In 1997, according to the 2-coin 50 pence silver proof set's COA, Great Britain's Royal Mint issued two sterling silver proof versions of the Britannia seated: one in 27.3mm and one in 30mm. However, after checking both NGC's online catalog and the Krause book, the 30mm version isn't shown. There's also some clarification I'm looking for about the mintage. I embedded links and posted pics that move chronologically through my research into the matter. The 27.3mm one is clearly KM #940.2a. However, the 30mm version leaves a number of questions. There's a note that says that it "Also exists as Piedfort, P24". So, I clicked on P24 and there isn't much info, except another roundabout note referring me to KM #963. Yet, when I go to KM #963, it refers to a completely different design. Does this mean that the noted KM #963 reference is incorrect, or did Krause simply miss the 30mm variant (in which case, it should be KM #940.1a)? I'm thinking it's the latter. What makes it more confusing is that the 1997 2-coin set is not even listed as a proof set in the Krause catalog! There are only PS #s 102, 103, and 104, which contain 10, 4, and 4 coins, respectively. My other question has to do with mintage. Although the COA reports a maximum allowed mintage of 25,000, according to Krause only 1,000 were ever minted for the 27.3mm version. I'm assuming that these silver proofs were only issued as 2-coin sets. Does this infer that only 1,000 coins were minted for the 30mm version, too? Thanks in advance! -------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------
In 1997 the 50p coin was reduced in size and the older coins were removed from circulation. I found the 2 coin set for around $50 and the 10 coin set, which included both sizes of the 50p for $30 or less. Doesn't really answer your questions, but might be more info than you had. The fact that the larger 50p was not a circulating coin that year, I believe, could be the reason for the lack of info.
Do you recall if the 10-coin set came with cupro-nickel versions of the 50 pence proofs, or does it come with the 50 pence silver proof ones, too?
My spink book is 2015 edition but the set PSS06-1997 2 x 50p Silver proofs. 4351 and 4354. 10304 issued . So it would be the old larger 50 pence and the newer reduced size 50 pence 27.3 mm £45-£55 book but as guide only
