Fiji’s first silver florin: the 1934 George V — 11.31 g of .500 silver with the colony’s coat of arms, from the first year of Fijian coinage.
History
- The 1934 florin (KM#5) was part of Fiji’s first coinage: halfpenny, penny, sixpence, shilling, and florin.
- Obverse: the crowned bust of George V (Percy Metcalfe), legend “GEORGE V KING EMPEROR”; reverse: the coat of arms of the colony of Fiji.
- Struck at the Royal Mint, London, to the British .500 silver standard.
Key dates & varieties
- George V florins were struck 1934–1936; his reign ended 20 January 1936.
- The five-piece 1934 set (KM#1–KM#5) exists in proof — sets have traded with Melbourne Mint duplicate provenance.
Specifications
- 11.31 g, .500 silver, 28.5 mm, reeded edge.
Collector notes
- First-year-of-issue premium over later George VI florins.
- Don’t confuse .500 pre-war silver with the .900 1942–43 S-mint issues or the cupro-nickel 1953+ pieces — composition is the value driver.