The 1922 Shilling was struck at the Melbourne Mint to a total mintage of 2,039,924. This was a quite typical mintage for the series and as a result the type is generally quite easily compared to other years in the series. In mint-state the type still demands substantial prices. Collectors seeking a more affordable option may find the 1916-M or 1917-M a better choice.
Throughout 1922 the Melbourne branch of the Royal Mint was undergoing a substantial upgrade. Some of the new additions included - two large furnaces to be used for bronze and nickel, two new electric rolling mills, and six new coin presses. (The Argus, 1922) This new equipment was imported from around the world and further consolidated the premier position of the Melbourne Mint. The new rolling mills, for example, were produced by the company 'Robinson Bros.' (The Argus, 1922) The company was a mechanical engineering powerhouse in the United Kingdom and had been heavily involved in the industrialisation of Japan following the Meiji Restoration, including the construction of a Mint in Osaka. (Meg Vivers, 2015) The rolling mills at Melbourne Mint were driven by electric motors connected to the City Council's power station. This was a substantial upgrade from the existing mills which had been powered by a steam engine which had been installed fifty years earlier. (The Argus, 1922)
