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Debating A New Set, Anyone Know About British West Africa?
Clio
Posts: 644 ✭✭✭✭✭
I've been trying to keep an eye out for these for a while now and have owned some of the most common issues in the past but recently I got my submission results back and I am torn if I am going to sell them or commit to starting the set. I find the non silver issues vastly less appealing which makes it somewhat difficult to be inspired to do the whole set but I am still debating it. Anyone here collect any BWA or have experience with rarity and difficulty in finding nice pieces?
The group I have at the moment
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The best collecting goals lie right on the border between the possible and the impossible. - Andy Lustig, "MrEureka"
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If you are interested in the subject, this is the best book:
Looks as if you are off to a great start.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Nice group! I like the 1913 shillings in particular.
@1984worldcoins Do you know of any place that has that in stock at a reasonable price?
https://numismaticmuse.com/ My Web Gallery
The best collecting goals lie right on the border between the possible and the impossible. - Andy Lustig, "MrEureka"
No stock for that old book, I hunted down on ebay.
I have been looking for a 1946H Shilling for a few years. Have only seen 1, probably because I don't know where to look. The 1 I saw was over graded in plastic and priced higher than grade warranted. My opinion.
@1984WorldCoins What does that book say about the 1946H Shilling? Is a nice one illustrated? Tia!
The David Vice Collection has been auctioned in 2016 by Heritage, this is a page from the catalog (got the catalog from, you guessed it, ebay!)
British West Africa 1/10 Penny 1936 - Edward VIII
Copper-nickel, 20.5 mm, 1.9 gm
British West Africa 1/2 Penny 1936 - Edward VIII
Copper-nickel, 25.2 mm, 5.6 gm
British West Africa Penny 1936 - Edward VIII
Copper-nickel, 30.5 mm, 9.5 gm
The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
Coins in Movies
Coins on Television
@1984WorldCoins, THANK YOU!! Info I have never seen. I'm not sure what to think of my 1946 6d. Actually, never thought too much of it. Nothing special in the guides. Also, I am now curious what was said about the 1946 SA 1d. I know I am asking a lot after all you've done. I hope I can return the favor some day.
Yes, anytime if I have the information. Here is the next page:
I used to collect South Africa Union (sterling series 1923-1960) as my primary interest, up to 2010. The coins are cheaper now since the bubble burst in 2011/2012, but the TPG counts have increased noticeably (proportionately) though still often low or very low by US standards. It's also a market with a demonstrated preference for TPG where I've seen all kinds of junk in plastic.
Most of the silver coinage was melted after 1950 with the transition from 80% to 50%, transition to decimal from pre-decimal monetary system in 1961, and presumably in large number in the 1979-1980 silver bubble. There weren't that many collectors in the earlier years either.
The mintages in the above image are a lot higher than those for SA. So, while I presume fewer have collected it (almost entirely expatriates at the time), I wouldn't expect it should be that hard to complete in higher quality. Aside from the usual US sources, I'd look in British auctions. Dealers in other commonwealth countries might have it too.
I haven't much experience with British West Africa. I made one book for Shillings and sold it to a fellow forumite here. The series has a few interesting issues, in particular I was intrigued by the 1920-G coinage struck by the firm J.R. Gaunt & Sons. It was the firm's only production of coins and nearly all of them were melted or destroyed.
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@1984WorldCoins Thanks, again.
BWA has several hoard dates for several denominations, but there are other dates catalogs list as fairly common that are virtually non existent in high grades. It's always an area I've thought was very undervalued
Justin Meunier
Boardwalk Numismatics
This is always interesting to me. There's the mintages and the availability and they frequently don't align. Like folks selling 1942 Irish shillings as a key date which might be true on paper mintage wise but is easily the easiest UNC silver shilling you can get.
I've been looking for a bit now for BWA. Nothing is standing out just yet but I do have to say loads of the brass issues have problems so condition wise those might be tougher than they look on first blush as well.
https://numismaticmuse.com/ My Web Gallery
The best collecting goals lie right on the border between the possible and the impossible. - Andy Lustig, "MrEureka"