Fiji 20¢ undersize planchet

[JeffH]

Well, I'm back from Fiji and picked up quite a lot of coins there (photos later).
But, this one is rather exciting so I had to show it soonest.
[attachment=1373][attachment=1374][attachment=1375] Second coin is normal.
Normal 20¢ is 28.5mm and 11.3g (same as Australian). This one is 26.9mm and 7.06g and noticeable thinner. Some edge milling does show on reverse, 9 o'clock position, where pattern is to edge on coin.
I think this would be from Singapore or Canadian mint so, now to try and figure out what else they may have been minting then that is that size.

Jeff

[enworb]

Welcome back Jeff. Wow what an awesome find!

[Nevol]

Very nice find! :yahoo:

[markn]

Wow what a find.  Singapore 50c is 7.29g.

[Goldseeker]

Loverly.....

[JeffH]

Wow what a find. Singapore 50c is 7.29g.

And, slightly smaller at 24.66mm. However this coin would not have been restrained by a collar so, most likely to spread when struck.
It is slightly elliptical (0.3mm diameter variation) which would support this theory; it was constrained at one spot on the edge.

Unless a better suggestion comes along, I will go with Singapore 50¢ planchet as most likely candidate.

Jeff

[purplepennyhunter]

That's amazing Jeff, good one

[Goldseeker]

I have several Singapore 50c pieces and I have just checked the weight on my gold scales and it comes up as 7.2 grams.

The diameter of the Singapore 50c piece is just on 15 mm but that is using a normal ruler.

Me thinks the planchet is not from a Singapore 50c piece unless Singapore have changed the size of their coinage since 1986.

[JeffH]

I did some research on mints used for Fiji coins. Couldn't find definite for 1998 20¢ but years either side and other denominations for 1998 were minted by the Royal Mint, Llantrisant. So, I think safe to assume this one came from there and not Singapore.
Also, forgot to mention that Fiji went to nickel plated steel in 1990 and this one is ferro-magnetic.

So, what else did the Royal Mint produce around then that is that size, steel planchet? No other Fiji coin fits the bill.

Jeff

[Ozcoins]

I think you also need to consider where the blanks were produced as they could get mixed up during production of the blanks.
You could end up with a blank for a completely different country like the bimetal $1 I have read about.

[trout]

a 1998 Canadian 50 cent coin is 27.13mm and weighs 8.1g.
It is Nickel and is magnetic.
too big and heavy to match your coin.
So it looks like the Singapore 50 cent planchet gets the gurnsy  this time :good: