1953 Perth Proof Penny - PCGS PR63RB

Australia, 1953 Perth Proof Penny -

If you collect QEII proofs, you'll know just how hard the early proof Perth pennies are. Even the 1955 and 1956—which were struck in commercial numbers—are difficult in higher grades. Nevertheless, if you’re one of the few collectors with a complete run of proof Perth pennies from 1955 to 1963, perhaps you might consider adding the rarer 1953 Perth proof penny to your set: After all, a QEII proof Perth penny set is not complete without an example of a proof from Queen Elizabeth II’s first year on our coins. The example photographed above is the first of this date that I have had in stock in proof, and one of the nicer examples I’ve seen on the market in recent years. It is evenly-coloured, sharply struck, and free from fingerprints, excessive toning, or other impairments. Indeed, the example here looks far superior to the specimen in the Museum of Victoria’s collection, which is spotty and toned. With a mintage of only 20 pieces, according to former Museum of Victoria curator John Sharples, the number of coins available to collectors is extremely limited. The coin on offer here is the finest of only two proof examples certified by PCGS, and is also the only example graded with colour (9/15). Ex-Noble Numismatics sale 84, March 2007, and very scarce this nice.