Florin 1933, Coin from New Zealand - detailed information

Florin 1933, Coin from New Zealand (demonetised 2006)
CoinFlorin 1933

The silver coins from 3 pence to half crown denominations dated 1933 were the first coins issued by the Dominion of New Zealand. Prior to this date the coinage of Great Britain circulated in New Zealand (by agreement seignorage accruing from the placement of British coins into circulation in New Zealand was shared between the British and New Zealand governments). Problems with this system arose in the early 1930s when the value of the pound sterling moved higher than that of New Zealand. It became profitable to remove British coin from circulation in New Zealand and return it to Britain. At the same time Australian silver coin was imported. Embargoes failed to change either situation and in July 1931 a private Bill was introduced to Parliament recommending a local coinage. This eventually became the New Zealand Coinage Act 1933.

Discussions between Britain and New Zealand on the mechanics of introducing the new coinage and the removal of the old took place between 1931 and 1933. The new coinage would be struck on the British silver standard of that time, .500 fine, and New Zealand agreed that the Royal Mint would re-strike all British coins then circulating in New Zealand to the New Zealand designs. Australian silver coins were also sent to London for melting, not because either government accepted liability for any nominal value of the Australian pieces, but because they were still being struck at the old .925, sterling silver, quality.

Initially the Royal Mint and the New Zealand Numismatic Society worked together on designs and Kruger Gary and Percy Metcalf prepared drawings. These were believed to have been approved by the New Zealand Prime Minister who was in London as a delegate to the World Economic Conference. However, a committee had been established in New Zealand, apparently including James Berry, and this committee forwarded new scetches to London in 1933. Kruger Gray was then given the task of converting these drafts to workable dies. The first denomination shipped was the half crown (in October 1933) followed by sixpences in December. Some florins were struck in 1933 but not shipped until 1934 while the 3 pence and shilling denominations, though bearing the date 1933 were not struck until 1934. The crown, designed to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, was postponed until requirements for the more important circulating denominations were filled, in 1935.

The obverse design for all denominations, a crowned head of King George V, was that newely modelled by Percy Metcalf and authorised for use on the Southern Rhodesia coinage from 1932.

In addition to the working strikes, the Royal Mint also produced about 20 proof copies of each denomination as record pieces.

MintRoyal Mint Mint MarkNo mint mark Total Mintage 2,100,020 (2.1 million)
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Obverse
New Zealand / Florin 1933 - obverse photo

The obverse of the coin displays the crowned and draped bust of King George V facing left (his portrait by Percy Metcalfe) extending below to the rim of the coin.

The artist's initials are not shown.

Around above, divided by the crown, the monarch's legend GEORGE V KING EMPEROR.

Obverse Inscription GEORGE V KING EMPEROR
Reverse
New Zealand / Florin 1933 - reverse photo

A kiwi bird standing, facing left; around above, NEW ZEALAND; around below, the value and date ONE FLORIN 1933; in small letters to right of date the artist's initials KG (for [George] Kruger Gray).

Reverse Inscription NEW ZEALAND ONE FLORIN 1933
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

Original information:

- 63rd Annual Report of the Deputy Master and Comptroller of the Royal Mint, 1932, p.8
- 64th Annual Report of the Deputy Master and Comptroller of the Royal Mint, 1933, p.6-8

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Florin 1933: Known varieties
Variety Proof
Mintage Issued: 20 (included in total)
Florin 1933: References to Information Used
All (23) coins of type: Florin
Coin NameMintageEffigyLegend
Florin 1933 2,100,020 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Metcalfe GEORGE V KING EMPEROR
Florin 1934 2,850,020 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Metcalfe GEORGE V KING EMPEROR
Florin 1935 755,364 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Metcalfe GEORGE V KING EMPEROR
Florin 1936 150,000 King George V - Crowned Bust, by Metcalfe GEORGE V KING EMPEROR
Florin 1937 1,190,200 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGE VI KING EMPEROR
Florin 1940 500,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGE VI KING EMPEROR
Florin 1941 820,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGE VI KING EMPEROR
Florin 1942 150,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGE VI KING EMPEROR
Florin 1943 1,400,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGE VI KING EMPEROR
Florin 1944 140,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGE VI KING EMPEROR
Florin 1945 515,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGE VI KING EMPEROR
Florin 1946 1,200,000 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGE VI KING EMPEROR
Florin 1947 2,500,020 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGE VI KING EMPEROR
Florin 1948 1,750,000 King George VI - Bare Head KING GEORGE THE SIXTH
Florin 1949 3,500,000 King George VI - Bare Head KING GEORGE THE SIXTH
Florin 1950 3,500,000 King George VI - Bare Head KING GEORGE THE SIXTH
Florin 1951 2,000,000 King George VI - Bare Head KING GEORGE THE SIXTH
Florin 1953 257,000 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND +
Florin 1961 1,500,000 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND +
Florin 1962 1,500,000 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND +
Florin 1963 100,000 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND +
Florin 1964 2,000,000 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND
Florin 1965 9,475,010 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND +
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Florin 1933: Details
CountryNew Zealand
CurrencyNew Zealand Pound
Coin TypeFlorin (Silver)
Issued1933
MonarchKing George V
EffigyKing George V - Crowned Bust, by Percy Metcalfe
Face Value2 (x Shilling)
Total Mintage2,100,020 (2.1 million)
CurrentNo; demonetised 2006
MaterialSilver
DesignerGeorge Kruger Gray
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
Size28.5000 mm
Mass11.3000 g
OCC IDXYRV-POVR-CWJM-ODQG
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Florin 1933: Photos
ImageDetails
Florin 1933: Photo New Zealand 1933 florin / thumbnail New Zealand 1933 florin
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Notes: Proof.
Source
Florin 1933: Photo New Zealand 1933 florin / thumbnail New Zealand 1933 florin
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Notes: Proof.
Source
Florin 1933: Photo Proof Coin - Florin (2 Shillings), New Zealand, 1933 / thumbnail Proof Coin - Florin (2 Shillings), New Zealand, 1933
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Proof.
Source
Florin 1933: Photo Proof Coin - Florin (2 Shillings), New Zealand, 1933 / thumbnail Proof Coin - Florin (2 Shillings), New Zealand, 1933
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Proof.
Source
Florin 1933: Catalogue Reference IDs