Arrows indicate the high points of the 1927 Canberra Florin.
Arrows indicate the high points of the 1927 Canberra Florin.
The first signs of obverse wear are seen on the monarch’s crown band
because it is the highest part of the design.
The centre piece of the design known as the centre diamond is the first point
you should look to in determining wear. The amount of wear extends from the
centre diamond to the 2 sets of pearls located either side of the centre
diamond. Next you should look at the end of the moustache and the top of the
ear.
The reverse high points are the date area, the mace ends, the footpath and the shell.
As with previously covered coins the above
seems very simple and straight forward but there are a few other things to take into
account when considering wear.
Because we don't have hard, flat fingers, the wear on a coin will not be
confined to the high points but will cover all features of the design to varying
degrees, also the high points will not wear flat, they will wear by rounding
down.
As an example, if you were handling the above pictured 1927 florin your thumb or
fingers would not touch the high points only, but would
touch most parts of the surface except some of the finer areas between the
design features and would therefore cause some form of wear to all parts of the
design.
So, as well as looking at the high points you also need to look at the
coin overall.
A weak strike can
be difficult to grade so here are some tips that might make it a bit easier.
Obviously the high points will lose definition and lack sharpness. On the
obverse the rim
denticles and crown patterns will lose definition as well as a weakness in the
collar just under the chin. On the reverse the flag poles and parliament house windows will
lose definition as will the detail in the maces and the shell in the top of
the design.
You need to look at the fields (the flat areas) of the design because even light
handling can show up in the fields as tiny surface scratches. The coin
may be uncirculated so you can also look for patina and mint lustre. Be aware that
the toning on a coin can hide very light handling marks.
The first signs of obverse wear will show on the bottom cross of the crown
design, the end of the moustache and the top back of the eye brow.
The reverse points to look at are
the riders head, calf and forearm muscles, the riders left hand, the horses eye,
front shoulder and most of the horses leg joints.
For a weak strike look to the rim
denticles and crown patterns which will lose definition as well as a weakness in the
collar just under the chin. The moustache and beard hair will lose definition as
will the top of the ear. On the reverse the wreath, particularly towards the
extremes, the horses eye and the riders hair.
Once again you need to look at the fields (the flat areas) of the design because even light handling can show up in the fields as tiny surface scratches. The coin may be uncirculated so you can also look for patina and mint lustre. Be aware that the toning on a coin can hide very light handling marks.
You can apply the same obverse grading rules to this coin as with the previous George VI type previously covered.
The reverse is a reasonably open design with a number of equally high points. These high points are the upper centre of the crown, the centre piece of the sceptre design, the sword handle and the centre of the Federation star. Wear will not appear flat. It will be well rounded because of the open design.
A weak strike will show in the denticles, the crown detail particularly the row of beads across the top, the sword handle, the sceptre head and a flattening of the federation star.
As with all coins you need to look at the fields (the flat areas) of the design because even light handling can show up in the fields as tiny surface scratches. The coin may be uncirculated so you can also look for patina and mint lustre. Be aware that the toning on a coin can hide very light handling marks.
Arrows indicate the high points of the 1954 Royal Visit Florin.
You can apply the same obverse grading rules to this coin as with the previous Elizabeth II type previously covered.
Once again this is a very open design with a lot of large field areas susceptible to minting and bag marks as well as light handling scratches. Wear is going to be very soft and well rounded. The reverse high points are the Kangaroo eye, the Lion eye and the Lion shoulder.
A weak strike will show up in a lack
of definition in the "WLB" just above the date, a flattening of the
tail just near the end and the Kangaroo eye detail.
Arrows indicate the high points of the 1937 and 1938 Crowns.
You can apply the same obverse grading rules to this coin as with the previous George VI type previously covered.
The crown is notorious for bag /
minting marks due to it's large size and the way the coins are processed by the
mint.
You could assume that because of it's size it would be easier to grade than
other coins because the design features are much larger than other coins but this is not so. Crowns were not in circulation for a long period
of time and can generally be found in better average grades than other silver coins.
Also the greater usage of the dies can mean quite a difference in the quality of strike within the crown ranks.
With a weak strike the string of pearls around the top of the crown will flatten out slightly. The Diamonds and Rubies in the bottom band of the crown will flatten down. The roundness of the orb will flatten out and the cross will decrease in definition. The ridges on the 2 main features in the crown will lose their sharp definition.
There is no substitute for practice and experience so the more coins you can look at the more competent and confident you will become.