Canada, George V 50 cents 1921, Crowned bust left/Date and ...

Click the image to load the highest resolution version.

Sold on Oct 5, 2000 for:

$29,900.00 Bid Source: Live: Floor bidder

Get one of these:

Share this lot

Track Item Printable Auction Results

Sell One of These

Description

Auction Info

Guides & Info

Description

Canada, George V 50 cents 1921, Crowned bust left/Date and value in wreath, KM-25a, Specimen 61 PCGS. The 1921 50 cent piece, while not the rarest Canadian coin, is without question the most famous, most publicized, and most sought-after issue in the entire Canadian numismatic series. Although the listed mintage is 206,398 pieces, the demand for this denomination was virtually non-existent in 1921 and huge quantities of the previous issues still remained in the vaults of the Canadian Mint. Very few 1921 50 cent pieces entered general circulation, but fortunately for Canadian numismatics, a few pieces did escape from the vaults, possibly sold, or given as souvenirs to Mint visitors. In 1929, nearly all of the 1921 mintage was melted and the metal used to strike 1929 50 cent pieces. There was little indication that the 1921 would become a major Canadian rarity in the 1920s, and it was many years before its true status in the annals of numismatics was established.
B. Max Mehl had given the 1804 dollar the title "King of American Coins," and approximately 50 years ago the esteemed Canadian publisher and researcher, James E. Charlton, bestowed the title of "King of Canadian Coins" on the 1921 50 cent piece. In a May 1983 issue of the Canadian Numismatic Journal, R.C. Wiley, in an article on the 1921 50 cent pieces, picked up on Charlton's terminology and wrote an article entitled "The King of Canadian Coins," and a star was born.
It is generally thought that 50 to 100 examples of the 1921 50 cent piece survive with most of these showing obvious signs of circulation. Mint State examples are very rare and Specimens are extreme rarities. PCGS has certified a total of only 12 pieces with 4 of these certified as Specimen (8/00).
From the C.T. Howard Collection.

Coin Index Numbers: (PCGS# 101435)

View Certification Details from PCGS