1954 Penny Tin Foil Impression

[Coppers 58]

For anyone who may recall the 1933 penny tin foil impression that sold on ebay last year, there is a similar impression of a 1954 penny up for sale:

link

[Rob 3,152]

For anyone who may recall the 1933 penny tin foil impression that sold on ebay last year, there is a similar impression of a 1954 penny up for sale:

link

I saw a 1954 last year which had to be a changed date or something else iffy about it, but I have to confess I couldn't see anything wrong with it and nor could the person (a dealer) who showed it to me. It could easily have been genuine. How do we know that is taken from the known coin other than to accept the vendor's word? Can we be certain the 'only genuine' 1954 is actually so?

Actually, when it comes to tin foil impressions of coins, Lindt do a very nice SFr5 amongst other things. Yummy.

[1949threepence 3,367]

For anyone who may recall the 1933 penny tin foil impression that sold on ebay last year, there is a similar impression of a 1954 penny up for sale:

link

I saw a 1954 last year which had to be a changed date or something else iffy about it, but I have to confess I couldn't see anything wrong with it and nor could the person (a dealer) who showed it to me. It could easily have been genuine. How do we know that is taken from the known coin other than to accept the vendor's word? Can we be certain the 'only genuine' 1954 is actually so?

Actually, when it comes to tin foil impressions of coins, Lindt do a very nice SFr5 amongst other things. Yummy.

Not sure about that. Whilst there are apparently accurate mintage records available for every other year and denomination, we only ever read that as far as 1954 is concerned, there is "only one known". Not even sure why that was produced or where it is now ~ can somebody enlighten ?

Same applies to the 1952, of course.

[Rob 3,152]

Can we be certain the 'only genuine' 1954 is actually so?

Not sure about that. Whilst there are apparently accurate mintage records available for every other year and denomination, we only ever read that as far as 1954 is concerned, there is "only one known". Not even sure why that was produced or where it is now ~ can somebody enlighten ?

Same applies to the 1952, of course.

I don't think the location is a problem for these rare coins as discussed in a thread a year or so back. The numbers produced and reasons for doing so are a little more problematical however.

I'd also like to see a better image of the foil impression for example which fills the screen and is taken perpendicular to the coin face as images exist of the accepted unique item, so it would allow corroboration. The only reason people take angled views noramlly is to eliminate flash reflection, but you can easily cover the flash with thin paper to eliminate this.

[VickySilver 836]

Always hard for me to believe a run of one, even if that is the official score. Who is to know, and do dies talk? I think not...The 1954 is a currency strike (vs. the 1952 as a proof).

Evidently, the 1952 was a year of waste due to the King's death (the PREVIOUS year) and so there are the orphan bits in the penny, shilling and halfcrown denominations; was the final count really only one penny in proof, one halfcrown currency, one 2/6 in proof and "a couple" of shillings ?

Well, that diverges. Regardless, I just don't see value beyond nominal of foil impressions & wish good luck to the buyer.

[azda 979]

I wouldn't trust Mr Platt as far as i could throw him, just my opinion

[TomGoodheart 403]

Unique? The coin .. perhaps. The foil? No. Not comparing it with the images Badger kindly posted previously anyway. The folds in the edge of the foil are different. Who knows how many foil imprints there might be out there .. could be dozens.

A novelty item at best IMHO.

Edited March 6, 2011 by TomGoodheart

[VickySilver 836]

Azda, glad you are so restrained in your opinion of the good gentleman! Can't say as I have a lot of disagreement though...

[azda 979]

Azda, glad you are so restrained in your opinion of the good gentleman! Can't say as I have a lot of disagreement though...

Well from what i know about the gentleman, he doesn't have a leg to stand on, but my lips are sealed (for now)

[Bernie 203]

For anyone who may recall the 1933 penny tin foil impression that sold on ebay last year, there is a similar impression of a 1954 penny up for sale:

link

I saw a 1954 last year which had to be a changed date or something else iffy about it, but I have to confess I couldn't see anything wrong with it and nor could the person (a dealer) who showed it to me. It could easily have been genuine. How do we know that is taken from the known coin other than to accept the vendor's word? Can we be certain the 'only genuine' 1954 is actually so?

