The 10mm Pearl Harbor Gold Dala !

/ DrDarryl

Here is my research:

  • Royal Hawaiian Mint records indicate that the obverse is dated 1990 with portrait of King Kalakaua and the text “Kalakaua I King of Hawaii”.
  • The reverse is dated 1941 – 1991 with the island of Oahu and the Pearl Harbor Memorial.
  • It is 10mm in diameter and struck in gold.  
  • Records also indicate a very minuscule mintage of 24 specimens.
  • As a background note, the Royal Hawaiian Mint struck gold in 17mm diameter (1/10 ounce) and 13mm (1/20 ounce).
  • In 1991, only the 1/10 ounce gold (17mm) was struck (with a Liberty Head obverse with a Pearl Harbor designed reverse). 

The big question is why was a 10mm gold coin struck?

Here lies the answer:

  • The 10mm dies (obverse and reverse)  had another purpose.
  • It was used to counter-strike a number of 1991 US Silver Eagles!
  • Records indicate that ten 1991 US Silver Eagles were counter-struck with the 10mm dies. 
  • Images are provided to as visual evidence and confirmation (click the image to expand the size).

Here is a listing of the RHM dies that were used as counter-stamps. The bolded entries are coins using the original die(s).  

1.   1991 Pearl Harbor Dala 10 mm dies (24 – 10 mm gold coins):

  • 10 – 1991 US Silver Eagles

2.    1981 Liliokalani IKI 13 mm dies (55 – 13 mm gold coins):

  • 38 – 1982 Kala Dala
  • 1 – Undated British Sovereign

3.   1989 King Kalakaua 13 mm dies (100 – 13 mm 1989 Kalakaua HSNA gold coins)

  • 3 – 1989 10th Birthday Commemorative

4.   1990 Liliokalani 13 mm Obverse die/ Grand Opening 6-9-90 13 mm reverse die (Combined – None)

(Obverse die only was used on 25 – 1990 Liliuokalani HSNA Gold 13mm)

  • 450 – 1990 Honolulu Silver Dala

5.   1990 Liliokalani 13 mm Obverse die/ First Day Issue 3-9-91 13 mm reverse die (Combine – None)

(Obverse die only was used on 25 – 1990 Liliuokalani HSNA Gold 13mm)

  • 340 – 1991 Kaiulani Silver Dala

6.   Aloha Money 10 mm dies (None):

  • 515 (sets of 4 coins) – 1993 US quarter, dime, nickel and penny
  • 275 (sets of 6 coins) – 1993 US dollar (Morgan dollar or 1993 US Silver eagle) , half dollar, quarter, dime, nickel and penny

Images of the counter-stamp coins can bee seen at this link

In summary, the 1991 Pearl Harbor Dala 10 mm dies are the most elusive as a coin and as a counter-stamp.