Masterly Understatement

[tonyclayton]

I have just been asked about this coin, found in Australia, which came with the following comment:

Its a bit hard to see it properly as I need to get new glasses, and the quality of the coin isn't 100% but I'm sure you could see it properly with a magnafying glass.

[Overlord]

I think it's a Great Britain 1/2 Penny. The ruler is most likely Edward VII.

[tonyclayton]

I think it's a Great Britain 1/2 Penny. The ruler is most likely Edward VII.

I got that! ;-) It is dated 1910 as well.

I was just amused by the comment that it wasn't 100%

[BC Numismatics]

Tony,
  1910 was the year Australia released its first silver coins into circulation,so the British 1/2d. was still legal tender there.The legal tender status for British coins lasted only a few years after 1910,but the odd one would have still been found in change in Australia right up to the change over to decimal currency in 1966.

I know that even as late as a few years ago,the odd British cupro-nickel 1/- & 2/- coins,& the large 5p. & 10p. coins were still being found in change as 10c. & 20c. coins over here in New Zealand.

Aidan.

[chrisild]

I was just amused by the comment that it wasn't 100%

Perfectly correct. The coin is not 100% corroded.

Christian

[Figleaf]

I keep reading 1920 on the picture. In view of the position of the head that's not 100% likely is it? Maybe with a magnifying glass...

In defense of the finder, in a country where the history of metal money is extremely short, this is a comparatively old coin and for metal detector pilots, this kind of wear is not new. I am sure he was just curious to know what it is and what it once looked like, without any hope of striking it rich.

Peter