South Africa 1923-SA 1/2 sovereign
This specimen was part of lot 21491 in Stack's Bowers ANA Auction (Denver, CO, August 2017), which sold for $3,055. The catalog description[1] noted, "SOUTH AFRICA. Ten Piece Proof Set, 1923. Fr-5 & 6; KM-PS1; Hern-P2. Includes: Farthing to Sovereign. The first proof set of South Africa from a mintage of only 655 sets. The silver pieces have an attractive smokey tone which deepens towards the edges and the gold is slightly musty while the blackened bronze pieces are immaculate. The piece with the lowest grade is the 3 Pence in PR 63 and the highest graded is the 1/4 Pence in PR 67. Overall and attractively matched set in terms of eye appeal with many high grade examples. Clearly a set which sat for a prolonged period time undisturbed. All are graded by PCGS in Secure holders. With case of issue. Ex: Stack's Auction May 1-3, 1991, Lot #2567." The half sovereign was struck in South Africa intermittently 1923-60. This is the only type struck for George V and was issued 1923-26.
Recorded mintage: 655 proofs.
Specification: 3.99 g, 0.917 fine gold.
Catalog reference: Fr-6; S-4010; KM-20.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Hern, Brian, John Bothma and Hercie Pieterse, Hern's Handbook on South African Coins & Patterns, Ferndale, South Africa, 2013.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio and Chris Chatigny, The August 2017 Denver ANA Auction: Ancients, Selections from The Richard Stuart Collection & World Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2017.
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