Author: DrDarryl

The Honolulu Mint: King Kalakaua Gold & Silver Coins

/ DrDarryl

I’m still investigating/documenting the coins from The Honolulu Mint. Here are some preliminary findings.

There is a 22 mm  KALAKAUA MOI O HAWAII coin struck in both gold and silver.

The gold coin is 7 grams (0.25 oz) and 24 KT gold.

The silver coin is 16 grams (0.564 oz) and 0.999 fine silver. The coin is thick.

Both share the same obverse. Both are dated 1886. A distinction can be seen in the lettering with some of the letter bases touching one another. The two stars on each side of the date is another distinction of these coins (from the other mints).

Both reverse differ as the images shows.

The gold coin uses the same reverse as the Queen Liliuokalani coin I mentioned in a blog a few days ago. The silver coin has the ‘Iolani Palace as the main design element and with the dates 1836 – 1891 (birth year and year of passing of King Kalakaua). The King’s motto ” Ho`oulu Lāhui” is placed above the palace. The silver coin reverse has no “SL” initials nor any other markings indicating it was struck by The Honolulu Mint.

 

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Deal of the Day: 2M-340

/ DrDarryl

A very interesting find on eBay. This auction ended today.

The auction went unnoticed. It must have been a slow week for Hawaiiana collectors as only a single bid was made. Winning bid was a measly $9.99.

1991 M&R listed price is $35. Page 122 of M&R shows an image of the obverse.  The medal is issued with hole.

nwrare

 

The Honolulu Mint: Queen Liliuokalani

/ DrDarryl

In a previous blog, I mentioned that The Honolulu Mint catered to the  fine Hawaiian jewelry market. Here is an example of an Queen Liliuokalani jewelry specimen.

queen

 

Then there are those specimens catered to the coin collectors. Below is such a specimen of a Queen Liliuokalani coin specifically for the coin collector. The coin was issued encapsulated. It came with a  wooden box and a  COA. Notice on the reverse you will see the initials “SL” for Steven Lee (designer of this coin) from The Honolulu Mint.

queen_final

 

The Honolulu Mint: Kamehameha the Great

/ DrDarryl

One area I’ve been investigating are the issues from The Honolulu Mint prior to its bankruptcy in 2005.

So far I have identified 68 coin issues before 2005. Majority of these issues were struck as custom issues. Custom issues are struck for a specific organization and do not have either: The  Honolulu Mint’s hallmark nor designer’s hallmark. Other coins have been struck specifically for inclusion with jewelry (has the designer’s hallmark).

From my working The Honolulu Mint spreadsheet, I can only identify one coin  with the The Honolulu Mint’s name.  This coin is the Kamehameha the Great 1 ounce fine silver coin. This coin is 1 troy oz of .999 silver., proof, 39.2 mm in diameter.

honolulumint

 

 

The AG Center Punch – Two Varieties

/ DrDarryl

I’ve been examining the sterling silver Kamehameha I “with welt” that was  issued by The Hawaiian Mint in 1975 and 1976. The two images are of coins in my collection.

What I have uncovered are two varieties of the AG center punch. The RHM database lists only one AG center punch for “with welt” issues. The Medcalf & Russell book does not reference any for the “with welt” issues.

If you read the description  in the RHM database carefully  it will make sense.

In the RHM database for the year 1976, 2MB-3, Kamehameha I -W, sterling, mintage 350. The description reads “…center punch has hand punched sterling”. What does it mean?  The “center punch AG” has a “hand punch sterling”.  Wait…can this be true?

Below is a sterling silver Kamehameha I “with welt”, with “AG” and “with sterling hand punch”. Notice the incomplete letters in “STERLING”.

kamw1

 

Now compare it to the rare (only 6 struck)  sterling silver Kamehameha I “with welt”, with “AG” and “NO sterling hand punch”.

kamw2

 

The astute Hawaiiana collector should know how to spot the two AG varieties on the sterling silver Kamehameha I “with welt”.

 

Baltimore Coins Show

/ DrDarryl

I attended the Baltimore coin show looking for Hawaiiana items and specific medals for my collection. Did not find any worthwhile Hawaiian items. I also was handing out a copies of my book. Picture of name tag and blown-up picture of an item on my want list.

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There was an online auction over the weekend that someone got a RHM at a steal. ( I assume its a typo and it was won at $5.00 (see starting bid price)

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