South Africa 1945 2 shillings
The first specimen was lot 23046 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Anaheim, CA, August 2016), where it sold for $282. The catalog description[1] noted, "SOUTH AFRICA. 2 Shillings, 1945. NGC PROOF-65. Mintage of 150. Population of four with three finer at NGC. An impressive piece that lacks any evidence of having resided in a proof set box. The color is superb with virtually all white surfaces and deep icy mirrored fields. Without question one of the finest surviving examples of this SCARCE proof striking that is sure to draw attention as it crosses the auction block." The second specimen was part of lot 31679 in Heritage sale 3064 (Chicago, April 2018), where it sold for $1,980. The catalog description[2] noted, "George VI 8-Piece NGC-Certified Proof Set 1945, ...7) 2 Shillings 1945, PR65 NGC; ...Included is the original cardboard case. All of the silver pieces are cameo, with bluish reverse toning. A nice matched set." The florins of George VI come in three styles: KM 29, struck 1937-47, with "GEORGIVS VI REX IMPERATOR"; KM 38.1, struck 1948-50, with "GEORGIVS SEXTUS REX"; and KM 38.2, debased to 0.500 fine silver. This date is fairly common despite the modest mintage compared to the early war years.
Recorded mintage: 473,000 plus 150 proofs.
Specification: 11.31 g, 0.800 fine silver, 28.5 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-29; Hern-S258.
- 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]Ponterio, Richard, The August 2016 Anaheim ANA Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2016.
- [2]Cristiano Bierrenbach and Warren Tucker, Heritage World Coin Auction 3064, featuring the Doug Robins Collection of Canadian Tokens, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.
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