New Zealand 1956 Penny - Strapless

[Triggersmob]

Another coin just added to my collection, thanks to Tane in New Zealand.
1956 strapless penny (no sign of a strap over QEII's shoulder). I believe the die was re-cut later, to make it appears as if there was a strap.
This coin completes my pre-decimal NZ circulation coin set.



If Tane comes over to this forum, we may need to add a NZ section.

[Redlock]

1956 strapless penny (no sign of a strap over QEII's shoulder).
This coin completes my pre-decimal NZ circulation coin set.

Congrats on this achievement. 

A long time ago, I decided NOT to go into the pre-decimal rabbit hole of Aussie and NZ coins. One has to draw a line somewhere 

[Triggersmob]

Thanks Ralf.

With the price of silver now, it would be even harder to set into those pre-decimals.

[gweidion]

1956 strapless penny (no sign of a strap over QEII's shoulder). I believe the die was re-cut later, to make it appears as if there was a strap.

Thanks for the lesson. I was wondering. I wasn't sure if it was wear.

[Triggersmob]

1956 strapless penny (no sign of a strap over QEII's shoulder). I believe the die was re-cut later, to make it appears as if there was a strap.

Thanks for the lesson. I was wondering. I wasn't sure if it was wear.

I suppose wear could also happen on the later coins and appear like a strapless. I guess you can only really judge which one it is on a relatively unworn coin.

[Triggersmob]

Added in the penny with strap as a comparison.

[Redlock]

I think I need to see an ophthalmologist because I cannot see the/a difference between strap/no strap.

Having said that I am notoriously bad at recognizing errors, varieties, ectr. 

[Triggersmob]

It's just the little arc over the shoulder.

[Redlock]

Is the thing which I have circled the ''strap?''

[Triggersmob]

Yes, that is correct Ralf.

[Tanecoins]

You're welcome Steve.

Yes the shoulder strap was added in 1956, as the original portrait did not have that detail. For 1956 an estimated 50k of strapless pennies was minted compared to 3.6 million pennies with the strap. I have shown 2 cupronickel coins of the same type that show the difference.

You can get a "strapped" 1956 penny for 10c, the strapless is $35 or more for an average Fine one and $2k for a UNC one.

Coin on the left shows no detail in shoulder block, where as the coin on right you see a line at top of shoulder and another one diagonally showing the shoulder strap.

[Triggersmob]

Correct me if I'm wrong Tane, but I think the strap was added because the queen looked "topless" on the early version. Is that correct?

[Redlock]

You can get a "strapped" 1956 penny for 10c, the strapless is $35 or more for an average Fine one and $2k for a UNC one.

Wow 

[Tanecoins]

Correct me if I'm wrong Tane, but I think the strap was added because the queen looked "topless" on the early version. Is that correct?

I have never heard that theory, but did hear the first undetailed bust of the Queen wore too quickly and they wanted a more quality one, so it was recut sharper and placed into use in late 1953 in the UK, but took time to filter around the dominions and colonies.

[Triggersmob]

Thanks Tane. I'll run with that. Seems more feasible.

[Tanecoins]

Its a funny story though, especially as in 1953, the Queen may have been a bit of a looker and that year was also when the first Playboy was issued showing a topless spread of Marilyn Monroe.

My guess is anyone publishing "topless" images of Her Majesty, may have ended up in the Tower as Treason was still a death offense up to 1989 and in 1953, people were still being hanged in most Commonwealth places.

[Triggersmob]

Now I need to go find that copy of Playboy.