The metal calculator derives fine silver from the Act. The Mint measured it. Here is what the coins actually weighed and assayed, year by year, 1947 to 1963.
The metal calculator works from the statute: it takes the weight and fineness an Act prescribes and computes the fine silver in a coin. That is the right way to do it, and it is not a measurement. It says what a coin was supposed to contain.
The Mint measured. It assayed samples of what it struck and printed the average weight beside the average fineness. These are those numbers, and they are the empirical check on everything the calculator asserts.
The rows arrive without their labels. The OCR delivers the 1951 table as 174-536 499-9 43-636 5003 21818 4998, with the denominations lost. They are recovered from the weight: Australian silver ran at 66 shillings to the troy pound, which fixes each coin's statutory weight exactly, and those weights sit more than 5 per cent apart. A measured weight can belong to only one of them, and a reading near none of them is refused rather than assigned to the nearest.
What it shows. The coins were struck extraordinarily close to the law. Most measured weights sit within 0.01 per cent of the statutory weight, and the fineness stays within about two parts per thousand of the 500 standard set after the 1946 debasement. The largest weight departures here are the 1955 florin and the 1960 sixpence, and at this precision it is as likely the scan as the scales.
49 records, 1947 to 1963, from Melbourne. Every quote below was re-found in the cached report page it cites before this page was built.
| Report year | Mint | denomination | measured weight grains | statutory weight grains | weight error pct | measured fineness | statutory fineness | fineness error | Source, and its own words |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Melbourne | florin | 174.539 | 174.5455 | -0.0037 | 500 | 500 | 0 | report page 36
assays for the year were:— Weig/n A ssay grains Florins 174-539 500-0 Threepences 21 -820 501-9 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of Australia were :— £ £ SILVER: Florins 5,119,000 Shillings 557,000 |
| 1947 | Melbourne | threepence | 21.82 | 21.8182 | 0.0083 | 501.9 | 500 | 1.9 | report page 36
assays for the year were:— Weig/n A ssay grains Florins 174-539 500-0 Threepences 21 -820 501-9 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of Australia were :— £ £ SILVER: Florins 5,119,000 Shillings 557,000 |
| 1948 | Melbourne | shilling | 87.268 | 87.2727 | -0.0054 | 500.6 | 500 | 0.6 | report page 31
assays for the year were :— Weight Assay Grains Shillings 87.268 500.6 Sixpences 43.633 501.6 Threepences 21.818 499.7 54 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of Australia were:—- £ £ SILVER Florins 750 |
| 1948 | Melbourne | sixpence | 43.633 | 43.6364 | -0.0077 | 501.6 | 500 | 1.6 | report page 31
assays for the year were :— Weight Assay Grains Shillings 87.268 500.6 Sixpences 43.633 501.6 Threepences 21.818 499.7 54 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of Australia were:—- £ £ SILVER Florins 750 |
| 1948 | Melbourne | threepence | 21.818 | 21.8182 | -0.0008 | 499.7 | 500 | -0.3 | report page 31
assays for the year were :— Weight Assay Grains Shillings 87.268 500.6 Sixpences 43.633 501.6 Threepences 21.818 499.7 54 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of Australia were:—- £ £ SILVER Florins 750 |
| 1950 | Melbourne | sixpence | 43.639 | 43.6364 | 0.006 | 499 | 500 | -1 | report page 37
assays for the year were :— Weight Assay Shillings ... 87-263 grains 500 ~ 9 Sixpences 43 - 639 ,, 499 ' 7 Threepences 21-819 ,, 500-0 the whole of Australia were :— SILVER: £ £ Florins . — Shillings 359,400 Sixpences 256,800 Threepences . |
| 1950 | Melbourne | threepence | 21.819 | 21.8182 | 0.0038 | 500 | 500 | 0 | report page 37
assays for the year were :— Weight Assay Shillings ... 87-263 grains 500 ~ 9 Sixpences 43 - 639 ,, 499 ' 7 Threepences 21-819 ,, 500-0 the whole of Australia were :— SILVER: £ £ Florins . — Shillings 359,400 Sixpences 256,800 Threepences . |
| 1951 | Melbourne | florin | 174.536 | 174.5455 | -0.0054 | 499.9 | 500 | -0.1 | report page 39
