New Zealand 1944 penny
This specimen was lot 75425 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $120. The catalog description[1] noted, "NEW ZEALAND. Penny, 1944. PCGS MS-65 Red. Portrait of king George VI. Full red color and with a striking appearance. Somewhat better date in the series." 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 type was struck until 1947 and none of the dates are scarce except in proof. In 1948 the obverse legend was revised from "GEORGE VI KING EMPEROR" to "KING GEORGE THE SIXTH." The denomination was terminated upon decimalization in 1965.
Recorded mintage: 3,696,000 plus a few proofs.
Specification: 9.6 g, bronze, 30.8 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 13.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The November 2022 Collectors Choice Ancient & World Coins Auction, Featuring the Pat Johnson Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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