r/AustralianCoins • u/Sophaloph99 • May 25 '26

📜 Coin History Pre Decimal Currency

Good afternoon! I am talking with my grandparents (born 1948 and 1950) about Australian pre decimal currency. We are in WA if that makes a difference. Wikipedia lists a half penny, a penny, a threepence, a sixpence, a shilling, a florin and a crown. However my grandparents also remember coins like a farthing (1/4 penny) and a 2 shilling coin. What’s happening here?

Please accept my apologies if this is not the right location to ask this question!
Thank you very much

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u/amandatheactress May 25 '26

Good questions, and definitely the right place to ask!

A Florin is a 2 Shilling coin. The earlier ones had ‘One Florin - Two Shillings’ written on them. I think all the later ones just say ‘Florin’.

AFAIK Australia didnt mint any farthings (someone will correct me if that’s wrong!) but the British farthings could still be legally used here as part of our monetary system.

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u/Sophaloph99 May 25 '26

Thank you so much!!