1985 and 1993 50¢ mintages

[b_j_w_79]

That's some serious noodling bjw!!!! Thanks for sharing.
(I think the 93 year numbers might need an edit).

Yep the numbers are updated (cut and paste problems)

[Unicorn]

Super, super, super effort bjw!

Do you have any stats on your finds of incused or rotateds?

[Pedro]

Do we dare ask BJW how many coins you have noodled to come up with that haul?

Pedro

[Mister T]

In South-East Queensland the 1993s easily outnumber the 1985s. No stats unfortunately - I think I've only found two or three 1985s but plenty of 1993s.

[gac_1808]

I have found 3 x 1985 and 5 x 1993 in country SA

[b_j_w_79]

Do we dare ask BJW how many coins you have noodled to come up with that haul?

Pedro

132K worth and counting Pedro

[Pedro]

Very impressive BJW! I think I would have lost count well before now!

Pedro

[Goldseeker]

I have recorded a noodling number of 456,381 x 50c pieces for only ONE 1985 50c piece.

I shall now include the 1993 50c coin lookout in my noodling.

That doesn't mean I have not found other 50c pieces that require to be saved.   In fact, 254 other 50c pieces have bee kept.

[Greg McDonald]

The logic comparing rarity ratios by sitting in one spot and sorting out a table top full of coins is reasonable but flawed. The Ram and the reserve banks don't work on an "equal distribution" theory. If the rb in Darwin and Adelaide, for instance, both order ten million five cent pieces there is no procedure in place to ensure that both centres get an equal proportion of the latest date. Having spoken to a few reserve bank employees in the past, one pallet of coins is as good as the next and the one closest to the safe door is the first one loaded on the truck. The rolls or bags at the back of the holding pen could sit there for years if demand for a particular denomination. If there is a sudden rush that completely empties out the safe the client could get a mixture of freshly minted coins, bags of used mixed dates and mint condition coins that might have been struck a few years beforehand. You can see how this would completely bugger up any shovel load of coins dumped on a table and comparative rarity determined by a head count as discussed by others in this thread. If eighty percent of 2014 dated five cent pieces are distributed to banks on the eastern seaboard it would figure that table counters in Perth, adelaide And Darwin are going to draw the conclusion that the 2014 five cent piece is rare. It's not long before collectors in those centres conclude that the lack of coins found despite a published mintage figure of several zillions means that they must have all been melted down.  Old geezers like me can remember the mad rush to complete pre-decimal sets when decimal currency was announced.  Seemed like the only place you could get a reasonably priced 1925 penny was in WA. Seems like they got the lion's share when first minted. Same thing with DBP one dollar test notes.  By design or coincidence most of the one million notes turned up in Tasmania. Moral of the story...if you are struggling to find a coin during your table search find out what dealers in other states are charging. It won't work in every case but you might be pleasantly surprised.

Cheers
Greg

[Robster]

Sound advice Greg.! :good:

[Fulvio]

The logic comparing rarity ratios by sitting in one spot and sorting out a table top full of coins is reasonable but flawed.

Kinda what I said, albeit less eloquently. :angel:

[Basil]

Getting way OT but whilst Greg is around could i ask him to explain the rarity of the 1920 'no dot' Penny,is it the 'no dot' English Obverse that is rare(although i think these have been shown to be filled die dot unders). I wish i had a $ for every person who has asked me for the explanation esp. since the rise of the Internet.

[JeffH]

Good to see you back posting Greg. This must mean that the latest Packet Guide has been "put to bed" and you now have time to scratch yourself.

You are correct -distribution is not equal across the states. Classic example is the Centenary of Federation 20¢ and 50¢ -I have made several swaps interstate to try and equalise the numbers of the different ones I have stacked away. Noodlers of these in different states have different opinions as to which ones are the hardest to find. Also, I have heard that many of the 2000 $1 mules turned up in Perth initially.
I suspect that most coins never leave the state they were first sent to.

However, by combining resources of members here, we are not sitting at one table (in one location) sorting coins but several tables in different locations. So, not a definitive count but, a more indicative figure might be obtained.
I note that circulated 1985 50¢ coins generally fetch around twice as much as 1993 on eBay. Yes,yes, I know that eBay is not a reliable price guide (or is it?) but any clue is worth considering.

I have always presumed that published mintage figures are derived from RAM annual reports. It is, therefore, puzzling to see the discrepancy in the quoted figures for these years.
A further thought;
1991 50¢ (ramshead) is the same era and published mintage figures are all in agreement. These are coins that most collectors would put aside when they see them. Perhaps if anyone also has numbers found for these they could also mention them here as a benchmark for comparison with the other two years.

[Pedro]

Excellent points Greg and Jeff regarding distribution and possible mintages.

There are several mintages stated by the RAM that have been discussed as suspect over time. Presumably these potential discrepancies have been raised with the RAM but no changes to their site reporting on those mintages seems to have occurred?

As far as the 1991 50c goes I have picked up 8 of them.

Pedro

[JeffH]

I didn't properly think through my theory of using 1991 as a comparative benchmark.
It has been pointed out to me that, because of the distinctive and attractive reverse design, many non-collectors will put these aside. So the number found in circulation may not have much correlation with original issue numbers.
That certainly supports my feeling that they are becoming increasingly harder to find.

However people might start spending them (as seems to be the case with some other coins) so only slightly circulated ones might start turning up.