assays Weight Assay grains 174-536 499-9 43-636 5003 21818 4998 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth T . 1 reasur for the whole of the Australia were:— y F lorins Sixpences Threepences £ . SILVER : i Florins :Si |
| 1951 | Melbourne | sixpence | 43.636 | 43.6364 | -0.0008 | 500.3 | 500 | 0.3 | report page 39
assays Weight Assay grains 174-536 499-9 43-636 5003 21818 4998 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth T . 1 reasur for the whole of the Australia were:— y F lorins Sixpences Threepences £ . SILVER : i Florins :Si |
| 1951 | Melbourne | threepence | 21.818 | 21.8182 | -0.0008 | 499.8 | 500 | -0.2 | report page 39
assays Weight Assay grains 174-536 499-9 43-636 5003 21818 4998 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth T . 1 reasur for the whole of the Australia were:— y F lorins Sixpences Threepences £ . SILVER : i Florins :Si |
| 1952 | Melbourne | florin | 174.549 | 174.5455 | 0.002 | 500.1 | 500 | 0.1 | report page 39
assays for the year were :— Weight Assay grains Florins 174-549 500-1 Shillings 87-272 500-1 Sixpences 43-642 500-0 Threepences . . 21 -815 499-9 '69 |
| 1952 | Melbourne | shilling | 87.272 | 87.2727 | -0.0008 | 500.1 | 500 | 0.1 | report page 39
assays for the year were :— Weight Assay grains Florins 174-549 500-1 Shillings 87-272 500-1 Sixpences 43-642 500-0 Threepences . . 21 -815 499-9 '69 |
| 1952 | Melbourne | sixpence | 43.642 | 43.6364 | 0.0129 | 500 | 500 | 0 | report page 39
assays for the year were :— Weight Assay grains Florins 174-549 500-1 Shillings 87-272 500-1 Sixpences 43-642 500-0 Threepences . . 21 -815 499-9 '69 |
| 1952 | Melbourne | threepence | 21.815 | 21.8182 | -0.0146 | 499.9 | 500 | -0.1 | report page 39
assays for the year were :— Weight Assay grains Florins 174-549 500-1 Shillings 87-272 500-1 Sixpences 43-642 500-0 Threepences . . 21 -815 499-9 '69 |
| 1953 | Melbourne | shilling | 87.272 | 87.2727 | -0.0008 | 500.2 | 500 | 0.2 | report page 44
assays for the year were:— Weight Assay grains Florins . . . . . . 174- 545 499-6 Shillings . . . . . . 87-272 5002 Sixpences . . . . . . 43-653 498-9 Threepences 21 - 819 500-4 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury f |
| 1953 | Melbourne | sixpence | 43.653 | 43.6364 | 0.0381 | 498.9 | 500 | -1.1 | report page 44
assays for the year were:— Weight Assay grains Florins . . . . . . 174- 545 499-6 Shillings . . . . . . 87-272 5002 Sixpences . . . . . . 43-653 498-9 Threepences 21 - 819 500-4 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury f |
| 1953 | Melbourne | threepence | 21.819 | 21.8182 | 0.0038 | 500.4 | 500 | 0.4 | report page 44
assays for the year were:— Weight Assay grains Florins . . . . . . 174- 545 499-6 Shillings . . . . . . 87-272 5002 Sixpences . . . . . . 43-653 498-9 Threepences 21 - 819 500-4 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury f |
| 1954 | Melbourne | florin | 174.545 | 174.5455 | -0.0003 | 499.9 | 500 | -0.1 | report page 37
assays for the year were: Weight Assay grains Florins . . . . . . 174-545 4999 Shillings . . . . . . 87-273 5000 Sixpences . . . . . . 43-637 498-5 Threepences . . . . 21-821 500-8 62 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Trea |
| 1954 | Melbourne | shilling | 87.273 | 87.2727 | 0.0003 | 500 | 500 | 0 | report page 37
assays for the year were: Weight Assay grains Florins . . . . . . 174-545 4999 Shillings . . . . . . 87-273 5000 Sixpences . . . . . . 43-637 498-5 Threepences . . . . 21-821 500-8 62 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Trea |
| 1954 | Melbourne | sixpence | 43.637 | 43.6364 | 0.0015 | 498.5 | 500 | -1.5 | report page 37
assays for the year were: Weight Assay grains Florins . . . . . . 174-545 4999 Shillings . . . . . . 87-273 5000 Sixpences . . . . . . 43-637 498-5 Threepences . . . . 21-821 500-8 62 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Trea |
| 1954 | Melbourne | threepence | 21.821 | 21.8182 | 0.0129 | 500.8 | 500 | 0.8 | report page 37
assays for the year were: Weight Assay grains Florins . . . . . . 174-545 4999 Shillings . . . . . . 87-273 5000 Sixpences . . . . . . 43-637 498-5 Threepences . . . . 21-821 500-8 62 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Trea |
| 1955 | Melbourne | florin | 174.59 | 174.5455 | 0.0255 | 500 | 500 | 0 | report page 40
