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You've ignored the fact that 99,999 of them are 1967 pennies, 1981 or 1965 crowns, or "ultra rare" washers... I haven't ignored or assumed anything, just observed that there are a record number of listings and hope it might mean some increased interest in the hobby ... or of course it might mean nothing at all ... in fact I suspect if I was to do some further analysis it would show that most of the increase is down to decimal listings, especially 50ps, and that the quality of the grades listed was at an all time low!It was just an observation, nothing more. I wasn't being entirely serious! Although you were correct

You've ignored the fact that 99,999 of them are 1967 pennies, 1981 or 1965 crowns, or "ultra rare" washers...

The Mint had major problems with the alloy (the first silver alloy since medieval times), and there are variations in colour, strike quality, and who knows what else. I think that's also a good theory about people hoarding the pre-1920 silver and spending the first couple of years of 50% issue instead. For the same reason, it's why 1944-1946 silver coins - the final years of silver - are so common in high grade. (As for there also being so many 1948s in high grade, the mintages were massive, that's why; 1920 mintages weren't massive compared to the height of the inflation during WW1).