How scarce are GB 1925 & 1926 halfcrowns?

[OldCurrencyExchange]

According to the catalogues, the British 1925 and 1926 halfcrown had relatively low mintages.

This would suggest that they are relatively scarce when compared to other dates.

Is the survival rate better than average?

I seem to have found a disproportionate amount of 1925's and 1926's in the attic finds over the summer here in Ireland. 

[azda]

1930 had the lowest mintage of 809,501 followed by 1925 at 1.433,468

[OldCurrencyExchange]

Yes, I know about the mintages but it just seems that I am finding a disproportionate amount of 1925 and 1926 halfcrowns.

I would expect to find fewer, so I am wondering if there is a high survival rate for these dates (because, in the past, people have put them aside and did not spend them)

They also catalogue (value) higher, which suggests they are more difficult to find - which is not my experience (of late). 

I was hoping a few halfcrown specialists might have an opinion on this.

Regards

J

 

PS - love the title (Forum God)

Edited August 18, 2016 by OldCurrencyExchange

[VickySilver]

Well, those were selected out as "rarities" and likely preferential saving to other dates. The 1925 becomes scarce to rare in high grades with totally unbagmarked specimens to my knowledge unknown  - although there are a few out there that are quite choice.

[Paulus]

'Forum God' is automatically applied to your profile after a certain number of posts, and should certainly not be taken literally (except for Rob!)

I am not a 'half-crown specialist', but here is my take, for what it's worth ...

• published mintage figures indicate how many coins were manufactured in that year, not necessarily how many were manufactured with a particular date on the coin
• there are 2 main types of 1926, neither of which are particularly rare (third coinage - aka Modified Effigy being slightly rarer)
• I'm surprised you have found many 1925's, especially if some are high grade, these are genuinely scarce I believe

Edited August 18, 2016 by Paulus

[Peter]

In recent memory a bulk lot of 1925 2/6's were sold at auction in Australia. At the time we discussed the effect on the market price.Maybe a fellow member can direct you to this thread. 

[azda]

5 hours ago, OldCurrencyExchange said:

Yes, I know about the mintages but it just seems that I am finding a disproportionate amount of 1925 and 1926 halfcrowns.

I would expect to find fewer, so I am wondering if there is a high survival rate for these dates (because, in the past, people have put them aside and did not spend them)

They also catalogue (value) higher, which suggests they are more difficult to find - which is not my experience (of late). 

I was hoping a few halfcrown specialists might have an opinion on this.

Regards

J

 

PS - love the title (Forum God)

Forum God is applied when you reach 1000 posts. 1925 halfcrowns in low grades along with most other coinage isn't considered rare, if you have come across these in EF or above then the rarity scale would kick in, check the ESC BOOK by Raynor he states this frequently in his footnotes.

If you have seen them in EF or better I'd be interested in seeing a few pics as Geo V coinage was crap at the best of times (poorly struck)

[OldCurrencyExchange]

Yes, I have a few EF's + a lot of coins that look like they've either been dipped or, as you say, crap strikes.

I also bought a few albums recently with coins that were kept in an attic (presumably a damp attic) and many of the silver coins are beginning to sweat in the plastic holders and have a light sheen of pale green (verdigris)

Edited August 18, 2016 by OldCurrencyExchange
clarity

[Nonmortuus]

The green on the silver may not be verd, it may be the plastic residue from the albums. Search the forum for a thread on Acetone as there has been some success removing the green slime without impacting the coin.

[Leo]

It happens with cheap PVC holders, they contain a substance to make it more flexible but it decays and leaves the coins green and sticky, particularly around the edges. You can remove with acetone but have to be careful not to rub too hard or may leave hairlines on the coin. Always try before with a cheap coin.

Some of the materials used in proof sets in the 70's in Spain and collector's albums contained this type of PVC. I got a kilo of sticky Franco coins still to be cleaned... They're worthless anyway

[RLC35]

44 minutes ago, Leo said:

It happens with cheap PVC holders, they contain a substance to make it more flexible but it decays and leaves the coins green and sticky, particularly around the edges. You can remove with acetone but have to be careful not to rub too hard or may leave hairlines on the coin. Always try before with a cheap coin.

Some of the materials used in proof sets in the 70's in Spain and collector's albums contained this type of PVC. I got a kilo of sticky Franco coins still to be cleaned... They're worthless anyway

The green goo caused by coin folders, and soft poly coin folders can be cleaned with Carbon Tet (Tetracloride), if you can find it. You don't have to rub, just dip it in the liquid and slush it around some, then rinse it off. Die Makers used to use it to clean tools. I don't know how hard it is find in the open market. There is a coin company in Sidney, Ohio that markets it under a different name, but it is really just Carbon Tet.

[VickySilver]

I have had good success with ye olde acetone treatment...

[jacinbox]

1925 is a very rare coin in UNC grade.

[azda]

On 20 August 2016 at 10:02 PM, jacinbox said:

1925 is a very rare coin in UNC grade.

And EF

[jacinbox]

Not so scarce in EF IMO. However you have far more experience with Silver than me. I wouldn’t pay over £120 in XF yet for an UNC I am willing to pay 5x premium.