Expert: Brad Swain - 5/25/2010

Question
Hello

I've just found a silver half penny dated 1957 amoung some things. It has a boat with rough seas on the reverse and queen elizabeth II on the front. I've been led to believe that these coins were not made in silver so could you tell me why it may have been silver coated and who would have been likely to do this?

Many thanks

Monica

Answer
Hi Monica, these were occasionally plated by people or companies after they left they left the mint to sell to tourists for a profit. It may even be steel plated. It is likely less to a collector with it being plated, probably .10 to a dollar depending on amount of wear and collector demand. The coin features Sir Francis Drake's The Golden Hind and Queen Elizabeth II (1952-).
You might also try a library for a copy of the Standard Catalog of World Coins for pictures, values and lots more interesting info.
Brad