1974 New Zealand 2 Cent Coin In Silver

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Author	Replies: 8 / Views: 3,678
doodikins New Member New Zealand 8 Posts	Posted 08/31/2011 10:12 am Ok, so I know WHAT it is, but can anybody give me any information on where it might have been minted, and/or for what purpose? I have one in my collection and can find no information on it anywhere, except for an expired listing on trademe for a 1987 version (with no picture). I hope I'm not annoying anyone by posting my query in this particular part of the forum! Any info would be appreciated, and also a value, if anyone would know? Thanks! Edited by Forum Mom to remove link. Please read the rules. Report this Post to the Staff

Susanlynn9 Forum Mom United States 5877 Posts	Posted 08/31/2011 10:17 am Welcome to CCF! It would help if you could post pictures or scans of both sides of your coin. Report this Post to the Staff
doodikins New Member New Zealand 8 Posts	Posted 08/31/2011 10:20 am Hi Susan, I will try to get some pictures of it as best I can and see if that helps. Thanks :) :) Report this Post to the Staff
doodikins New Member New Zealand 8 Posts	Posted 08/31/2011 11:33 am 1974 New Zealand - Queen Elizabeth II on one side, and the Kowhai flowers on the reverse, just the same as the standard bronze versions. Photos are shabby to say the least, and I will have it scanned if no one can help me via these images. This is the standard bronze coin below, which (to my untrained eye) looks to be exactly the same as the silver one I am looking for info on. Thanks in advance! Report this Post to the Staff
Sap Moderator Australia 16847 Posts	Posted 08/31/2011 6:22 pm Hello and welcome. It will not be a deliberately-made "silver 2 cent coin". I believe The Royal Mint struck New Zealand's coins in 1974, and there are no records of any such coins being struck. I'm a little confused - which pic is of the silver one? They all look coppery in the pics. I have an Australian 2 cent coin that is "silver". It looks silvery, anyway, but it's actually been electroplated with zinc. I know this because my dad made it in a chemistry demonstration. The most likely explanation for your coin is that it has been similarly plated, in silver or some other metal. Check the rim carefully, all the way around, and see if there's a small patch where the "silver" is missing. My coin has that; it's where the wire was attached. Now, it's entirely possible that it's a "wrong planchet" mint error; I believe The Royal Mint struck New Zealand's coins in 1974, and they were also striking coins for other countries and colonies too. Though in 1974, The Royal Mint was not making small, 2-cent-sized coins out of silver, so if it is a genuine mint error then it's probably some other silver-looking metal. One thing you can test is the weight. Weigh it as accurately as you can - in grams to two decimal places would be preferred. Weigh the normal 2 cent at the samem time. If the silver one weighs basically the same as a normal 2 cent piece (within .02 grams or so), then it's most likely a "plate job" - a plating isn't going to significantly change the weight. However, if the coin is significantly heavier or lighter than a normal 2 cent coin, then it could well be a wrong planchet mint error. 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 Report this Post to the Staff
doodikins New Member New Zealand 8 Posts	Posted 08/31/2011 8:47 pm Hi Sap, thanks! Sorry about the pics, they ended up a bit messed after I submitted that post. Ok, of the pics, the top two are of the silver 2c, and the very bottom is a standard bronze. It is as shiny as a newly minted silver coin, so is quite hard to photograph. I have checked it for patches, and there are none on the coin, or around the sides. It has a small number at the bottom on the "2" side, similar to the bronze versions (either an 18 or a 16, it's a bit small without a magnifier) The edges are smooth, and it all seems to look much the same as the original. I have weighed a 1974 bronze 2c at 4.19g and the silver one weighs out at around 4.16g. Is there anything else I can look at/any other info I can provide? I will try to get it scanned so you can have a proper look at it. Thanks for all your info so far! I have had this in my possession for at least 20 years, and am struggling to remember if it came out of my pocket or from somewhere else. I think it has been circulated - it has some minor marks on it (mild scratches that have not uncovered anything other than more silver underneath) Have you any idea if it might be worth anything? It seems to be an interesting piece, whatever the history :) Report this Post to the Staff
doodikins New Member New Zealand 8 Posts	Posted 08/31/2011 11:00 pm These are slightly better than the first ones. Last two pics show the silver 2c between a 1974 bronze 2c and a 1978 NZ 5c so you can see the colour difference. Report this Post to the Staff
Sap Moderator Australia 16847 Posts	Posted 09/01/2011 02:53 am Hmmm, that's very shiny. And the weight is close enough for it to be a plate job; I suspect it's been nickel or chrome-plated. Does it stick slightly to a strong magnet? The Royal Mint wasn't making any chrome-plated or nickel coins in 1974, so I'm leaning more towards it being plated. Quote: It has a small number at the bottom on the "2" side, similar to the bronze versions (either an 18 or a 16, it's a bit small without a magnifier) That would be "JB", the initials of the designer, James Berry. All the original New Zealand coin designs bear his initials. Quote: I think it has been circulated - it has some minor marks on it (mild scratches that have not uncovered anything other than more silver underneath) It wouldn't have lasted long in circulation before someone spotted it and pulled it out - it couldn't have had time to pick up that much circulation damage. It could well have circulated for a while before it was plated - in which case, the plating would have covered the entire surface of the coin, including inside the nicks and scratches. 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 Report this Post to the Staff
doodikins New Member New Zealand 8 Posts	Posted 09/01/2011 03:37 am I just tried several magnets on it and none stuck, but in saying that, the magnets didn't stick to the other random coins I passed over either, so that's probably not much help. I'm assuming this is just a boring old coin that isn't worth anything? I suppose there's nothing to compare it to if it has been plated. Makes a nice and interesting addition to the collection, if nothing else :) Thanks for looking at this and all your help! Much appreciated :D Report this Post to the Staff
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