That 2009 article in the coin blog used coins supplied by me.
I noticed a seller with over 100 Melbourne Centenary florins and 1938 crowns listed and thought, hang on, no-one has these sort of quantities of these rare coins. As a long time dealer, I usually only handle 10-20 Melb florins and 1938 crowns in an entire year.
Back then, you could see who had bought from the seller and contact them, so I did.
Several were customers of mine or knew me, and I got them to post to me for examination several Melbourne Centenary florins and 1938 crowns this person had sold them.
All were fakes and this person had sold dozens of them and NO-ONE had picked it up.
As regards to weight. Melb Centenary florins nearly always come along in higher grades, and have lost virtually no weight to wear.
They were saved by the public and not spent, because they cost three shillings to buy on a two shilling face value. They always weigh in the range of about 11.27 to 11.31 grams.
There are some professional dealers and good sellers on eBay.
There are also a lot of shonks, rouges and crooks, that spoil it for everyone.
Buy rare coins from professionals. You pay a bit more, but at least you usually get what you paid for..
