What is the value of the 1948 5 shillings coin in south African rands?

Answer 1

You are asking about a 5 Shilling coin from South Africa (KM#40.1). The coin is 38.8mm in diameter, weighs 28.28 grams and is 80% silver, giving it an ASW (Actual Silver Weight) of 0.7273 troy ounces. With the price of silver at US$19.80 (as of May 13, 2010), the "melt value" of this coin is US$14.40. The obverse (front) of the coin has a portrait of King George VI and the words "GEORGIVS SEXTUS REX" (Latin for "George the Sixth, King"). The reverse (back) has an image of a springbok (a deer common in South Africa) with the words "SOUTH AFRICA", the date, and "SUID-AFRIKA" (Afrikaans for "South Africa") above the image and "5 SHILLINGS" below it.

780,000 of these coins were produced for circulation in 1948, and another 1,120 were produced in Proof (as well as a further 1,000 in "Proof-Like"). According to the Standard Catalog of World Coins, it is worth US$13.50 in Extremely Fine condition, US$20.00 in Uncirculated condition, US$30.00 in Proof and US$22.50 in "Proof-Like" Uncirculated. However, since the silver value is so high at the moment, I suspect that these prices somewhat undervalue the coin.

Answer 2

You are asking about a 5 Shilling coin (also called a "Crown") from South Africa (KM#40.1). The coin weighs 28.28 grams and is 80.0% silver, giving it an ASW (Actual Silver Weight) of 0.7273 troy ounces. With silver at US$23.15 per troy ounce (as of October 21, 2010), the "melt value" of this coin is about US$16.84.

The obverse of the coin has a portrait of King George the Sixth and the words "GEORGIVS SEXTUS REX" (Latin for "George the Sixth, King"). The reverse has an image of a Springbok (an African antelope), with the words "SOUTH AFRICA", the date, and "SUID-AFRIKA" (Afrikaans for "South Africa") above and the denomination ("5 SHILLINGS") below.

780,000 of these coins were produced in 1948. According to the 2010 Standard Catalog of World Coins, an example is worth about US$13.50 in Extremely Fine condition and US$20.00 in Uncirculated condition. Given the current price of silver, however, the actual numismatic value of these coins is probably actually a dollar or two higher.

Another 1,000 were produced in Proof-like condition - these are valued at about US$22.50 each; and 1,120 were produced in Proof condition - these are valued at about US$30.00 each.

To get these values in South African Rands, multiply by 6.9 Rand to the US Dollar (as of October 21, 2010).