The Newfoundland fifty cent piece was the last denomination to be added to the Victorian coinage. Its first year of issue was 1870. The laureate portrait is stylistically unlike anything used for the rest of British North America. The denomination became very popular and assumed importance after the failure of the Commercial and Union Banks of Newfoundland during the financial crisis of 1894.Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, p. 51, W.K. Cross, 60th Edition, 2006
Laureated portrait, 1870-1900 Specifications Designer and EngraverCompositionWeightDiameterEdgeLeonard Charles Wyon.925 silver, .075 copper11.78 grams29.85 mmReeded Mintages Date and Mint MarkMintage187050,0001872H48,000187337,675187480,0001876H28,000188024,000188150,0001882H100,000188540,000188820,000189440,000189660,000189879,6071899150,0001900150,000 The 1896 has two varieties: with a Large W or Small W in 'Newfoundland' on the obverse. The 1898 has a couple of varieties: Obverse 1 with a Large W and Obverse 2 with a Small W. It is debated if there is an Obverse 1 with a Small W. The 1899 has two varieties: a Wide 99 or a Narrow 99. Sometimes only one of the 9's may be noticeably smaller than the other numbers.
Edward VII, 1904-1909 Specifications Designer (Obverse)Designer (Reverse)CompositionWeightDiameterEdgeGeorge William de SaullesW.H.J. Blakemore.925 silver, .075 copper11.78 grams29.85 mmReeded Mintages Date and Mint MarkMintage1904H140,0001907100,0001908160,0001909200,000
George V, 1911-1919 Specifications DesignerCompositionWeight (1911)Weight (1917–1919)Diameter (1911)Diameter (1917–1919)EdgeSir Edgar Bertram MacKennal.925 silver, .075 copper11.78 grams11.66 grams29.85 mm29.72 mmReeded Mintages Date and Mint MarkMintage1911200,0001917C375,5601918C294,8241919C306,267
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