New Zealand 1940 1/2 penny
This specimen was lot 31411 in Heritage sale 3035 (Long Beach, September 2014), where it sold for $2,820. The catalog description[1] noted, "George VI Proof 1/2 Penny 1940 PR65 Brown NGC. A dramatically appealing Gem Proof with iridescent royal-blue tone in the obverse centers that transitions to gold and magenta at the margins. The reverse maintains most of its orange-red mint color. A great 20th century rarity is this presentation format with the SCWC mentioning that only 5 examples are known." New Zealand did not receive her own coinage until 1933, British coins being used heretofore. Issue of pennies and half pennies did not begin until 1940. This is a common date of a type struck 1940-47 but the proofs are rare.
Recorded mintage: 3,432,000 plus a few proofs.
Specification: 5.6 g, bronze, 25.4 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-12.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, and Warren Tucker, Heritage Signature Auction 3035, World and Ancient Coins, featuring the FoxLair Collection and the Law Collection, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2014.
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