Weekend Challenge No 1 (9-10 november 2013) - 1951 Federation Florin Wiki

[markn]

Here's a challenge for this weekend.  Let's write some information about the 1951 Federation florin.  A paragraph or three about the coin, why it was made, who designed it, what the design represents, whatever you can dig up.  Here's your blank canvas:

1951 Federation Florin Wiki

Post all submissions here.  PPH or I (or some helpful volunteer) will gel the responses into a wiki and post it.

[Goldseeker]

1951 is 50 years since federation, being 01 Jan 1901.

Not being an Aussie at that time, I can only assume that is why that coin was produced.

[markn]

OK, I wrote something.

http://wiki.australian-coins.net/wiki/australian-coins/pre-decimal-coins/florin/1951-federation-florin/

[Greg McDonald]

Hello all,

For all the times I have been a member of the forum, I've somehow overlooked this thread.  As many of you know I have been writing what has been dubbed  "The Big Book."

I thought I'd share with you the chapter in the up-coming-book for comments, corrections etc

Cheers

Greg

 1951  FEDERATION  FLORIN


   Even though the reign of George VI was a reasonably long one, there was not much to celebrate - the war years and its aftermath saw to that. However 1951 offered an opportunity too good to miss when Australia celebrated its 50th anniversary of Federation.  It nearly didn't make it however as the coins were not released to the public until December 1951 following the Government's failure to authorize the coin's passage through Parliament until November 22.  Two million florins were struck and carried the normal portrait of the King on the obverse and a rather simple, yet symbolic design by William Leslie Bowles on the reverse.
Bowles was born on 26 February 1885 at Leichhardt, New South Wales. He attended the Kangaroo Point State School, Brisbane, then studied carving and modelling at the Brisbane Technical College under Lewis J. Harvey.
In 1910 he sailed to London after winning a scholarship to work with several sculptors, including (Sir) E. Bertram Mackennal, and attended night classes at South London School of Sculpture and at the Royal Academy.
In Mackennal's studio work was then concentrated mainly on large public monuments, such as the London Memorial and Tomb for King Edward VII, and equestrian statues of the king for Melbourne, London and Calcutta. It is not surprising that Bowles's later independent work reflects that of Mackennal, and almost never stems directly from other contemporaries.
During World War I Bowles enlisted in the 2nd/25th London Regiment, and then joined the Royal Tank Corps at its inception. After the war he exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy and was employed on the Wembley British Empire Exhibition before returning to Australia and settled in Melbourne. He was employed with other artists in the Melbourne Exhibition Building on the projected Australian War Memorial, for which he executed several sculptures, the models for figures in the dioramas, and two plans for the Hall of Memory. Though forced to sell hire purchase radios during the Depression, his War Memorial work provided security which evaded other sculptors.
In 1937 he won the competition for a memorial to Sir John Monash and his equestrian statue was erected in the Melbourne Domain in 1951.
In 1926 Bowles had been made a member of the Royal Society of British Sculptors. He also adjudicated the Jubilee Medal award, and was a foundation member of the Australian Academy of Art.
He died on 21 February 1954 and was cremated.
While much of Bowles artistic work displayed intricate and detailed workmanship, the execution of the 1951 Federation florin was simplicity itself.
It depicts a crown above a crossed sword and mace complete with the stars of the Southern Cross.  There was also an error in the design.  The shape and size of the stars actually comes from the Victorian coat of arms rather than the Commonwealth flag.  The state's coat of arms depicts the Southern Cross with an eight-pointed star at the bottom, two of seven points at the top and left, six pointed at right and the smallest star of five points. By comparison, the Commonwealth Southern Cross delineates all stars with seven points, except for the smaller inner star, which has only five points.  It is not known if the error was a mistake or deliberate. Sculptor Bowles might have been having a private joke and reminding those in the know that our Commonwealth Parliament met in Melbourne until 1927. For most people the design was a bit too subtle and it received a mixed reception.
Hello all,

For all the times I have been a member of the forum, I've somehow overlooked this thread.  As many of you know I have been writing what has been dubbed  "The Big Book."

