Sneak peak of RHM-PVK-39-07. This is a unique coin with a population of 1.
Hawaiian Numismatic Publications
New Images – 1996 Princess Kaiulani Gold Hapaha Repunched Date Error
https://thehawaiiananumismatist.com/2013/12/17/repunched-date-1996-princess-kaiulani-gold-hapaha/
I first reported this find in my 12/17/2013 blog entry (see above link). This is the first known Royal Hawaiian Mint error.
I took additional pictures today (with new DSLR camera and close up lenses).
You can clearly see the repunched 1, 9 (first only), and the 6.
Current catalog assigned number is RHM-PVK-21-06 in my work in process book.
2nd Place Overall – Whitman Expo Spring Baltimore
My five display case entry (titled: U.S. Mint: The POTUS Appreciation Medal Series) won 2nd place overall at the Whitman Expo in Baltimore. The 2nd place prize was a 1997 $10 Proof Platinum Eagle.
This was my first-ever numismatic entry in a coin show (I have previous experience with philately entries at stamp shows). The hardest part of the display was to reveal the story without referencing my book (display owner must not be identified). The prominent piece of the display was the June 1960 Hawaii medal (aka M&R 2M-94 or DDE-08) that initiated me to start the research.
Overall, the judges were impressed with the research results and the display. They were really impressed that this was my first ever numismatic entry. Points were taken away with due to some technical display errors.
Now that I have judging feedback, I’m looking at improving the display and re-entering the display with modifications.
From the research aspect of the display, I was offered the opportunity to be a guest speaker at upcoming coin show. This is a good opportunity to get the word out about my newly discovered U.S. Mint medal series.
Several of the judges recommended that (with display improvements) I should enter the display at the national level (an ANA show). I will, if my schedule permits.
Royal Hawaiian Mint is NOT Out of Business
I apologize for the incorrect reporting. It was based on two factors:
1) Website being inoperable for several days (Magento page show in replacement. This is an eBay inc. company which should have similar operational reliability as the eBay web site).
2) BBB reporting it http://www.bbb.org/hawaii/business-reviews/coins-and-tokens-manufacturers/royal-hawaiian-mint-in-evansville-in-53046142/ . (This is an old entry that is still posted.)
Mr. Fleck was the first person to identify the incorrect post and soon after both blog entries were deleted. Mr. Moore also reported the incorrect post. Thank you both.
The automatic emails that were sent out still retained the incorrect blog entries and circulated with a copy of the blog entries. These emails could not be recalled.
Mr. Fleck reached out to the site manager (which did not know the website was down) on 4/5/2015.
Apparently, there was some good that came from the incorrect blog entries in notifying the site manager of the website being down.
Hawaiian Royalty and Pearl Harbor Coin Set Silver and Bronze
I might order me a set.
Both the Kalakaua and Liliuokalani obverse dies were previously used to strike both gold and silver coins (The Honolulu Mint). Now its being struck in bronze. The reverse “Hawaiian islands” die was also used on the endangered species coins.
There are also several versions of the Saint Marianne and Saint Damien medals being offered.
http://www.pacifichistoricparksbookstore.org/home/coins.html?p=5
Simple as 1, 2,and 3?
If you don’t watch carefully the off medal varieties can slip pass you.
I recommend that you start updating your WIGB with personal notes of everything you see that is missing or incorrect in WIGB. Mine is littered with notes and updates. Even if an items is being reported by another individual, document it.
Hint: You mean you have not periodically visiting the recently update Royal Hawaiain Mint since I first reported it being operational in late 2014?
Hint: Snooze and you loose. RHM has been removing items periodically from their website, thus wiping out all official and historical information.
Hint: Have you saved images as “for your use” only from the RHM website? Again, how can you collect without any visual information?
Back on topic…..
Varieties of the 1990 Honolulu Dala (in WIGB)
Variety 1 – Grand Opening
Variety 2 – Normal Issue
Variety 3 – Gold Plated
Simple as 1,2, and 3? Wrong
Variety 4 was reported in bronze!
The copper variety is unlisted. If you want to complete this series you will need a bronze variety.
I made the discovery and reported it in a previous blog…. http://wp.me/p3eNTe-yD
Mule It
One of the steps I perform in reviewing coins at auction sites is to verify the die pair of a coin listed. This maybe time consuming, but if it doesn’t match you have a mule that you can add to your collection. Mules are dies that are paired together that were not officially issued together.