assays for the year were: W eig/it Assay Grains Florins 174590 5000 Shillings . . 87273 5003 Sixpences 43-636 4997 Threepences 21819 5001 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole ofAustralia were: Silver: £ |
| 1955 | Melbourne | shilling | 87.273 | 87.2727 | 0.0003 | 500.3 | 500 | 0.3 | report page 40
assays for the year were: W eig/it Assay Grains Florins 174590 5000 Shillings . . 87273 5003 Sixpences 43-636 4997 Threepences 21819 5001 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole ofAustralia were: Silver: £ |
| 1955 | Melbourne | sixpence | 43.636 | 43.6364 | -0.0008 | 499.7 | 500 | -0.3 | report page 40
assays for the year were: W eig/it Assay Grains Florins 174590 5000 Shillings . . 87273 5003 Sixpences 43-636 4997 Threepences 21819 5001 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole ofAustralia were: Silver: £ |
| 1955 | Melbourne | threepence | 21.819 | 21.8182 | 0.0038 | 500.1 | 500 | 0.1 | report page 40
assays for the year were: W eig/it Assay Grains Florins 174590 5000 Shillings . . 87273 5003 Sixpences 43-636 4997 Threepences 21819 5001 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole ofAustralia were: Silver: £ |
| 1956 | Melbourne | shilling | 87.273 | 87.2727 | 0.0003 | 500.4 | 500 | 0.4 | report page 35
assays for theyear were: Weight Assay Grains Florins . . 174 546 499- 3 Shillings 87-273 500-4 Sixpences 43-637 498 - 8 Threepences 21 - 816 499 - 3 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for 01‘ whole of Australia wer |
| 1956 | Melbourne | sixpence | 43.637 | 43.6364 | 0.0015 | 498 | 500 | -2 | report page 35
assays for theyear were: Weight Assay Grains Florins . . 174 546 499- 3 Shillings 87-273 500-4 Sixpences 43-637 498 - 8 Threepences 21 - 816 499 - 3 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for 01‘ whole of Australia wer |
| 1956 | Melbourne | threepence | 21.816 | 21.8182 | -0.01 | 499 | 500 | -1 | report page 35
assays for theyear were: Weight Assay Grains Florins . . 174 546 499- 3 Shillings 87-273 500-4 Sixpences 43-637 498 - 8 Threepences 21 - 816 499 - 3 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for 01‘ whole of Australia wer |
| 1957 | Melbourne | florin | 174.544 | 174.5455 | -0.0008 | 499.5 | 500 | -0.5 | report page 35
assays forth 1’ were: Weight Assay Grains Florins . . 174-544 4995 Shillings . . . . 87-273 4997 Sixpences 43 ' 635 499 ' 5 Threepences . . . . 21 - 817 500-0 56 The issues 0f Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of |
| 1957 | Melbourne | shilling | 87.273 | 87.2727 | 0.0003 | 499.7 | 500 | -0.3 | report page 35
assays forth 1’ were: Weight Assay Grains Florins . . 174-544 4995 Shillings . . . . 87-273 4997 Sixpences 43 ' 635 499 ' 5 Threepences . . . . 21 - 817 500-0 56 The issues 0f Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of |
| 1957 | Melbourne | threepence | 21.817 | 21.8182 | -0.0054 | 500 | 500 | 0 | report page 35
assays forth 1’ were: Weight Assay Grains Florins . . 174-544 4995 Shillings . . . . 87-273 4997 Sixpences 43 ' 635 499 ' 5 Threepences . . . . 21 - 817 500-0 56 The issues 0f Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of |
| 1959 | Melbourne | florin | 174.542 | 174.5455 | -0.002 | 499.5 | 500 | -0.5 | report page 40
assays for the year were: Weight Assay grains F lorins 174-542 499-5 Shillings 87-270 5000 Sixpences . . 43-634 500-0 Threepences 21-817 499-9 66 1 1 E 1 1 .1 1 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of A |
| 1959 | Melbourne | shilling | 87.27 | 87.2727 | -0.0031 | 500 | 500 | 0 | report page 40
assays for the year were: Weight Assay grains F lorins 174-542 499-5 Shillings 87-270 5000 Sixpences . . 43-634 500-0 Threepences 21-817 499-9 66 1 1 E 1 1 .1 1 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of A |
| 1959 | Melbourne | sixpence | 43.634 | 43.6364 | -0.0054 | 500 | 500 | 0 | report page 40
assays for the year were: Weight Assay grains F lorins 174-542 499-5 Shillings 87-270 5000 Sixpences . . 43-634 500-0 Threepences 21-817 499-9 66 1 1 E 1 1 .1 1 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of A |
| 1959 | Melbourne | threepence | 21.817 | 21.8182 | -0.0054 | 499.9 | 500 | -0.1 | report page 40
