South Africa 1933 shilling
This specimen was lot 25517 in Heritage sale 3024 (Chicago, April 2013), where it sold for $1,057.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "George V Shilling 1933, MS64 NGC, a beautiful silvery white coin, with smooth satiny luster, showing only tiny abrasions. How many shillings of this date exist so fine?" South Africa, after a turbulent history between English and Dutch settlers and the native population, was constituted the Union of South Africa in 1910. Coinage commenced in 1923. The shilling pieces were originally 0.800 fine silver (KM 17, issued 1923-36 and KM 28, issued 1937-50), then 0.500 fine silver (KM 37.2, issued 1951-52 and KM 49, issued 1953-60). Additional ten cent pieces were struck 1961-64 after the white-dominated Republic of South Africa withdrew from the Commonwealth. This date is common but the proofs are rare. With the collapse of apartheid, collecting South African coins is now respectable again.
Recorded mintage: 1,463,000 plus 20 proofs.
Specification: 5.66 g, 0.800 fine silver, 23.5 mm diameter, plain edge, designed by Bertram MacKennal and George Kruger-Gray.
Catalog reference: KM 17.3.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Hern, Brian, John Bothma and Hercie Pieterse, Hern's Handbook on South African Coins & Patterns, Ferndale, South Africa, 2013.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3024, featuring the Kairos and Elizabeth McPhall Charters Collections, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
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