This set brings together two remarkable Australian coins - our BIGGEST coin of the pre-decimal era, the 1937 Crown, and the biggest and only silver coin of the decimal era, the 1966 fifty cent. The story of the 1937 crown is remarkable. It was Australia’s ONLY coin of 1937, the year in which King George VI was crowned. It’s minting had been proposed by Lord Casey, the then Treasurer (and predecessor in that position to Robert Menzies). With a face value of five shillings, it was much larger than any coin that had been in circulation. At that time the florin measured 29mm diameter while this crown is a massive 38mm. Struck from sterling silver it was quite imposing. It was rumoured that trouser manufacturers welcomed the coin as gentlemen’s trouser pockets began wearing out at a pace! It became known as “Casey’s Cartwheel”. To celebrate the coronation just over 1 million of these coins were struck and released into circulation. The 1966 Fifty Cent has an equally compelling story. When it was introduced in 1966, it was our only silver coin in the new decimal coinage. However, within a few months of issue the world price of silver increased and the silver content of the coin meant this silver content was worth more than its face value! The government quickly attempted to withdraw them, but not before millions were melted. The silver fifty cent was never again struck, and in fact, it is the ONLY silver decimal coin ever to be issued into circulation. Both of these coins have great stories and they make a superb set as our largest circulating silver coins of the pre-decimal and decimal eras.