New Zealand 1950 1/2 crown
This specimen was lot 23352 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2020), where it sold for $80. The catalog description[1] noted, "NEW ZEALAND. 1/2 Crown, 1950. PCGS MS-65 Gold Shield. K.G. close to rim. An immensely attractive Near Gem with full mint luster and light champagne toning throughout, this piece is a sight to behold and shares the top spot in the PCGS census with just four other examples. From the Fenton Collection." This half crown struck for George VI retained the arms reverse introduced with George V. In 1948, the obverse was revised from "GEORGE VI KING EMPEROR" to "KING GEORGE THE SIXTH", and struck in that form until 1951. The denomination was terminated upon decimalization in 1965. The "K.G. close to rim" variety earns a premium.
Recorded mintage: 3,600,000 plus proofs.
Specification: 14.14 g, copper-nickel, 32 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-19.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The January 2020 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2019.
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