South Africa 1959 5 shillings
This specimen was lot 5418 in Goldberg sale 69 (Los Angeles, May, 2012), where it sold for $661.25. The catalog description [2] noted, "South Africa. 5 Shillings, 1959. Elizabeth II. Key date of the series. NGC graded MS-66 Prooflike. The Judy Cahn Collection." 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 five shilling pieces were originally 0.800 fine silver (KM 31, issued 1947 and KM 40.1, issued 1948-50), then 0.500 fine silver (KM 40.2, issued 1951-52 and KM 52, issued 1953-59). Additional fifty cent pieces were struck 1961-64 after the white-dominated Republic of South Africa withdrew from the Commonwealth. With the collapse of apartheid, collecting South African coins is now respectable again.
Recorded mintage: 2,989 plus 2,200 prooflike specimens plus 950 proofs.
Specification: 28.28 g, 0.500 fine silver, 38.8 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 52.
- 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.
- [2]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, Stephen Harvey and Paul Rynearson, Goldberg sale 69: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Ancient and World Coins, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2012.
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