1951 five shillings

[Guest kenhodge]

Can anyone help? I have two 1951 five shilling pieces( i have started collecting crowns)

My question is: on one coin looking at it with obverse facing upwards, on it's edge is the reading mdcccli civitas industria floret civitas mcmli. On the other coin is the same reading , but the coin has to have it's reverse side facing upwards to read it's edge. Why is this?

[Chris Perkins 228]

It's because they didn't worry at all about which way round the edge inscription was. I think the writing was added to the coin after it was struck, and it would have been impossible to make sure the coin was the same way round on each of the many examples struck.

Or, if a retaining collar was used to put the lettering on the coin as it was struck (which is probably more likely) they probably didn't pay attention to which way round it was when changing the dies/collar.

More interestingly, the writing on some of them is slightly smaller. And from what i've noticed, the smaller letter edge inscription is not common.

[Peter 615]

This is news...come on Chris...What are the rare ones?

Although quite frankly my 51 is stored away somewhere!! Once a C2 always a C2.

Proofs don't float my boat.

[mint_mark 9]

I just checked both of mine and they have the same edge lettering... presumably common

Coincraft mentions finer edge lettering as a feature of the frosted proof... maybe those collars were used for some ordinary coins too.

Apparently there are two types of boxes as well, but I have only ever seen the slide off ones...

[Chris Perkins 228]

Yes, the slide boxes (like a match box) and normal style boxes with a lid. 2 different colours too. The boxes are always knackered. I've never seen a perfect box.

[Peter 615]

i think Kylie comes close

[Geordie582 18]

Anyone got a cold shower handy?