Novelty sweetheart florin coins : Able Seaman V P Sotheren, HMAS Sydney II

Two Australian florin coins linked together at the top with a small steel peg. The obverse (head) of the upper coin has been shaved away, and faces inwards towards the second (back) florin. The reverse (coat of arms side) has been partially voided leaving the rim, crown, Australian coat of arms and the word 'AUSTRALIA' intact, and faces outwards.

The obverse (head) of the second (back) florin is intact and faces outwards. The reverse (coat of arms side), faces inwards and has been shaved away and engraved 'Tuppy', 'Mouse', 'Fondest Love'. The entire text can be read when the upper voided coin is swung aside on the connecting pin. When both coins are closed together 'Tuppy' and 'Mouse' appear on either side of the crown.

Born in Sydney, New South Wales in 1918, Victor Peace Sotheren entered the Royal Australian Navy on 4 May 1936 and trained at Flinders Naval Depot (HMAS Cerberus) in Victoria. He was assigned the service number 21059. In December he joined the crew of HMAS Australia as an ordinary seaman. He was promoted able seaman at the end of 1937. In August 1938 he was posted to HMAS Sydney where he remained until the end of January 1939. This was followed by a posting to HMAS Hobart between June 1939 and April 1941.

Sotheren married his childhood sweetheart, Noreen Valma Sutton, while he was on leave in Sydney on 12 January 1941, at St Anne's Church, Ryde.

In October 1941 Sotheren was sent to Singapore to join the crew of the destroyer HMAS Vampire. He survived the sinking of the ship by the Japanese, off Ceylon on 9 April 1942. After his return to Australia Sotheren served in HMAS Koopa from the end of 1942, HMAS Kanimbla in 1946 and HMAS Barwon in 1947-48, as well as in various shore establishments. He was discharged from the RAN in February 1949.

Sotheren was noted for his skill in many handcrafts from a young age. He frequently entered his work in shipboard competitions. Many of the items that he made were presents for his fiancee/wife, Noreen, whom he affectionately nicknamed 'Mouse'. She called him 'Tuppy'. This novelty coin was made by Sotheren while he was serving in HMAS Sydney II, one of a number of gifts made for Noreen in anticipation of their mariage. The couple did not find the opportunity to marry, due to Sotheren's seagoing postings, until early 1941.