Hint: The Royal Hawaiian Mint (RHM) has made several mules. A common mule incorporates a die struck in official released and pairing it with a RHM advertising die.
Hint: It is most likely that these mule strikes are low in population and have been identified RHM newsletters (wait…you have not read the old RHM newsletters at their current website?) . If they contain a stated value, striking will be limited.
This is a 2M-196 obverse paired with a “Royal Hawaiian Trade Dala” reverse die.
The Hawaiian Mint 21mm Sister Bronze Patterns
One of my earlier blog entry mentioned the purchase of a unrecognized bronze Hawaiian Mint “replica” pattern with possible matching obverse die on a 18K gold pattern.
After close examination of the coin it has been confirmed that these are sister pattern coins, that is, both coins utilized the same obverse die.
Based on the Waifs in Gold Boots (WIGB) listing. This is a discovery (unlisted) “replica” Hapaha bronze pattern. Diameter match. Reeded edge denticals match. Thickness match. Font on die match. Etc…
| Kalakaua | 1980 | 21mm | Sterling | 180 | Obv. KALAKAUA I KING OF HAWAII 1883 (replica 1883). Rev. 1/4 D, HAPAHA, Marked “replica”, Crest, Motto of Kingdom, | |
| Kalakaua | 1980 | 21mm | 18K Gold | 17 | Obv. KALAKAUA I KING OF HAWAII 1883 Rev. Crest, Motto of Kingdom, 18K GOLD | |
| Kalakaua | 1980 | 21mm | Copper | 9 | Patter. Same except in copper |
In addition, WIGB listed the 18K gold pattern as copper with population of 9. This sister pattern coin in my collection is bronze. I assume WIGB is incorrectly listing the coin as copper.Based on this low pattern population. The “replica” pattern must also be low.
Establishing a Numismatic Legacy
During the past weeks my career has been keeping me busy (4 projects, 2 reviews, mentor sponsorship, overtime, lunch time presentation, performance reviews, etc…).
I’ve have five displays cases reserved for an upcoming coin show and have been finalizing its design.
The last snippet pretty much reveals the significance of my research.
The effort for the coin show was not a waste of time since majority of the graphics can be ported over to the book (ISBN number already assigned).
The Unwanted Pattern Purchase
The difference between a collector and a numismatist is the curiosity factor. The collector wants the specimen to build his/her collection. The numismatist wants the specimen to study and understand.
The case of the Unwanted Pattern happened recently. By sheer coincidence I viewed a coin with a strange auction title. As I previously mentioned in earlier blogs, I perform a sequence of steps on candidate purchases. This candidate resulted in a red alert signal which triggered a must buy at all reasonable cost.
I monitored the specimen daily for bids. After a few days, I knew that this specimen was not getting any attention at all. I discretely placed a bid. Days elapsed and no other bids appeared. A last second sniper made a last ditch effort to win the coin. (really, look at the screen capture of the auction in the photo).
I won the specimen for a bargain basement price of $6.38 + 99c shipping.
What was this coin? What was the purchase trigger? How was the specimen overlooked?
The key word in the ad was “REPLICA”. This was the negative trigger that raised an “avoid it like the plague” signal.
The coin is an undocumented bronze pattern of a 1980 KALAKAUA I KING OF HAWAII HAPAHA
(1) As the Waifs in Gold Boots (WIGB) indicates a 21 mm silver coin was struck with:
Obv. KALAKAUA I KING OF HAWAII 1883 (replica 1883). Rev. 1/4 D, HAPAHA, Marked “replica”, Crest, Motto of Kingdom,
(2) How did I know it was a Pattern since it’s not listed in WIGB?
Right below this WIGB listing is a 18K gold coin that I have a Pattern specimen. This Pattern uses the same Obverse Die as the coin in the auction
Another giveaway was the light metal streaks seen on the coin’s surface and are the same for the Pattern in my collection. I’ve studied the obverse die previously and document the 18K pattern find
https://thehawaiiananumismatist.com/2013/11/17/2mb-141-bronze-trial-piece-confirmed/
Click images to enlarge.
The Hawaiiana Numismatist ™ 
You must be logged in to post a comment.