1927 Parliament House Silver Florin. SAMPLE IMAGE AS SEVERAL AVAILABLE!

Australia's first commemorative coin the 'Canberra Florin' was issued on May 9 1927 to commemorate the opening of Parliament House in Canberra as the seat of Government in Australia by the then Duke of York later King George VI. Struck at the Melbourne Mint 2 000 000 of these coins were produced for circulation. 

The intense rivalry between the colonies of Victoria and New South Wales had led Victorian negotiators for Federation to impose a condition that the national parliament was not to be located within 200 miles of Sydney. The eventual site chosen beside the Molonglo river was slightly inside this limit. The area was set aside as a Federal Territory and 27 years after federation the 'temporary' Parliament House in Canberra was opened.

The high quality superbly struck 'Canberra' florin was released in greater numbers than the normal circulation 1927 Coat of Arms issue. The great majority were stored away as souvenirs and as a result high-grade Canberra florins are much more common than their standard issue counterparts.

The Sir Edgar B Mackennal obverse design was used only on this commemorative.

Sample images