I recently purchased a 1949 French Caledonia coin that was uncirculated but say its denomination is 50 cent. I thought they only produced a 1 franc, 2 franc, and 50 centime piece. Does anyone know anything about coins in the Australasia/Oceania coinage. I have a copy of The Coin Atlas which seems to contain alot of information on world coins for its size but it isn't a Krause so minimal information is provided. For those out there I'd recommend this book for its cost and coinage it covers. Thanks. 1991retiredarmy [Wins619]
Howdy retriredarmy - Welcome to the Forum !! French Oceania produced a 50 centimes in 1949, obverse seated woman holding a torch in left hand, reverse a beach scene with palm trees. Mintage was 795,000 and it was struck in aluminum. Value is listed in Krause as F - 50 cents thru BU $4.50. This is the same design used on much of the French colonial coinage of the time for various denominations.
welcome to the forum retiredarmy. If your coin is from New Caledonia, then the mintage was 1 million, made of aluminum, and krause values from 50c(VF) to $3.50(UNC). Else if your coin says French Oceania, then it's like what GDJMSP stated. (GDJMSP, I think retiredarmy was probably referring to the N Caledonia coin)
Re: French Caledona I haven't actually seen this coin, only a photo. The seller called it a 1949 F Caledona 50 cent piece. I figured it was probably from New Caledonia and when I looked it up the only information supplied was that the first coins issued in the name of New Caledonia were a 50 centime and a 1 & 2 franc pieces made of aluminium. It was the sellers 50 cent description that confused me. Once I get the coin in my hand I'll figure the rest out. Just thought it would be a good place to start a World collection from the netherlands. Ed[wins619]:headbang:
Ed,the New Caledonian & French Polynesian 50 Centimes coins are very difficult to find.Krause's prices on these are just way too low,which goes to show how underrated these coins are,especially with collectors of French & French colonial coinage.The only French colonial coinage that is of interest to me is that of the New Hebrides,which was an Anglo-French condominium prior to 1980,when it became independent within the British Commonwealth as the Republic of Vanuatu. Aidan.
Hi, The denomination in question dated 1949 for `Nouvelle Caledonie' (reverse legend) is indeed 50 Centimes, and not 50 Cent. For reference, it is a small alluminium coin. What is the actual reverse legend on your coin? I suspect if it says 50 Cent, and is dated 1949 then it is not from `Nouvelle Caledonie' (New Caledonia). Ian WINS#23
Thanks for the information. Yes my coin has 50 centimes at the top, a bird in the center, and says nouvelle caledonie at the bottom. The other side has Republique Francaise on the left, The queen I think in the center, and says uniopn Francaise on the right. After I was sent a scan I saw that it matched what I had in my book. Gotta get a Krause might help if you know what you are acquiring. Again I appreciate your help. Now I need to email some clown in Unganda who trying to give me money from a long deceased relative.I'll jerk him around a bit for bothering me. Ed{wins619]
Ed,don't bother replying to the email from Uganda.The head on French colonial coins is Marianne ( or Madame Republique),which represents the French republican system.'Nouvelle Caledonie' does indeed mean 'New Caledonia'.It is an island located north-east of Australia. Aidan.
