1860 Hogarth and Erichsen Threepence PCGS AU53
One of Australia’s earliest silver threepences were the private issues of Messrs Julius Hogarth and Conrad Erichsen. Struck to meet local demand for small coinage, the reverse of the most common design (as above) carries a large “3” encircled by a wreath of wattle and was modelled after the reverse of the British threepence, while the obverse bears a kangaroo, emu, and the Australian grass tree. The numbers minted are unknown, and Erichsen often struck coins at his own pleasure, according to *Australaisian Tokens and Coins* by Dr Arthur Andrews. The quality of the silver was also often inferior to the British threepence that it was attempting to imitate, and many pieces were required to be withdrawn. For Sydneysiders, the tokens were minted in the Sydney suburb of Leichhardt. Today, these tokens are popular with coin collectors, collectors of Australiana, and historians. They’re the closest thing we had to small change in silver during the high Victorian age, and are an important part of Australia’s colonial past. Professional Coin Grading Service is the global leader in coin authentication and grading. With over 60 million coins graded and counting, PCGS is trusted by collectors, dealers, and investors to certify authenticity, protect value, and elevate market confidence. This is a direct conversion of the 70-point PCGS grade to a 10-point scale, intended to present the grade in a more intuitive format for newer collectors. It is not our personal opinion or an attempt at regrading the coin to a different standard. To understand how the 70-point scale converts to a 10-point scale, [click here](https://drakesterling.com/en/page/the-ten-point-coin-grading-scale).