New Zealand 1956 penny

Rosenblum sale 40j, lot 282

This bronze penny is a rare variety of a type struck 1953-65. In 1956, the obverse hub was modified to sharpen the sleeve of Her Majesty's dress. The misleadingly named "shoulder strap" variety is common, the "no shoulder strap" (shown here) is rare. This specimen was lot 282 in William Rosenblum's sale 40j (Littleton, CO, October 2010). In 1967, New Zealand abandoned the sterling coinage she had used since the days of Captain Cook and adopted the decimal dollar and cent. Silver was dropped from the coinage in 1947, same as Great Britain. The bird on the reverse is native to New Zealand.

Recorded mintage: 3,600,000 (all varieties).

Specification: bronze, 31 mm diameter, designed by Mary Gillick and L.C Mitchell.

Catalog reference: KM 24.1.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.

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• 1955 penny
• Australia 1956(p) penny
• South Africa 1956 penny
• 1956 3 pence
• 1956 sixpence
• 1956 shilling
• 1957 penny
• Coins and currency dated 1956
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