An Introduction To Predecimal New Zealand Coins 1933 - 1965

And NumisRob, Triggersmob and Redlock, you guys will be receiving one each of those 3 better crowns if you want them!

Wow!

Nice additions Princetane. :)

Wow!

Nice!

Love the original box too!

Yes,they certainly age better than Oz Coins from the Mints.

That is all down to the packaging, the material on those cases seemed to stain over time and the cardboard also toned and foxed, plus the cases even would rust if the red velveteen/leatherette stuff warped over years of exposure to moisture and dryness.

Many of these sets brought in 1953 were put away and ignored for decades, their value remained low until recently and NZ's bad climate (Warm and moist, especially in the north) ensured many sets aged badly. Value remained low until the 1990s as the sets had little regard due to them being fairly common (7k vs a few hundred for the 1935) and no precious metal coins (All Cupronickel or Bronze), plus the overall standard of proofing was quite low.

In the 80s, a Superior set may have cost $40 and a average one $20 or less.

Sometime around 2000, people realised these things were less common and values spiked upwards, although I doubt they will be worth much more due to the poor condition, quality and lack of silver or gold coins. Plus people in 1953 were well off and they don't have the rarity factor of the 1935 sets.

If anything UNC examples of 1953 Circulation coins are worth much more than proof ones.



That Halfcrown is probably worth the same as a Proof set, the Crown not so much so.



The Bertrand catalogue 2021 lists 1953 sets in 3 grades

Average - $150 (Stained and toned coins, damage to case)
Superior - $300 (Good coins and generally okay case and packaging)
Exceptional - $500 - Coins must be unblemished and no contact marks and the case must look new (Many stored well in the Southern and cold parts of New Zealand - Dunedin, Wellington, West Coast etc (Not Christchurch as its an extreme continental climate)).

This set would grade better than Superior but not Exceptional as some toning/ staining is noticable on the crown and the case has light wear and flaws.

Even sets in Average grade still have UNC coins though, but often stained and smeared.

Sadly it was not until the Franklin Mint era of the 1970s, that gloves and care hints came with proof sets. And really until the 1990s they stopped using Acidic paper and corrosive fabric on these things.

1933 coins



Basic set of 5 coins issued, no Bronze was issued until 1940.

Halfcrown - 2 million issued, rel late November 1933 (Between 22/11 and 29/11 depending on location)
Florin - 2,100,000, released 15/2/34
Shilling - 2,000,000, released 29/3/34
Sixpence - 3,000,000, released 22/1/34
Threepence - 6,000,000, released 15/3/34

Total coins issued dated 1933 - 15,100,000
Possibly a handful of private proofs also issued, only 5 or so of each coin known to exist.

A 5/- Crown coin was also meant to be issued, but was not until 1935.

1933 dated coins are surprisingly common and are easily found in lower grades (Good to Fine) and not too hard in VF - EF (My examples), but are difficult like most pre 1960 NZ coins in UNC grades. There was a large number issued to bed New Zealand people in with the new coinage.

Despite this, Imperial silver coins circulated through to 1936 in some cases, but were officially demonitised in June 1935. 1934 dated coins were more common than 1933s, but as you will see numbers issued from 1935 and 1936 are much lower.


Higher grade 1933 3d coin without KG below clubs (It was added from 1937) - AU and my highest grade 1933 coin


1933 Halfcrown in EF condition, many of my mother set photos are a year old and before I did some recent upgrading, I will endeavour to show my upgraded coins in this series


Heads of the EF 1933 Halfcrown showing the splendid portrait of the King on these coins.

Finally no Bronze coins were issued until 1940 and both Imperial and Australian Bronze pennies and halfpence circulated with our new silver pieces. There is also evidence that imperial farthings also circulated here in the 1930s, but these disappear from the 1940s. Many elderly people remember them in the 1930s, yet not the 40s and my partner from 1941 can never remember any coin smaller than a halfpenny as a child and like other people remembers the Britannia pennies in use right through the 1960s.

Unlike silver coins, there was no interest in smuggling bronze coins as they were worth so little and weighed so much.

Overall the 1933 coins made a huge splash in early 1934 and reception was positive.

1934 would see even more coins.