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Replies: 875 / Views: 46,419 |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
9478 Posts |
I have never worried too much about the condition of my coins. I collect circulation coins, so expect them to be worn. Plus I can afford more coins If I don't buy the top shelf. As long as they don't have green on them and I can read the date, I am happy. I have had a few very nice coins sneak through though. :)
Steve :)
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Pillar of the Community
 4628 Posts |
I completely see where you are coming from and my collecting is dictated by budget. I don't think I could collect just MS coins, as its hard to keep them that way, especially if silver and they are very expensive usually. I mainly collect the best I can for NZ and Australia for 2 reasons. 1. I just love clean shiny coins I guess and if a coin survives in a nice enough condition and is affordable for me, it is my job to keep it that way. 2. NZ coins (Silver) look very ugly in standard condition and you really need to just spend a few more dollars to get a slightly nicer condition. Most of my so called "nice" coins are really VF to AU rather than MS67 or Flawless Proofs, even the Florins are more likely to be AU and EF rather than MS64 etc (Except those 60s ones, but 60s MS Florins are quite easy to find), and same with 1964/65 NZ coins, lots survive in high grade, so its there to take.  I mean would you rather have this  Or the coin on the left  Or just for a few dollars more or twice the price at most, coins like this are available!  I know what I want. I would say most of my pieces are solid B/B+ pieces rather than the A+ showponies Pepa and few others show here and they are better than the usual C grade stuff that survives in many bulk lots. Basically if it looks nice, the price is right - I will buy it. Many of my better coins are often exiled from the A grade collectors. The 1945 Halfcrown above is AU, but because of the black spot at 1pm on the obverse and the stain on the top of the reverse, the coin cost me just $50 instead of the $200 or so it should have gone for. That is how I buy, slight imperfections, still means I will love you coinwise. PS: My 1944 Shilling is pretty nasty!
Edited by Princetane 02/15/2021 7:16 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 4628 Posts |
1944, the first real juicy year in New Zealand coinage (Looking at it from 2021 backwards, not to 1944). This was a year which had a scarce shilling and fairly rare Florin and Halfcrown, but the other coins were common. Here goes.  The Halfcrown had a mintage of just 180k and Florin 140k. Both coins are worth close to $100 each in this condition (Bare VF) and even twice to 3 x silver melt on average (Good - Fine). These are decent, but if I want better, figure 3 figures for full EF and close to $1000 a piece for UNC, 1943 in comparison you can take off a 0 almost.  The shilling had a mintage of 480k and is scarce, my example is barely fine and the joker of this year. The 6d is a EF stunner and the star of 1944 and the 3d is another decent gVF piece. The 6d and 3d are common, so hence nicer coins again fall in my reach   The Penny is a dream, I got off an elderly friend who had had the thing sitting on top of a kitchen cabinet for years and was blown away I would give her $5 for an "old penny". It looks UNC, but is barely EF, you can get lustrous pennies still at EF. The Halfpenny too is a recent addition and VF (Average).  The heads shot, as you can see contrast when you have coins ranging from Fine to EF and everything in between! 
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
9478 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
9478 Posts |
PrinceTane, the 1944 sixpence you showed above, looks exactly like my sixpence. I don't mind them with dark marks on them, it sort of makes the writing and other features stand out. :)
Actually, just checking I only added that coin to my collection in December, so it probably is a coin from you.
Steve :)
Edited by triggersmob 02/16/2021 03:30 am
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Pillar of the Community
 4628 Posts |
Probably is, because that photo is from early 2020. If it helps, when the AU 6d arrives, I will send you the EF one in the parcel!  Australia in 1944 was interesting as it was the 3rd of the 3 war years, where the Americans helped out with coin minting. Coins from Denver (6d and 3d only) and San Francisco (All silver) and even India (Pennies and Halfpence - Mumbai). So for the next 3 years, you will see more than one of each coin in some denominations!  The first group includes the following Perth Penny, Melbourne and San Francisco (USA) shilling, San Fran Florin and 3d. The Florin again is a AU stunner! and the shillings are nothing to sneeze at either. The quality of shillings shoot up for the 30s and earlier 40s.  Backs of all the coins. I don't have all the 1944 variants and no halfpenny of 6d - but I have a reasonable selection. One good point is that you can all look forward to some nice coins off me for the next few years. My 1943 and 1942 Aussie groups are much larger. The question I have is, were the American silver coins minted at the sterling standard (.925) of Australia or the American (.900) standard? I suspect they were sterling, but could be wrong.
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Pillar of the Community
 4628 Posts |
Some Florin close up  This one is also AU plus, but again stains on it impair it a bit - still the photo does not does this shiny thing justice. I am also bidding on the two later missing florins in my collection a 1945 and a 1951 standard (Both AU, I could have a UNC 1951 but its $125 vs 75 for AU). I have noticed these coins are affordable to EF and AU in some cases, but expensive in MS grades, possibly as the sterling silver was soft and the lightest wear would make it not MS.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
9478 Posts |
Quote: Probably is, because that photo is from early 2020. If it helps, when the AU 6d arrives, I will send you the EF one in the parcel! No need PrinceTane. I really am happy with the one I have already. Thank you anyway. Steve :)
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
18018 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
 4628 Posts |
1943 was a good year in New Zealand, All coins sans the halfpenny were minted for us. However some of my coins in this year are only average condition including a VG 6d. The Florin, Halfcrown and Threepence are all stunners though.  A good start with a gEF Halfcrown and just EF Florin  Shilling is a cleaned aFine one, Sixpence is awful VG and a stunning and CREAMY AU Threepence! The Penny is standard VF.  Reverses show a gamut of conditions from AU down to VG! 1943 is a common year, so many high grade pieces are in reach. Blame the Postman for my AU 6d that was to replace that travesty there in not reaching me in time.
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Pillar of the Community
 4628 Posts |
Australia 1943 was the height of American allies providing coining services. Here I have pairs of the silver coins!  Florins - Melbourne aVF, San Fran - gEF, 6d San Fran and Mel Shilling Mel and San Fran (gEF), 3d Denver and Melbourne!  Bronze, Perth Penny and Melbourne Halfpenny  Reverses, average condition is F - VF but at least one nice Florin and shilling in it - this is a lot of coins, around $50 in silver melt alone!
Edited by Princetane 02/17/2021 03:51 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
18018 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
9478 Posts |
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Moderator
 United States
190135 Posts |
I am impressed with the contributions to this topic. Australia and New Zealand can hold their own against the world wide HFBCWG topics! 
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
9478 Posts |
Quote: I am impressed with the contributions to this topic. Australia and New Zealand can hold their own against the world wide HFBCWG topics! Thanks Jbuck, but maybe for not quite so long. :) Steve :)
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Replies: 875 / Views: 46,419 |