Author: DrDarryl

Buyer Beware…1883 hawaii half dollar- minting used testing strike plate – copper pattern test

/ DrDarryl

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/1883-HAWAII-HALF-DOLLAR-COPPER-COIN-COPY-FREE-SHIPPING/651312811.html

Counterfeit from China. Seller mentions the pointed “I”. The image from China also has the pointed “I”

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1883-hawaii-half-dollar-minting-used-testing-strike-plate-copper-pattern-test-/221479919395?&_trksid=p2056016.m2516.l5255

 

I reported the item with eBay.

Read more about it…

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.collecting.coins/J6rnKlShedM

 

Seller has been selling it for some time…

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=1883+hawaii+half+dollar+test&_in_kw=1&_ex_kw=&_sacat=0&LH_Sold=1&_udlo=&_udhi=&_samilow=&_samihi=&_sadis=10&_fpos=&_fsct=&LH_SALE_CURRENCY=0&_sop=12&_dmd=1&_ipg=50&LH_Complete=1

 

Notice the lack of details when compared to an original proof! Click to enlarge. Notice the lack of details in the crown and other areas…

fake

Bidding War for a 2MS-18 Sterling Silver ….Winning Bid is $565.55

/ DrDarryl

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151330693859?_trksid=p3984.m570.l4478&_trkparms=gh1g%3DI151330693859.N18.S2.M-346.R4.TR11

I had placed a bid in the $500 range during my lunch hour.

Then got an email from a contact (aka dealer).  I immediately retracted my bid. Why?

I was put on notice that a complete serial numbered (each the same serial number) set of Mishler Hawaii/Alaska Statehood medals will be at the Baltimore Coin Show (started today and ends Sunday). The set is 5 coins (aluminum has no serial number). And the price that was provided was fair…

Each coin is NGC graded. The sterling silver is the highest graded….

With this information I retracted my bid….and moved up my Baltimore Coin Show visit to a weeknight rather than a weekend….

 http://expo.whitman.com/baltimore-summer-expo/schedule/

http://expo.whitman.com/

Baltimore has always been good to me… My population of 1 release ceremony gold coins that I donated to the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historical Shrine is a good example. https://coins.www.collectors-society.com/wcm/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=9738

 

 

2M-199 Unofficial HSNA Medal Inspection

/ DrDarryl

hsna

I inspected the medal today.

The reverse die (THE HAWAIIAN MINT $) is from 2TC-55/2TC-56  (Hawaiian Sand Dala-Island of Maui) and/or 2M-138/2M-139 (Hawaiian Sand Dala-Big Island). The Kalakaua and Liliokalani obverse dies are from 1983 21mm Kalakaua and 1983 21 mm Liliuokalani medal (too many to list)

The obverse was originally blank. The Queen Liliuokalani counterstamp was first struck. Then the Kalakaua counterstamp was made. The letters and numbers were then struck.

M&R incorrectly states “…dies struck as a pair.” The overlapping of the counterstamps clearly shows that the two dies can only overlap. In addition, the Kalakaua counterstamp is over the Liliuokalani counterstamp.

Also, the listed catalog price seem too low. I can surmise that the coins given away in 1983 were mishandled as a  curiosity piece (touched, inspected, and passed around).  Not many retained its original mint state condition. It is also, highly unlikely others were made and sold.

From my reference documents, 2MB-199 may be the only medals to use 21 mm counterstamps. It is also the only medal to have two obverse counterstamps from different dies.

 

 

Update: 1983 Unofficial HSNA Medal 2M-199

/ DrDarryl

I struck a deal with the current owner for purchasing his  2M-199. Funds were  transfered and USPS tracking number provided.

I will provide images as soon as the medal arrives.

Based on the M&R description, the medal is 39 mm. with two 21 mm counterstamps

The original owner’s image indicates the medal was struck with a blank reverse. At a later time “HSNA” and “1983” was stamped. The two counterstamps were also added later. The counterstamps was stamped with too much pressure that it caused two 21 mm dimples to form on the reverse. I’m speculating that BVNH performed the stamping and counterstamps at the 1983 HSNA show as a demonstration.

Interesting specimen…This may be the only RHM medal with two obverse counterstamps on one side. it may also be the only 21mm counterstamps by the RHM.