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New Zealand pre-decimal coins varieties

By CAA    |   Thursday, 9 December 2021

Here's the list of most popular, recognized and accepted varieties of the New Zealand pre-decimal coins period.

Half Penny 1961 - Broken neck

The space between the head and body of the M?ori hei-tiki (neck pendant) is larger on the broken neck variety. Probably due to a polished die.

Regular halfpenny

Broken neck halfpenny 1961 - New Zealand coin

Broken neck

Broken neck halfpenny 1961 - New Zealand coin


Half Penny 1965 - Mule

The obverse used to strike the mule coin is the UK obverse. Extremely rare.

Regular obverse

Half Penny 1965 - Mule - New Zealand coin

Mule obverse

Half Penny 1965 - Mule - New Zealand coin


Penny 1945 - Burnished

The Burnished penny was struck on darkened planchets to discourage hoarding of normal bright shiny coins. Hypothesis #1: Anyone familiar with English coins will know there are lots of examples of this practice. Because New Zealand coins were struck in England it is believed the planchets were mixed up and intended for English coins. Hypothesis #2: Burnished coins were dipped in a sodium thiosulphate solution to darken it.


Penny 1956 - No strap (strapless)

The first design of the portrait of the new Queen Elizabeth II was made in England by sculptor Mary Gillick. A strap was added to the shoulder Queen in the 1950's.

Strap

Strap penny 1956 - New Zealand coin

No strap

No strap penny 1956 - New Zealand coin


Threepence 1942 - 1 dot

The dot after the date was removed at some point on the reverse.

Regular (2 dots)

2 dots (regular) threepence 1942 - New Zealand coin

1 dot

1 dot threepence 1942 - New Zealand coin


Threepence 1955 - 2 dots

Two dots caused by a chipped die are visible on the obverse of the coin.

Regular

Threepence 1955 - New Zealand coin

2 dots

2 dots threepence 1955 - New Zealand coin


Threepence 1956 - No strap (strapless)

The first design of the portrait of the new Queen Elizabeth II was made in England by sculptor Mary Gillick. A strap was added to the shoulder Queen in the 1950's.

Strap

Strap threepence 1956 - New Zealand coin

No strap

No strap threepence 1956 - New Zealand coin


Threepence 1957 - Beads

An easy way to differentiate these two varieties is to look at the dot between The and Second and the alignement to the nearest bead (left or right to it).

86 beads

86 beads threepence 1956 - New Zealand coin

87 beads

87 beads threepence 1957 - New Zealand coin


Sixpence 1957 - No strap (strapless)

The first design of the portrait of the new Queen Elizabeth II was made in England by sculptor Mary Gillick. A strap was added to the shoulder Queen in the 1950's.

Strap

Strap sixpence 1957 - New Zealand coin

No strap

No strap sixpence 1957 - New Zealand coin


Sixpence 1965 - Broken wing

The middle of the reverse shows a filled or polished die error marked by a flattening of detail toward the bac k of the hula's wing. Type 1 and Type 2 exist, type 2 showing a larger flattening.

Regular

Sixpence 1965 - New Zealand coin

Broken wing Type 1

Broken wing sixpence 1965 - New Zealand coin

Broken wing Type 2

Broken wing sixpence 1965 - New Zealand coin


Shilling 1942, 1958 and 1965 - Broken back

Probably caused by a die polishing, die deterioration or filling.

Regular

Shilling 1958 - New Zealand coin

Broken back

Shilling 1942 - New Zealand coin


Shilling 1962 - No horizon

Regular

Shilling 1962 - New Zealand coin

No horizon

Shilling 1962 No horizon - New Zealand coin


Florin 1946 - Flatback

Between 1946 and 1965, the dies show a flattened featherless back of the kiwi. In 1946, old and new reverse dies were used to produced the florins.

Regular

Shilling 1962 - New Zealand coin

Flatback

Flat back florin 1946 - New Zealand coin


Crown 1950 - Initials close to

In 1950, the reverse was slightly modified. The initials K.G. began to be far from the diamond during that year.

Close to diamond

Close to diamond Crown 1950 - New Zealand coin

Close to rim

Close to rim Crown 1950 - New Zealand coin


Related numismatic tools, articles and links

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