assays for the year were: Weight Assay grains F lorins 174-542 499-5 Shillings 87-270 5000 Sixpences . . 43-634 500-0 Threepences 21-817 499-9 66 1 1 E 1 1 .1 1 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of A |
| 1960 | Melbourne | florin | 174.544 | 174.5455 | -0.0008 | 500.1 | 500 | 0.1 | report page 42
assays for the year were: Weight Assay grains Florins 174-544 500-1 Shillings 87'272 500] Sixpences 43-686 4996 Threepences 21-816 499-7 69 |
| 1960 | Melbourne | sixpence | 43.686 | 43.6364 | 0.1138 | 499.6 | 500 | -0.4 | report page 42
assays for the year were: Weight Assay grains Florins 174-544 500-1 Shillings 87'272 500] Sixpences 43-686 4996 Threepences 21-816 499-7 69 |
| 1960 | Melbourne | threepence | 21.816 | 21.8182 | -0.01 | 499.7 | 500 | -0.3 | report page 42
assays for the year were: Weight Assay grains Florins 174-544 500-1 Shillings 87'272 500] Sixpences 43-686 4996 Threepences 21-816 499-7 69 |
| 1961 | Melbourne | florin | 174.546 | 174.5455 | 0.0003 | 499.3 | 500 | -0.7 | report page 40
assay for the year were: Weight Assay . grains Florins 174-546 499-3 Shillings 87-273 500-0 Sixpences 43-636 499-3 Threepences 21-818 4999 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of Australia were : . £ £ |
| 1961 | Melbourne | shilling | 87.273 | 87.2727 | 0.0003 | 500 | 500 | 0 | report page 40
assay for the year were: Weight Assay . grains Florins 174-546 499-3 Shillings 87-273 500-0 Sixpences 43-636 499-3 Threepences 21-818 4999 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of Australia were : . £ £ |
| 1961 | Melbourne | sixpence | 43.636 | 43.6364 | -0.0008 | 499.3 | 500 | -0.7 | report page 40
assay for the year were: Weight Assay . grains Florins 174-546 499-3 Shillings 87-273 500-0 Sixpences 43-636 499-3 Threepences 21-818 4999 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of Australia were : . £ £ |
| 1961 | Melbourne | threepence | 21.818 | 21.8182 | -0.0008 | 499.9 | 500 | -0.1 | report page 40
assay for the year were: Weight Assay . grains Florins 174-546 499-3 Shillings 87-273 500-0 Sixpences 43-636 499-3 Threepences 21-818 4999 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of Australia were : . £ £ |
| 1962 | Melbourne | florin | 174.545 | 174.5455 | -0.0003 | 499.5 | 500 | -0.5 | report page 41
Assay grains Florins ... ... ... 174-545 4995 Shillings 87-272 4995 Sixpences 43636 4995 Threepences ... ... 21 '817 499.9 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of Australia w |
| 1962 | Melbourne | shilling | 87.272 | 87.2727 | -0.0008 | 499.5 | 500 | -0.5 | report page 41
Assay grains Florins ... ... ... 174-545 4995 Shillings 87-272 4995 Sixpences 43636 4995 Threepences ... ... 21 '817 499.9 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of Australia w |
| 1962 | Melbourne | sixpence | 43.636 | 43.6364 | -0.0008 | 499.5 | 500 | -0.5 | report page 41
Assay grains Florins ... ... ... 174-545 4995 Shillings 87-272 4995 Sixpences 43636 4995 Threepences ... ... 21 '817 499.9 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of Australia w |
| 1963 | Melbourne | florin | 174.544 | 174.5455 | -0.0008 | 499 | 500 | -1 | report page 44
assay for the year were: Weight grains Assay Florins 174-544 499 - 6 Shillings . 87-273 500-3 Sixpences 43-637 499 - Threepences 21 . 818 500-0 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of Australia were: |
| 1963 | Melbourne | shilling | 87.273 | 87.2727 | 0.0003 | 500.3 | 500 | 0.3 | report page 44
assay for the year were: Weight grains Assay Florins 174-544 499 - 6 Shillings . 87-273 500-3 Sixpences 43-637 499 - Threepences 21 . 818 500-0 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of Australia were: |
| 1963 | Melbourne | sixpence | 43.637 | 43.6364 | 0.0015 | 499 | 500 | -1 | report page 44
assay for the year were: Weight grains Assay Florins 174-544 499 - 6 Shillings . 87-273 500-3 Sixpences 43-637 499 - Threepences 21 . 818 500-0 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of Australia were: |
| 1963 | Melbourne | threepence | 21.818 | 21.8182 | -0.0008 | 500 | 500 | 0 | report page 44
assay for the year were: Weight grains Assay Florins 174-544 499 - 6 Shillings . 87-273 500-3 Sixpences 43-637 499 - Threepences 21 . 818 500-0 The issues of Australian coin from the Commonwealth Treasury for the whole of Australia were: |