New Zealand 1964 florin
New Zealand received her distinctive coinage starting in 1933. Early florins were 0.500 fine silver but were converted to copper-nickel in 1947. The 1953 issue introduced the bust of queen Elizabeth while the type shown here was produced 1961-65 with a modified bust. Circulation issues are common in all grades, the proofs are rare. On the reverse, the flightless kiwi probes for unwary numismatists. The second specimen was part of lot 23394 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $7,500. The catalog description[1] noted, "NEW ZEALAND. Proof Set (6 Pieces), 1964. London Mint. Elizabeth II. All PCGS Certified. 1) Florin. PCGS PROOF-65 Cameo. KM-28.2. 2) Shilling. PCGS PROOF-65 Cameo. KM-27.2. 3) 6 Pence. PCGS PROOF-64. KM-26.2. 4) 3 Pence. PCGS PROOF-66 Cameo. KM-25.2. 5) Penny. PCGS PROOF-65 Red-Brown. KM-24.2. 6) 1/2 Penny. PCGS PROOF-64 Red-Brown. KM-23.2. A lovely offering, this assembled proof set delivers a stunning appeal of a seldom seen type in proof. No record of a set being issued for 1964 exists, implying this set was later put together. All examples are quite attractive and deliver stunning visual acuity, with no individual coin grading below the near-Gem level. A tremendous offering of a difficult to acquire proof date."
Recorded mintage: 7,000,000 + proofs.
Specification: 11.31 g, copper-nickel, 28.58 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 28.2.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The January 2023 NYINC Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Taraszka Collection and the Mark and Dottie Salton Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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