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 Replies: 2,681 / Views: 209,764 |
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Pillar of the Community
New Zealand
3822 Posts |
Okay I understand - cheapest coin, cheapest production and no doubt why so many of mine are fairly nice compared to the worn rubbish I call my halfpenny and penny collection.
Zookeeperz, your coin is very nice - yet I still see the flatness all over the coin - what grade are you placing on your farthing.
Everyone else - yes your are right. Those halfcrowns came off a ship called the HMS Elingamite. This was a screw steamer built in Newcastle on Tyne in 1887 and used in the UK - Australia/NZ route bringing passengers and cargo for the 6 week or longer trip.
Often the ballast featured barrels full of coins for both countries as both used British coins at the time (Australians only got silver and bronze, but NZ also got gold pieces minted in both the UK and Australia).
In November 1902, the Elingamite was on another cruise. On November 9th it left Newcastle, Australia with a cargo of 154 passengers and some £17,400 (Amounts vary) of gold and silver coins for the New Zealand banks, amongst the coins were £4,500 worth of (9,000 coins) of Sydney mint half sovereigns dated 1901 and 1902. The rest of the coins were mostly Halfcrowns, Florins and Shillings dating mostly from 1900, but coins back to 1885 have been recovered. The key factor is none of the silver was new. The British were giving us slightly used coins. As you can see under all the gunk is a coin in VF - gVF condition as they were being used from 1900 to 1902 (That much wear so quickly).
Anyway on November 15th the Elingamite hit rocks near 3 Kings Islands (some 30km north west of Cape Reinga) in fog and due to bad navigation and sunk, some 34 people died and the rest were rescued including crew. Also lost was all the bullion. An enquiry saw the captain and crew cleared. It was a bad year for shipwrecks. Earlier on in 1902 another shipwreck occurred and it had bodies of Chinese people bound back for ancestral burial in China.
The coins stayed in the sea for 65 years until there was salvage in 1965 to 1967 by Kelly Tarlton (Who later opened an aquarium in some old sewers in Auckland in 1985) and many of the coins were recovered. Spasmodic recoveries have happened since and Elingamite coins freuqently hit the market. The average price for one is about $50 - $100 each. The gold coins are much more.
Because of the rough sea environment and 6 decades under the sea, most of the coins are blackened and stained, a huge amount were fused together or stuck to rocks and corroded. My pair are amongst the much better ones. The man I got them off has a big box of them he brought years ago.
You can always tell Elingamite treasure by its stained and corroded appearance and the date 1900 on many of the silver pieces.
Loving Halfcrowns. British and Commonwealth coins 1750 - 1950 and anything Kiwi.
If it's round, shiny and silvery I will love it.
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New Member
United Kingdom
12 Posts |
Afternoon all, Here's another little halfpenny that found its way into my grubby mitts recently. Very pleased with this one.   Hopefully these images can do it justice. |
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Moderator
United States
112066 Posts |
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Everyone else - yes your are right. Those halfcrowns came off a ship called the HMS Elingamite. Excellent!  Quote:
Here's another little halfpenny that found its way into my grubby mitts recently. Very pleased with this one. Very nice! 
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New Member
United Kingdom
12 Posts |
Just another one whilst I have a coffee break. There are obvious marks on this one, and definition isn't quite up to what I would have liked, but it's a nice coin nonetheless, and until a finer quality replacement can be found, it'll sit nicely in the drawer.   |
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Moderator
United States
112066 Posts |
Fantastic! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1501 Posts |
Here is one of mine from a few days ago; picked it up for silver price.  Aside from a few rim dings, I thought it was a neat coin. 2022 2 pounds, or one ounce fine silver, Little John theme.   Edited by mrwhatisit
05/13/2022 10:42 am
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Moderator
United States
112066 Posts |
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Here is one of mine from a few days ago; picked it up for silver price. Very nice!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
811 Posts |
This is an 1887 Jubilee Head I just picked to complement my young head. The coin has mottled toning, which makes the surfaces look rough in areas.   |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1992 Posts |
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Here's another little halfpenny that found its way into my grubby mitts recently. Very pleased with this one. What's the die pairing?
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New Member
United Kingdom
12 Posts |
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What's the die pairing? Interesting question. It was sold as a Freeman 282, which I believe is a 7+G. However, when I was looking through Spink after I received the coin and could look at it better, I made it a 6+G. The wreath has 16 leaves, making it a 6 by my reckoning and Spinks, not 17 which the 7 should have. Spink also have 7 as being from 1874 onwards. Bearing in mind this is all relatively new to me, are there differences between Freeman and Spink? I had assumed that they were all quoting the same die numbers/letters? Unsure what to make of it now, so any guidance would be most appreciated. Cheers
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Moderator
United States
112066 Posts |
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This is an 1887 Jubilee Head I just picked to complement my young head. The coin has mottled toning, which makes the surfaces look rough in areas. Nice example!
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Replies: 2,681 / Views: 209,764 |
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Posted 05/13/2022 07:34 am
