LOT #5828 |
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George VI Tombac 5 cents 1944, Bust left/Large V with the dat...
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Sold on Aug 12, 1999 for:
$35,075.00
Bid Source: Live: Floor bidder
Description
George VI Tombac 5 cents 1944, Bust left/Large V with the date and denomination, KM-40 (listed only as rare), VF 35 PCGS. This is the only tombac 1944 5 cent known, and it must be considered unique. In 1942, Canada, like the U.S., had a severe shortage of nickel caused by heavy usage during the war effort and was forced to change the composition of its nickel coinage to a tombac brass alloy. A substantial number of the new tombac 5 cent pieces were struck and the tombac alloy was continued with a new design, into 1943.
According to the 1944 Canadian mint report, $400 in face value, or 8,000 tombac 5 cent pieces were also produced in 1943, dated 1944. Later the mint decided to produce its 5 cent coinage in steel with nickel and chromium plating. No one knows the fate of the other 7,999 coins, but it is known that no other example has surfaced since Michigan dealer John Abbott bought this specimen, as lot # 2025, at the 1982 Mid-Year Convention sale conducted by Kurt R. Krueger. The 1944 tombac piece is identical to the 1942-43 tombac pieces with a weight of 4.55 gms, and a specific gravity of 8.77.
The Charlton Standard Catalog of Canadian Coins lists the 1944 tombac 5 cents as a pattern, although the 1944 RCM Report indicates that it was struck as regular issue coinage. The fact that this coin is VF shows that it obviously circulated for a considerable length of time. Until another example appears (and after 51 years we do not think it likely) this coin must be considered unique and the rarest Canadian regular issue coin.
Coin Index Numbers: (PCGS# 70318)
Auction Info
1999 ANA Signature Sale #208 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
August, 1999
11th-13th
Wednesday-Friday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 5
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 36,894
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