1 Florin - Elizabeth II (1st Portrait; with "F:D:")

The 1956 Australian florin was minted during a transitional period for Australian currency, serving as a primary silver denomination before the eventual shift to decimal coinage in 1966. This specific issue features the first portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Mary Gillick, which depicts a youthful monarch and was adopted across Commonwealth nations following her 1953 coronation. The inclusion of 'F:D:' (Fidei Defensor or Defender of the Faith) in the legend was a standard diplomatic protocol for the Royal Mint's colonial coinage of that era, intended to affirm the British monarch's traditional titles.

The reverse of the coin features the Australian coat of arms, a design standardized in 1910 that showcases the kangaroo and emu flanking a shield representing the six states. By 1956, the coin was a staple of daily commerce, struck in 50 percent silver. While the design is conservative and utilitarian in its focus on heraldry and imperial iconography, the 1956 issue remains a focal point for numismatists due to its historical status as one of the final years of high-silver-content florins before their removal from circulation.