in 1855. However, none of the coins were ever officially struck for circulation, and the Kangaroo Office closed the following year. Renowned Belgian sculptor and engraver Charles Weiner moved to London in 1860 and worked with Taylor. Weiner eventually became assistant engraver of the London Mint, and among his projects was creating new patterns. He paired some of his obverse engravings with Taylor’s earlier reverse designs from the Australian shilling patterns.

Generations of numismatists have pursued this exquisite silver pattern—its provenance goes back to 1892. It was previously in the Quartermaster Collection before being offered for sale by Sterling & Currency (a dealer located in Fremantle, Australia), which submitted the coin for encapsulation. PCGS graded the coin Specimen (SP)-62.