Where are all the high grade 1920 Florins

[ozjohn]

I've been looking on ebay for a high grade 1920 florin. There is plenty of low grade stuff VG to F and one slabbed Ebay # 181515950631 which is graded at MS 64 but still has a little wear on the king's ear and weak lions on the upper shield on the reverse but still a very nice coin. I think these problems are due to the minting rather than wear due to circulation. Any other date of that period there are plenty of coins of VF + and higher. As 1920 is not a low mintage date I wonder if the people were weary of the debased coins when they first came out and spent them as quickly as possible thus causing more worn coins. However it has to be said there are a reasonable amount of higher grade 1921, 1922 etc. florins around with the lower mintage dates 1924 and 1925.

[coinkat]

In terms of a true GEM, I do not recall seeing one. My example by UK standards would likely be a lower end EF and AU55-58 by US standards.

[declanwmagee]

This is the best that has passed through my hands:

Davies 1744 (not the commonest microvariety, and there are a few!).

Sold in April for a little under Spink but more than CCGB!. They're not easy, but they are out there.

Patience grasshopper.

[sound]

1920 & 1921 are the two most difficult years to find in high grade outside the the rarer GV silver. Poor metal mix didn't help either.

[Nick]

Don't think I've ever seen one that doesn't have two weak lions in the upper shield.

[Peckris]

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).

[Nick]

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.

Except that sterling silver is also an alloy.

[ozjohn]

All this is true but I have to say 1821/ 22 & 23 are easy to find but 1920 is elusive despite the official Royal Mint figures for 1920.

[Peckris]

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.

Except that sterling silver is also an alloy.

Yes, but 1) it's over 92% silver, and 2) it had been used for centuries.

[coinkat]

The surviving population is more significant than the quantity minted.

[azda]

All this is true but I have to say 1821/ 22 & 23 are easy to find but 1920 is elusive despite the official Royal Mint figures for 1920.

They did'nt make florins in 1821/22 or 1823. thought even Peck wouöd have picked up on that one

The ebay one is PCGS graded, so not a strict british grade, also watch out for over inflated price by this seller, he's known to give his coins a helping hand, his helper is amoungst this bid sheet 161413312096

Edited September 7, 2014 by azda

[Peckris]

They did'nt make florins in 1821/22 or 1823. thought even Peck wouöd have picked up on that one

Yeah. I shouöd of done

[azda]

They did'nt make florins in 1821/22 or 1823. thought even Peck wouöd have picked up on that one

Yeah. I shouöd of done

I'm on holiday, so i don't care