A hole filled, Part I: 1920 Halfcrown
wybrit
Posts: 6,967 ✭✭✭
Well, in spite of my forthcoming respite from coin buying, the ones I recently acquired are trickling in.
The color on the 1920 halfcrown is funny, but somewhat expected. The change to debased (.500) silver came in 1920. The alloy for 1920, 1921 and some of 1922 silver coins was either 50%Ag/40%Cu/10%Ni or 50%Ag/45%Cu/5%Mn. The finish for both alloys was dull and tended to tone gray. Interestingly, the nickel used was from spent shell casings.
There were many varieties of the 1920 halfcrown. This one is the smaller head in high relief. It is one of the best strikes I have seen in the 1911-1926 series.
(Key info from Davies - British Silver Coins since 1816)
Footnote:
Ag - silver
Cu - copper
Ni - nickel
Mn - manganese
The color on the 1920 halfcrown is funny, but somewhat expected. The change to debased (.500) silver came in 1920. The alloy for 1920, 1921 and some of 1922 silver coins was either 50%Ag/40%Cu/10%Ni or 50%Ag/45%Cu/5%Mn. The finish for both alloys was dull and tended to tone gray. Interestingly, the nickel used was from spent shell casings.
There were many varieties of the 1920 halfcrown. This one is the smaller head in high relief. It is one of the best strikes I have seen in the 1911-1926 series.
(Key info from Davies - British Silver Coins since 1816)
Footnote:
Ag - silver
Cu - copper
Ni - nickel
Mn - manganese
Former owner, Cambridge Gate collection.
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09/07/2006
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Collecting:
Conder tokens
19th & 20th Century coins from Great Britain and the Realm
Collecting:
Conder tokens
19th & 20th Century coins from Great Britain and the Realm
Pro Deo Et Patria
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The 1920 high relief is noted by Davies as being one of the two common varieties (the other one is a larger head with low relief). That said, UNCs are hard to come by.
There is an outside chance you have a medium sized head with "REX" spaced farther apart. Check yours against my photograph.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
I located my coin and it is, with question, the same variety as yours. I imagine this is a tough date in UNC.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.