The Full Extent of a Proclamation Set

Just What is the Full Extent of a Set of Australian Proclamation Coins?

Some time ago, I embarked on my own comprehensive listing of the various different permutations of each coin in Governor King's list.

For those of you that aren't aware, a complete set of Australian "Proclamation Coins" contains 10 gold, silver and copper coins that were deemed as legal tender in the colony of New South Wales between 1788 and 1826.

These 10 coins were listed in a colonial government proclamation (hence the term "proclamation coins" ) issued by Governor Gidley King on November 17th, 1800. That proclamation by Governor King is regarded as being the first comprehensive government regulation issued on Australia's circulating coinage.

Although King's regulations listed just 10 coins, diligent numismatists are quite aware that there can be many different types of those 10 coins - these types can differ by date, or by the obverse and reverse designs that are seen on them.

I wanted to get an unequivocal idea of the total number of different obverse and reverse types that existed of each coin, as well as the different mints they were struck at, and the date ranges over which each type was struck. This list was intended to be used as the basis of price guide to the series, that I'd intended to provide to interested clients.

I gathered the source texts that I used to compile "The Coinage of Colonial Australia", and started what I thought would be a pretty quick job, however it took a lot longer than I expected.

A Detailed Spreadsheet Showing Each Obverse and Reverse Type Seen on Australia's Proclamation Coins

The job of compiling a comprehensive list of Spanish colonial dollars was far too overwhelming so I didn't even attempt it, however I now have what I believe is an unequivocal list of each variety of each of the other coins in the proclamation series, here's a link to it.

This list includes reference numbers to the books used in compiling the lists: KM = Krause Mishler (World Coins); S = Seaby (English coins). Disregard the valuation figures included, as they are not up to date unfortunately.

Until I put this list together, I had no idea there were so many different types of these coins - the differences between some of the different reverses of the Portuguese / Brazilian gold coins are not particularly significant, however the different obverses do obviously show the changes in Portuguese monarchs during this period. The different mints show the primary locations of much of the material wealth of the Portuguese empire.

The different mints used in producing the British East India Company again represent the primary sources of wealth for that corporation, while the varieties of the British shilling and penny demonstrate the fact that British coinage dies during that period were obviously prepared "on the fly".

A set of the 10 coins listed in Governor King's proclamation is an excellent representation of the first coins used on Australian soil, however a "full" set of those same coins, one that contains examples showing each and every obverse and reverse type on issue between 1788 and 1826 would be an incredible set indeed.

Let me know if you'd be interested in seeing more work done on this - either a more detailed explanation of the obverse and reverse varieties, or an accurate price guide to this series, I'll see what I can do to get this up to date. (Comment below or send me an email).