South Africa 1939 2 shillings

Heritage sale 3021, lot 22691

photo courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries

This specimen was lot 22691 in Heritage sale 3021 (New York, January 2013), where it sold for $2,585. The catalog description^[1] noted, "George VI 2 Shillings 1939, MS63 PCGS, a completely original and most appealing example with soft patina and full underlying mint bloom. Very scarce date in this select quality." The florin or two shillings was struck in South Africa 1923-60. It was 0.800 fine silver until 1950 and 0.500 fine thereafter. The 1939 two shillings is not rare but the issue was dwarfed by the large mintages of 1940-43. This specimen realized forty-seven times the catalog value.

Recorded mintage: 279,000.

Specification: 11.31 g, 0.800 fine silver.

Catalog reference: KM 29.

Source:

• 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 3021, featuring the Cecil Webster, Richard P. Ariagno and Elizabeth McPhall Charters Collection, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2012.

Link to:

• 1924 florin
• 1939 farthing
• 1939 half penny
• 1939 penny
• 1939 threepence
• 1939 sixpence
• 1939 shilling
• 1939 2½ shillings
• Southern Rhodesia 1939 2 shillings
• 1940 2 shillings
• Coins and currency dated 1939
• return to coins of South Africa