I thought I'd share with you the chapter in the up-coming-book for comments, corrections etc

Cheers

Greg

 1951  FEDERATION  FLORIN


   Even though the reign of George VI was a reasonably long one, there was not much to celebrate - the war years and its aftermath saw to that. However 1951 offered an opportunity too good to miss when Australia celebrated its 50th anniversary of Federation.  It nearly didn't make it however as the coins were not released to the public until December 1951 following the Government's failure to authorize the coin's passage through Parliament until November 22.  Two million florins were struck and carried the normal portrait of the King on the obverse and a rather simple, yet symbolic design by William Leslie Bowles on the reverse.
Bowles was born on 26 February 1885 at Leichhardt, New South Wales. He attended the Kangaroo Point State School, Brisbane, then studied carving and modelling at the Brisbane Technical College under Lewis J. Harvey.
In 1910 he sailed to London after winning a scholarship to work with several sculptors, including (Sir) E. Bertram Mackennal, and attended night classes at South London School of Sculpture and at the Royal Academy.
In Mackennal's studio work was then concentrated mainly on large public monuments, such as the London Memorial and Tomb for King Edward VII, and equestrian statues of the king for Melbourne, London and Calcutta. It is not surprising that Bowles's later independent work reflects that of Mackennal, and almost never stems directly from other contemporaries.
During World War I Bowles enlisted in the 2nd/25th London Regiment, and then joined the Royal Tank Corps at its inception. After the war he exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy and was employed on the Wembley British Empire Exhibition before returning to Australia and settled in Melbourne. He was employed with other artists in the Melbourne Exhibition Building on the projected Australian War Memorial, for which he executed several sculptures, the models for figures in the dioramas, and two plans for the Hall of Memory. Though forced to sell hire purchase radios during the Depression, his War Memorial work provided security which evaded other sculptors.
In 1937 he won the competition for a memorial to Sir John Monash and his equestrian statue was erected in the Melbourne Domain in 1951.
In 1926 Bowles had been made a member of the Royal Society of British Sculptors. He also adjudicated the Jubilee Medal award, and was a foundation member of the Australian Academy of Art.
He died on 21 February 1954 and was cremated.
While much of Bowles artistic work displayed intricate and detailed workmanship, the execution of the 1951 Federation florin was simplicity itself.
It depicts a crown above a crossed sword and mace complete with the stars of the Southern Cross.  There was also an error in the design.  The shape and size of the stars actually comes from the Victorian coat of arms rather than the Commonwealth flag.  The state's coat of arms depicts the Southern Cross with an eight-pointed star at the bottom, two of seven points at the top and left, six pointed at right and the smallest star of five points. By comparison, the Commonwealth Southern Cross delineates all stars with seven points, except for the smaller inner star, which has only five points.  It is not known if the error was a mistake or deliberate. Sculptor Bowles might have been having a private joke and reminding those in the know that our Commonwealth Parliament met in Melbourne until 1927. For most people the design was a bit too subtle and it received a mixed reception.

[JeffH]

Well Mark and Greg seem to have nailed that; well before the weekend!
Maybe another challenge is required.

[nealeffendi]

Didn't somebody post a few days ago about a Cu-Ni proof struck in London coming up for auction soon?
Greg has raised an interesting point. The parliament didn't approve the coin until November. So had London already prepared the masters (and struck a proof?) before parliament gave the nod? Were the proofs struck in 1951 or 1952? Perhaps even after the Kings death?

[runway]

I can appreciate the time and effort both Greg McDonald and Mark have put into this.
Well done to both of you
I don't see Greg McDonalds great contribution in the http://wiki.australian-coins.net/wiki/au...on-florin/
markn you should add it