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 Replies: 16 / Views: 6,997 |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
3831 Posts |
I'm curious - the last silver coin minted is the 1966 50 cents and it took perhaps a few years for the public to cull them. But then, my friend claimed that he got one back in 2001 which is more than 35 years since it's issue!
Unfortunately I never managed to pull one out from circulation - have you and if so, when?
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
655 Posts |
Never seen one in circulation myself, but my parents must have since they handed 2 down to me. Probably from 1966 lol.
Used to get the odd sixpence or shilling in change from the fruit store in the early 80's.
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New Member
Australia
38 Posts |
I've lived in Australia for about 5 years now and have never gotten a silver coin in circulation. Back in USA, I would find a silver 10c (dime) or 25c (quarter) probably about every 3 or 4 years. Of course the dimes and quarters have the same design, the "colour" is a bit different, so one sneaks through now and again.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
G'day, I live in Darwin. My friendly bus driver tells me that he gets one "round" or pre-decimal coin every few months.
Earlier this year, a friend told me that her friend had decided to spend her hoard. I got in touch, and "rescued" quite a few coins. However, they had been poorly stored, and the rounds, and bronzes, had a lot of green. The predecimal silver fared better in the same conditions.
The reality is this: when non-current coins arrive at a bank, staff are instructed to put them aside. These never circulate again: they go to the RBA, and then to the RAM. So, the only hope of survival that an old coin has, is if it intercepted by a collector, before it goes to a bank. Secondly, the chances of you or I seeing such a coin are pretty limited, unless we work somewhere where coins are handled a lot; and maybe there's another factor.
I suspect that there is a demographic as to who has these coins, AND might spend them. I'm thinking the elderly.
So, I suspect that my friendly bus driver, dealing with a lot of pensioners, is ideally placed.
The other aspect to consider is the bank. If you can cultivate a staff-member to divert coins for you, you're in. I tried at my local bank a while ago, but an old harridan that spends all day making the young tellers miserable, overheard my conversation, and she POUNCED. No joy ... yet
Peter
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Valued Member
Australia
252 Posts |
I went for four years in a job with a lot of coins and found none. Then came across two with in a week.
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Pillar of the Community
 Australia
3831 Posts |
Quite interesting. Thanks for sharing your stories.  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
965 Posts |
I never saw one at all in the four years I lived down under (Jan 1999- Oct 2002). I handled money every day at work (Telstra) and managed a complete set of paper banknotes, but had to part with them before I left. I'm really kicking myself that I didn't at least keep the lower denominations. One of these days, I'll love to add a 1966 to my collection, though.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
819 Posts |
Granted, I'm not exactly pulling coins out of Australian circulation, but I seem to be running into them quite often these days. So far, they've had one at the coin store the past three weekends running... and I know they aren't the same coin because I always bring those home with me. ... Except for the one yesterday, that someone else beat me to it.
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Formerly nancyc
Australia
5385 Posts |
It would be 40 yrs + since I saw any 1966 50¢ in circulation. They disappeared pretty quickly once people became aware they were 80% silver & everyone hoarded them.
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Valued Member
Australia
112 Posts |
I have a round 50c I got from circulation, have had it for a few years, I think when I sorted through a jar of coins in 2003. I also vaguely remember getting one or two before this but not saving them.
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Valued Member
Australia
414 Posts |
Hi everyone. I have never found round 50c pieces in circulation myself. I have found a few florins from Australia and New Zealand though. Probably 3 or 4 of each during my searches. Unfortunately not often enough  |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1360 Posts |
During the last five or so years, my Mum has pulled at least six of these fifty-cent pieces from circulation.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
652 Posts |
I have a friend who works in the Bank. She called and asked if I want $50 worth for face value. "Let me think about that for 10 seconds", said I. When I went to get them she had given $10 worth to her brother. How rude!  They were all uncirculated! I sent one overseas, the rest are now all safely locked away for the future. I thanked her profusely. Yes, it definitely pays to know someone or cultivate a friendship in the bank. The only problem is that bank tellers in Australia seem to get moved around quite a lot. My friend also had a couple of $200 coins, but I simply didn't have the readies to coillect them. |
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New Member
Australia
9 Posts |
Can't say I've ever seen one in circulation since the multi sided 50c replaced them.
I was 7 in 1966 and remember using the pre-dec coins... and that the exchange rate for Threepence was a ripoff. Maybe why hoarded.
Used to find 1/- occasionally up to about 1980.
I'd suggest that it would have been more common to find the 1966 Oz in your change over in NZ where the 50c is / was round for many years. Other NZ coinage was the same sizes as Oz for many years and there are a lot of connections between the two countries.
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Valued Member
Malaysia
59 Posts |
How much is the silver 50c worth now? I have a few in EF or better, but my Krause book is not the latest.
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Formerly nancyc
Australia
5385 Posts |
The latest Nov 06 Maccas guide has Unc at $12, no prices for any lower grades.
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Replies: 16 / Views: 6,997 |
Posted 10/14/2007 05:57 am
