Author: DrDarryl

Part 3: New Hawaii Error Identified (Honolulu Mint)

/ DrDarryl

Currently, only two GOLD errors are known (serial # 2023 and #2119). Check your coins and let me know what you find…The serial # is on the COA and not on the coin.

Serial # 2119 was first sold on eBay back in 2011.  I recently purchased Serial #2119 in September 2014.

Serial #2023. I also recently acquired Serial 2023 in September 2014.

Here are known Serial # of  the correct silver version

59, 580, 993, 1073, 1232, and 5044.

5044? Yes, I checked the serial# of a  coin already in my collection. I also have another without COA. The coin without a COA  is in a different capsule.

The question now. Did The Honolulu Mint catch the error and only let a few slip into their inventory or did they strike coins for the life of the die?

Based on my findings I say that they caught the error and had a few slipped into their inventory.  I located 18 sales of the SILVER variety and only 3 sales of the GOLD variety (counting the two sales of serial #2119).

Images of the four coins in my collection.

gs2

gs1

Previous blog entry  Part 2 https://thehawaiiananumismatist.com/2014/09/15/part-2-new-hawaii-error-identified/

Previous blog entry Part 1 https://thehawaiiananumismatist.com/2014/09/13/part-1-new-hawaii-error-identified/

Coin Experts Reveal Which Coins They Covet Most of All

/ DrDarryl

Back in July 2014, I was asked to provide an answer to the question: “If you could ONLY have 3 gold coins or silver coins, which would they be, and why?”

I’m delinquent in adding the results to this blog. I still stand by the Princess Kaiulani design by the Royal Hawaiian Mint as my “it” coin.

Yes, that is my contact e-mail address published at this blog.

expert

Look for my answers at this link http://www.gainesvillecoins.com/article/the-most-coveted-gold-and-silver-coins

Here is my “it” coin with a mintage of 55.

kai1

My second choice (I had to publish a book about it)..

http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v17n07a04.html

You can also search this blog for several entries about 2M-94

Finally here are images of my third choice

https://thehawaiiananumismatist.com/2013/03/31/gold-dala/

https://thehawaiiananumismatist.com/2013/06/16/unique-royal-hawaiian-mint-die-trail-collection/

Royal Hawaiian Mint Selling Online

/ DrDarryl

As I reported on my September 12, 2014 blog, the Royal Hawaiian Mint is back online selling previous inventory and new inventory.

I noticed today that on my watch list a few items have sold out (i.e. 1989 HSNA Gold).

Business must be brisk.

My first order number is less than 10 and its still being processed.

I’m Watching and Taking Notes…

/ DrDarryl

Yes, I’m updating my RHM database with RHM website information…

Today’s coin of the day…..

1976 King Kamehameha with Ahualoa Land bank and AU1GR Copper

If you observe the obverse, it has no welt (should be by the lower dot). This is not a 1976 or 1977 struck copper coin (date of 1976 is reused until 1979). Key sign is no welt.

Coin was struck in 1978 based on description match (first no welt occurence and no subsequent description match occurrence).

From the RHM database Year 1978 (note that the year 1976 is in the description)

RHM002 Obv. 1-27; 2-138A Kamehameha I 1978 21mm Copper 100 Pattern. Obv. Type 2 – no die blemish – Reverse: AHUHALOA LAND BANK, 1976, AU 1 GR, one gram .999 gold, reeded edge, with Island of Hawaii

100 were originally struck. The 38 mintage could mean

(1) 138 mintage (100 + 38)

(2) 100 mintage (62 originally issued + 38 never issued until now).

Part 1.1: The “Wow Purchase”

/ DrDarryl

I don’t actually have the medals in hand, but payment in full was made. The big reveal will occur when I have the medals in hand.

Here is a teaser for today.

The Wow purchase consist of two medals.  Both are  NGC “Top Pops” (highest graded) and there is a NGC population of 1 for each medal…

 

 

I’m Watching and Taking Notes…

/ DrDarryl

The Royal Hawaiian Mint website indicates that the 1991 Royal Hawaiian Platinum Hapaumi Puela 1/10 Oz Platinum was never issued and only 23 were struck.

However, if you know your RHM database and are familiar with the issued sets… this coin was part of the Hawaiian Regency Collection set.

Mintage is now 923.  (900 issued in sets and 23 issued individually)

My May 26, 2013 discusses the Hawaiian Regency set.

https://thehawaiiananumismatist.com/2013/05/26/cannibalizing-the-1991-hawaiian-regency-set/

Part 2: New Hawaii Error Identified

/ DrDarryl / 1 Comment

I’m sorry for this delayed announcement. There was an auction in progress for this error coin and I wanted to obtain a second specimen. The auction just ended this evening. A premature announcement would have drove up the final hammer price.

In a nutshell this is an error coin that was struck  in 1991 by the  The Honolulu Mint.  This error caught my eye after thoroughly checking out the images of an auction and looking for odd/peculiar traits.

The newly identified error coin is the 1991 Total Eclipse of the Sun coin, silver, 39.2 mm, and weighs 1 troy ounce.  Here are the two varieties (the later is the newly discovered  error):

(1) .999 SILVER hallmark struck on silver (non-error)

(2) .999 GOLD hallmark struck on silver (error)

The Honolulu Mint incorrectly used its .999 GOLD obverse die in striking several silver 1991 Total Eclipse of the Sun coins.

This is a significant error as the quality control of both The Honolulu Mint and Bishop Museum (ordered the coin to be struck) missed this error.  This error  may allow unscrupulous individuals to take advantage of the metal marking error. In this case, an unscrupulous individual can gold plate the error coin and sell it as a gold coin.

My quick research indicates that the GOLD error occurred with coins having a COA starting at roughly serial number 2000. The current earliest known GOLD error serial number is 2023. A quick review of auction sales indicates that 1 out of 11 has the GOLD error (making this error hard to come by).

Based on this GOLD obverse die, it can be said that The Honolulu Mint was planning to or had struck gold specimens in the size of 39.2 mm and in 1 troy ounce.  Auction records indicate that a 1/10 ounce gold 1991 Total Eclipse of the Sun coin was actually struck. I have not seen any images or records that a 1 ounce Gold 1991 Total Eclipse of the Sun coin was actually struck. (Let me know if you have images/COA of one.)

Single click on the image to enlarge. Double click to super enlarge the image.The SL initial stands for Steven Lee, coin designer at The Honolulu Mint.

Enjoy! And happy hunting for this newly identified error!

the_error

Part 1: The “Wow Purchase”

/ DrDarryl

I’m ecstatic!

I’m about to add two great medals  to my collection.

I’m still working on closing on the purchase (non-auction).

One is a confirmed hold/purchase. The second medal, I finally decided  (about 30 minutes ago) to purchase it.

I cannot disclose the identities of these medals at the time being.

However, I will post images as soon as possible as “The Wow Purchase”.

You will be “wowed” by the world-class  standing and caliber of these medals.