Australian halfpenny variety: the 1939 roo reverse

[KurtS]

Here's something I found the other day at a show. For this year, most halfpennies have the reverse of 1911-1939. However, a few were minted with the new reverse, (782K). This is a good one to watch for if you're a collector of Australia predecimal coins. I picked this one up in a bargain box for $1.

[Robert]

Great find! A "changeover" year, and you got the better type for that year. Are you going to collect Australian coins now?

The mintage in my Krause says 504K which is slightly more than the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent. There is only one scarcer Australian halfpenny (1931), if you don't count the anomalous 1923. You found a "key date" in a bargain box. Nicely done!

[KurtS]

George, thanks! At shows, I actually searched dealer's inventory to find this coin, only for it to turn up in a bargain box!

I quoted 782K because my Australian friends gave me that recent mintage estimate from "Australian coins & Banknotes Guide" by Greg Mcdonald. Still a small mintage for Aussie 1/2d!

Yes, I collect Aus predecimal as well as a few NZ--how about you? I'm also curious about this NZ Florin I have because the mintage Krause gives is 100K, which is the lowest of any NZ Florin. I'm researching the reason for such a low mintage.

[Robert]

Another nice one you have there. Yes I have some Aus and NZ as well. I even have a few copper tokens from each. One Aussie penny token (circa 1862) says "In Vino Veritas".

I don't know why the low mintage. Other copper-nickel NZ coins from '63 also have mintages lower than the years before/after that date. So I suspect that, given the high numbers of '62 coins made, there simply wasn't much demand from banks etc for new, large denomination coins in '63.

If you find out why the low mintage, I would like to know.