1951 Federation Florin and 1954 Royal Visit Pair UNC
Australia’s Final Commemorative Florins: A Historic Pairing of Royal Legacy
Australia issued only two commemorative florins in its predecimal history, and both mark monumental moments—not just in the nation’s story, but in the legacy of the British monarchy.
1951 Federation Florin
Issued to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Australian Federation, this coin is a tribute to the birth of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The reverse, designed by William Leslie Bowles and engraved by George Kruger Gray, features the iconic image of a crowned lion standing atop a crown, with the legend “AUSTRALIA” and the dual dates “1901–1951”.
The obverse carries the portrait of King George VI, making it a significant historical marker—it would be the last Australian florin to feature his image before his death in 1952.
1954 Royal Visit Florin
Three years later, Australia welcomed Queen Elizabeth II on her first official visit as reigning monarch. To mark this unprecedented royal tour, the 1954 florin was released—the first Australian coin to feature the young Queen Elizabeth II, just a year into her reign.
Its reverse, designed by Leslie Bowles, depicts a royal lion and kangaroo facing one another—a symbolic meeting of empire and nation—encircled by the inscription “ROYAL VISIT”.
An Iconic Pairing: King and Daughter
What makes these two coins especially compelling is that they bookend the reigns of a father and daughter. The 1951 florin is Australia’s final commemorative coin to feature King George VI, and the 1954 florin is the first to feature Queen Elizabeth II. No other pair of Australian commemorative florins captures such a direct generational shift in the monarchy.
To own both is to hold a compact capsule of Australia’s mid-century identity—a time of both consolidation and transformation. One celebrates 50 years of national unity; the other, a modern monarchy stepping into a new era.
Together, they represent not just rare commemorative issues, but a symbolic pairing of royal legacy, national pride, and numismatic finality—as Australia would never again strike a commemorative florin before transitioning to decimal currency in 1966.