My White Whale -- 1934-35 Melbourne/Victoria Centenary Florin

brg5658 · January 2, 2014 1:01AM

I recently purchased an example of the 1934-35 Australia Centenary Florin. It turned out that I got more than I paid for!

Thought some of you may enjoy this write-up.

BLOG: My recent purchase

And, here she is as a teaser. The close-up of the man is relevant to the story.

JCMhouston · January 2, 2014 2:09AM

Very nice, are you going to try to get it reholdered as a Specimen.

MilkmanDan · January 2, 2014 2:22AM

Great story, I really enjoy it when collectors take the time to recount how an exciting find unfolded. Thanks for sharing and a huge congrats.

SmEagle1795 · January 2, 2014 3:09AM

Wow, congrats! That's a gorgeous design and I'm not surprised it's a specimen example as the head detail is incredible - someone definitely cared about that coin while they were striking it!

brg5658 · January 2, 2014 3:38AM

<< <i>Very nice, are you going to try to get it reholdered as a Specimen. >>

I would like to have it in an NGC holder attributed as a "SP" coin, but strangely neither PCGS nor NGC "recognize" specimens for this issue.

PCGS has graded two of this coin type as "PROOFs", and NGC has graded 5 as "PROOFs". The proof dies are reported from two died, but completely different "animals" from the original die used for the specimen pieces (die markers are all different, etc.). While the head detail is decent on the proofs (particularly the type I), there is no left nipple on proof strikes. More recent research into the issue has even suggested that there are no true "proofs" of this coin, not in the sense of coins struck at high pressure, more than once, and on specially prepared planchets. Let's just say, there is a bit of confusion regarding this issue, but the coins with the "nipple" are certainly special historically and (based on the $14K price tag early last year for an NGC MS66 version sold by Heritage) sell for quite a premium to the specialist collector.

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Below is the PCGS PR65 graded coin from CoinFacts. The head detail is decent (probably top 10% of what I've seen), but there is no nipple, and the die markers are from a different set of dies than my coin.

brg5658 · January 2, 2014 3:45AM

For posterity sake of this thread, here are side-by-side comparisons of my coin with the published markers for the "specimen" strike:

AND, here are the die polish markers on the obverse. These are not the normal "die repair" polish lines you think of, but rather, the final brushing lines from cleaning out the die before striking the very first coins. At high magnification, these lines are clearly raised, and thus why I feel NGC was a little harsh with the MS62 grade (not that it really matters on a coin like this what the TPGs grade it).

coinkat · January 2, 2014 7:12AM

Congrats- a specimen is a very rare coin. I have been told and have seen PL examples for this date. From the images, it is a tough call as to whether we are seeing die polish or hairlines in the fields. That may in part explain the 62 grade

worldcoinguy · January 2, 2014 9:31AM

A white whale indeed! Very nice side by side comparisons. Your photography is awesome.

coinkat · January 2, 2014 9:49AM

My comments about hairlines are specific to the first image and in the obverse fields-

MrEureka · January 2, 2014 11:57AM

Excellent!

WorldTypeSet · January 2, 2014 11:53PM

A great story. Congrats on your acquisition.

LochNESS · January 3, 2014 2:54AM

Yes, a great story and great example of why you must buy the coin and not the plastic! MS62 is way too harsh IMO you should send it back with these photos and make them do some homework on the type. Even with the obverse field lines to which coinkat refers, still should've been a better grade. I've seen a lot worse in 63 and even 64 depending on the Type. As we all know very well. Some Types get different grades but I can't imagine how this is a 62.

coinkat · January 3, 2014 8:51AM

Just to say I did this before posting my comments, I visited the NGC CENSUS for this date. There are no PL coins graded by NGC and 5 Proofs- 4 that grade 62 and 1 that grades 63.

I am wondering if NGC does not recognize a PL designation for this type -

Edited to add:

Hopefully some of our Aussie specialists will comment further on this coin.

Swampboy · January 3, 2014 9:02AM

Glad to see your perseverance had a big pay out.

It is a beautiful coin.

Ozcoincollector · January 27, 2014 5:27AM

Lovely coin, I've been looking for one for a while. Would you consider parting with it? Many thanks

My White Whale -- 1934-35 Melbourne/Victoria Centenary Florin

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