Actually, when it comes to tin foil impressions of coins, Lindt do a very nice SFr5 amongst other things. Yummy.

Not sure about that. Whilst there are apparently accurate mintage records available for every other year and denomination, we only ever read that as far as 1954 is concerned, there is "only one known". Not even sure why that was produced or where it is now ~ can somebody enlighten ?

Same applies to the 1952, of course.

A batch of 1954 pennies were struck to test the dies. It was decided that there was no requirement to produce them for circulation and the whole batch were supposively melted down. One escaped the melting pot.

The single coin escaped out of the royal mint. It could have escaped with the later 1961 pennies??

these foil impressions are definately genuine, including the 1933 foils.

[Peckris 579]

For anyone who may recall the 1933 penny tin foil impression that sold on ebay last year, there is a similar impression of a 1954 penny up for sale:

link

I saw a 1954 last year which had to be a changed date or something else iffy about it, but I have to confess I couldn't see anything wrong with it and nor could the person (a dealer) who showed it to me. It could easily have been genuine. How do we know that is taken from the known coin other than to accept the vendor's word? Can we be certain the 'only genuine' 1954 is actually so?

Actually, when it comes to tin foil impressions of coins, Lindt do a very nice SFr5 amongst other things. Yummy.

Not sure about that. Whilst there are apparently accurate mintage records available for every other year and denomination, we only ever read that as far as 1954 is concerned, there is "only one known". Not even sure why that was produced or where it is now ~ can somebody enlighten ?

Same applies to the 1952, of course.

Yes, the test run of 1954 pennies was purely to test the die, as it would have been the first year that BRITT OMN was dropped. Also, I'm not sure anyone knows when the decision was taken not to mint any pennies? Probably not last-minute in all fairness, as no currency pennies were struck for the UK between 1950 and 1960.

As for 1952, that would have been destined to be a "VIP" proof as were struck for most years. Quite possibly a few were struck but as the king died early in the year they must have been destroyed apart from the "one that got away". (I wonder if it was the same RM employee responsible for filching both 1952 and 1954 pennies?)

[scott 144]

i dont see why they needed to test the dies, australia and new zealand were using the same obverse

[1949threepence 3,367]

Always hard for me to believe a run of one, even if that is the official score. Who is to know, and do dies talk? I think not...The 1954 is a currency strike (vs. the 1952 as a proof).

Evidently, the 1952 was a year of waste due to the King's death (the PREVIOUS year) and so there are the orphan bits in the penny, shilling and halfcrown denominations; was the final count really only one penny in proof, one halfcrown currency, one 2/6 in proof and "a couple" of shillings ?

Well, that diverges. Regardless, I just don't see value beyond nominal of foil impressions & wish good luck to the buyer.

Sorry to be pedantic, but the King died in February 1952, so earlier that same year, as opposed to the previous year

[davidrj 194]

i dont see why they needed to test the dies, australia and new zealand were using the same obverse

Not so Scott, The portraits were essentially the same but the legends differ

AUSTRALIA

1953 ELIZABETH II . DEI . GRATIA . REGINA +

no pennies in 1954

1955 - 64 ELIZABETH II . DEI . GRATIA . REGINA . F:D: +

The Royal Mint last struck their pennies in 1915, All Lizzie pennies were struck in one of the Australian mints

I don't know where the dies were made

NEW ZEALAND

1953 - 65 QUEEN . ELIZABETH . THE . SECOND +

? Royal Mint

SOUTH AFRICA

1953 - 60 ELIZABETH II REGINA

? struck in S.Africa

I don't think BRITT OMN was ever used on any colonial coins, (but I'm not sure about denominations other than pennies)

David

Edited March 7, 2011 by davidrj