Folks, Any feedback on the below coin would be very much appreciated. I believe this coin (1916 Florin) could be a specimen strike. Anyone can shade any light on if it is or not please? Would love to hear how you can tell a SP from a business strike coin.
(https://www.pcgs.com/cert/85751033)
(https://www.pcgs.com/cert/85751033)1916 Florin (https://www.pcgs.com/cert/85751033)
Numistip has an image of a 1916 florin under the heading of 1916 specimen florin when I Google search 1916 specimen florin. That image has CBL of LL in shiLLings. Yours has FBL.
Further checking finds that the Numistip image is from the Museums Victoria website where it is called a specimen. Drake Sterling also sold one in ms66 as a specimen but it had FBL. Is it possible that the alleged 60 specimen strikes exist as both FBL and CBL?
There is also an image or yet another 1916 florin on the museum Victoria website when I search as 1916 proof florin. Looks more FBL.
I'm always careful not to take anything Museum Victoria writes on their website about coins. For coins I know a good deal about I find their facts wrong, so for coins I know little about I have to assume that the facts are suspect.
Thanks Neil, I agree. I couldn't find any reliable information hence the question. Appreciate your response.
Yeah not sure - was there a coin magazine article about these sets a few years ago? I remember articles about the 1950s proofs and how to spot them.
Thanks Mister T, I will try to find my Briggs Florin book. I am sure Dr Briggs has some good information. (I misplaced it somewhere in the house. Need to find the box! If I get anything worthwhile, I will put it in here).
Just found my copy of the florin book and it says die cracks are common on the specimens but it doesn't look like there's any smoking gun die crack, and apparently the same die was used for circulation coins too.
Oh thanks Mr T.. cheers for that . Hunt for information continues . Appreciate your help.
The ms66 that Drake Sterling sold is in the Benchmark Collection in the PCGS florin set registry. I've zoomed in and can't find any sign of die cracking. So was there 2 dies or die pairs used for the specimen strikes or perhaps one for the "proof" and another for the "specimen" strikes? Were there even any proof strikes?
BTW calling a set the Benchmark Collection in the PCGS set registry is just annoying. The Benchmark Collection was NGC and even if some of it was swapped into PCGS slabs not all were including a number in my NGC storage box including a couple of florins. Will be confusing when talking about say the Benchmark Canberra florin when there are now 2 with that description ( mine and theirs).
I didn't think there were 1916 proofs.
Yes .. only Specimen coins .. something like 60, believe they were sets .. I could be wrong
I don't have the knowledge to comment but good to see a pre-Dec. Thread with a bit of oxygen.
Find myself more and more on FB these days but its full of mis/disinformation with the Posters thinking they know it all.
Quote from: 'Basilstate' pid='128344' dateline='1687907900'I don't have the knowledge to comment but good to see a pre-Dec. Thread with a bit of oxygen.
Find myself more and more on FB these days but its full of mis/disinformation with the Posters thinking they know it all.
Thanks Basil. It's pretty quiet here isn't it ? Good to see people are still responding and interested in pre decimal coins.
Apparently collectors back in 1916. could purchase the cased 1916 specimen set for Six Shillings and dignitaries received them for free. Of the 60 sets made only 7 have come on the market, Jaggards,Coinworks, Sterling +Currency Nobles..Fantastic toning due to the purple velvet lining..
Thanks mate ! I have heard similar stories. Apparently this coin was from old Rare coins company. Sold as a specimen for a good sun of money. Hunt continues. Hopefully there is a way to figure it out ..