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 Replies: 17 / Views: 8,265 |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
877 Posts |
I sort a lot of 20¢ pieces and see a lot of New Zealand ones -surprising how many must be circulating in Australia. I throw them right back in the change. However, the other day I came across a 1964 NZ florin in quite good condition. I can't remember how long it would be since I saw an Australian florin in circulation -quite a few years. I would keep any Australian florin I came across and will keep this one. This got me thinking -are there any particular years or varieties of new Zealand coins I should keep an eye out for. [Just like I would grab any 1985 or 2004 'big head' Australian 20¢.  ) Any information or links would be much appreciated. A quick internet search didn't turn up anything useful. thanks Jeff |
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Moderator
 Australia
16808 Posts |
New Zealand predecimal coins, especially sixpences, shillings and florins, were commonly found in change over there, right up to the recent coinage reforms. The size, weight and especially composition were identical to that of their decimal counterparts. The florin, especially, was readily accepted, because the design (a kiwi) was basically identical to the NZ 20¢. And why shouldn't they have continued to circulate? Cupronickel coins were designed to last a long time in circulation.
The same situation applied in Britain, where predecimal shillings (5p) and florins (10p) continued to circulate right up to British coinage shrinking in the early 1990's. The only reason the same thing didn't happen here in Australia, is that our predecimal "silver" coins really were made of silver, not just cupronickel - thus there was a financial incentive for individuals, and for the Reserve Bank, to fish them out of circulation quickly.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Moderator
Australia
16808 Posts |
As for finding scarce and valuable New Zealand coins, until very recently, there basically weren't any. The predecimal series doesn't have any scarce dates, apart from the famous "Waitangi" crown of 1935. Pre-1946 "silver" coins are actually silver, like 1947-1963 Australian ones. The predecimals with the lowest mintages are the 1963 florin (100k), 1940 Centennial halfcrown (100k) and the 'regular' halfcrowns of 1944 (180k), 1953 (120k) and 1961 (80k). Decimals are a bit more interesting. Of note are the two "international mules", the NZ 2¢/Bahamas 5¢ mule circa 1967 and the NZ 50¢/Canada $1 of 1985; the former is famous but still fairly cheap (est. mintage 50k); the latter is much scarcer but is rarely heard about (only 6 known). When NZ reformed it's coinage in 2006, it was announced that all but a handful of the freshly-minted 5¢ coins dated 2004 and old-size 50¢ dated 2005 held in stock by the Reserve Bank would be melted down; this created a frenzy of interest in New Zealand coins generally and the "lost dates" in particular. It seems the frenzy hasn't abated yet. Example in extremis: Here's a TradeMe auction right now for three 2004 5¢ and one 2005 50¢; currently at NZ$151 with 58 bids... There are other varieties in the later decimal series, which aren't listed in Krause but are also becoming popular. Do a forum search for "New Zealand" here on Coin Community, with the "archived posts" box checked, and you'll find several threads of interest, like this one about errors and varieties of 5¢. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1231 Posts |
Actually there are a few predecimal coins that are somewhat valuable. The 1956 "Strapless" penny mintage estimated at 50K. The 1935 3-pence mintage of 40k. And there are a few others. But as Sap mentioned none of the current coins are worth much except for the mules.
The key coin to all of NZ would be the 1935 Waitangi crown that Sap mentioned. With a mintage of only 1,128 (660 circ and 468 proofs) I dream of owning one. Hopefully one day I will.
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Valued Member
Australia
112 Posts |
I'm also suprised how many NZ coins turn up - I have 9 NZ 20c pieces of different years since I decided to start saving them.
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Pillar of the Community
 Australia
877 Posts |
I am now starting an NZ 20¢ collection rather than just putting them back in the change. Will be interesting to see how long it takes to get most years.
Jeff
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Valued Member
Malaysia
59 Posts |
I came to understand that getting this NZ 10 cent piece is a tough challenge.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
10743 Posts |
I have a 1939 New Zealand 3 pence coin, with crossed pistols on the reverse, could someone give me a little info on this coin?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1231 Posts |
The things on New Zealands 3 pence are two carved patu (Maori weapons) crossed with lanyards or throngs attached, with "3d" between their blades
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
10743 Posts |
Thanks, onejinx.... Do you have any idea of value? Its about fine plus condition.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
3831 Posts |
Speaking of which, I just pulled a 1985 kiwi 20 cents coin from circulation yesterday.
My partial coin collection http://www.omnicoin.com/collection/gxseriesMy numismatics articles and collection: http://www.gxseries.com/numis/numis_index.htmRegularly updated at least once a month. |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
877 Posts |
Well in one week keeping an eye out for NZ 20¢, I now have 9 different years  They are certainly common in Oz. Maybe I will see how many Fiji coins I can get too -surprisingly they do not seem to appear much although lots of Australians visit Fiji and must come back with a pocketful. Jeff |
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Valued Member
Australia
112 Posts |
you also get PNG coins in circulation occasionally
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
877 Posts |
Well, another week has gone and I now have 19 different NZ 20¢ from 1967 to 2002. Also, I found a 1948 florin in around very fine condition!  And, only one Fijian so far. Jeff |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
652 Posts |
I've got 25 rolls of circulated Australian 5 cent pieces to open, looking for error. I can guarantee at least half a dozen NZ 5 cent pieces will be amongst them. I keep them all.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
877 Posts |
Now I am up to 20 different date NZ 20¢, two florins, 1 50¢ piece, 2 10¢ and 2 5¢. Also 2 Fiji 50¢ and only one Fiji 20¢.
I am going to Fiji next year -maybe I should see how many I can find. They still have 1¢ & 2¢ coins.
Jeff
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Replies: 17 / Views: 8,265 |
Posted 10/02/2007 08:15 am
