Pattern - 1 Florin - Edward VIII (Reverse Trial)

The 1937 Edward VIII Florin stands as a significant piece of numismatic history, representing a coinage series that was planned but ultimately never issued for general circulation. Following the abdication of King Edward VIII in December 1936, all projects involving his effigy were immediately halted to make way for the transition to the reign of King George VI. These patterns were produced as trial strikes to test the aesthetic and technical viability of the new design, which featured the monarch's portrait on the obverse and the Australian coat of arms on the reverse.

The design was part of a collaborative effort involving the Royal Mint in London and Australian authorities, who were eager to update the currency following the king's accession. Because the reign was cut short before the coins could be minted for official use, these patterns are among the rarest items for collectors of Australian decimal and pre-decimal currency. They are highly valued by historians and numismatists as tangible remnants of a moment where political events abruptly halted a planned shift in the visual identity of the British Empire's coinage.