Comment

Comment by Maria De Wind on July 2, 2011 at 12:29am

The Australian Proclamation of 1800 fixed 11 world coin values in Australia at a higher value than overseas. This was an attempt to keep overseas coins in Australia. The coins mentioned in the Proclamation were: Portuguese Johanna & Half Johanna, Netherlands Ducat & Guilden, Indian Mohur, Pagoda & Rupee, Spanish Silver Dollar, Great Britain Guinea, Shilling and Penny. These coins all had a higher value in Australia than elsewhere during the period 1800-1825 and as such are considered to be Australia's first coin series, although they were made in other countries. Fractionals of the above mentioned coins were eagerly accepted. The Australian Proclamation coinage values were repealed by the Monetary Act of 1825, following the introduction of quantities of British coins produced after 1816. British coins of any denomination available were traded in Australia during the Proclamation period, 1788 - 1825 and were readily accepted as currency right up to about 1920, after which British silver coins began to have considerably less silver content than Australian coins.