No RHM markings on the coin.
The only way it was identified was with the COA. The coin is contract work for RHM by MLB.
The RHM database lists two Aloha Money Overstrike row entries. One is a 4 piece set and the other is 6 piece set. This is where creative accounting takes place.
1) They are separately listed as 4 and 6 piece set. (1 point awarded to RHM for minimizing the mintage figure by distinguishing the two types of sets).
2) Simply total up the set numbers to get the true mintage figure (1 point to me for seeing through the RHM charades in the mintage game).
$1 – 275 mintage
50c – 275 mintage
25c – 790 mintage
10c – 790 mintage
5c – 790 mintage
1c- 790 mintage
3) Sellers who break up the 6-piece set took a hit selling $1 and 50c specimens individually. They offered specimens with low mintage (275) (1 point for me in seeing the mintage leverage in buying the $1 and 50c rarities individually) (Hint if you see the $1 or 50c specimen there are only 275 of them out there!).
4) Sellers who break up the 6-piece set assume collectors will purchase each coin at the inflated price. This is not true in breaking up complete sets (1 point for me in only cherry picking only the $1)
5) The well versed Hawaiiana Collectors should know that there is an ulterior motive in only collecting the $1. This is because there are two other different US dollar size coins (guess what they are) with the Aloha Money Overstrike. Imagine having a complete set of US Dollar size coins with the Aloha Money Overstrike. (1 point for me in exposing the Aloha Money US Dollar size trifecta). By the way, the 50c Aloha Money Overstrike has no companion coins except the original 4 peice set.
Final score
RHM 1
Sellers 0
Me 4
Kidding aside, literally taking RHM mintage figure on a per row basis can make you make some selling and/or purchasing mistakes. Understand the RHM database. Look at adjacent rows. Take good notes (my copy of the RHM has notes everywhere).
Here is 1 of 275 Eisenhower Dollar overstrikes.
There is limited information about this Aloha Airlines silver ingot. Not to fret, I did catalog it in my book as FMI-A01
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1496144821/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_vD8Jtb02GVYDRQSB
Below is the Franklin Mint’s original paperwork issued with the Aloha Airlines ingot.
Here the actual ad from a 1978 periodical advertising the ingot set. (note the bottom right ingot is the Hawaiian Airlines ingot).
The top coin below shows you how to locate the Kamehameha I “with Welt” variety from The Hawaiian Mint.
The photo is the obverse from a 1975 Kamehameha I with AG hand stamped on reverse.
The welt is curved raised bump that runs from both sides of the lower dot.
Previously unreported anomalies are the deformed lower dot and a raised spot that intersects the area below the King’s chin and the center of the letter “I” in the word HAWAII.
The lower coin is without the welt.
Click to super enlarge this image.
Below is an image without my yellow markings and shows the welt.
Click to super enlarge.
The 1975 struck sterling silver Kamehameha I – Welt with “AG hand stamped” and no “sterling hand stamp” has a mintage of 6 (note: year on the coin is 1976). This coin type is the 5th listed to be ever struck by The Hawaiian Mint (according to the RHM database).
As a side note, there is another AG version with a second hand stamp of “STERLING” next to the “AG” that was struck in 1976 (it has a mintage of 350).
I’ve been researching the NORFED and Royal Hawaiian Mint connection once again.
I made my first discovery of the connection with Ms. Liberty on the NORFED issues and the 1992 Gold Salute issues by the Royal Hawaiian Mint.
https://thehawaiiananumismatist.com/2014/04/30/royal-hawaiian-mint-1992-gold-salute-120-ounce/
https://thehawaiiananumismatist.com/2014/04/30/royal-hawaiian-mint-1992-gold-salute-110-ounce-gold/
The first NORFED issue has another tie in with a pre-1992 issue and is the earliest known design tie in with the Liberty Dollars. Here is a refresher for those not familiar with the 1998 Liberty Dollar with the Shelter System Reverse.
Below is the new find. The shelter system reverse was used on a pre-1992 Royal Hawaiian Mint issue. I’m in the process of locating a specimen for my research. I know the Royal Hawaiian Mint coin and the hunt is on!
Click to enlarge!
One aspect of coin collecting that I really enjoy is understanding the motivation for creating the coin’s design.
The Discoverers Dala is based on engravings by John Webber. John Webber was the official artist on Captain Cook’s ship when Hawaii was discovered. Below are the portraits used by the Royal Hawaiian Mint to create the obverse design of the $5 Discoverers Dala (the portraits originally was used on the Ho’omaha’o Dala design)
The use of the John Webber portraits is based on the official RHM announcement on September 14, 2007 .
Below is the image of the 2000 Ho’omaha’o Dala design.
One of the difficulties with online auctions of Royal Hawaiian Mint (RHM) coins is the lack of information being provided by the seller. This results (at least for me) in looking for visual hints in the image provided and checking the RHM database. This is where deductive reasoning kicks in….This method is not set in stone, but provide subtle hints.
For this example I’m looking at a individual 1994 Kalakaua 1/10 ounce gold (proof mintage 950 and uncirculated mintage 140)
Question 1: Is the coin proof or brilliant uncirculated (BU)?
Question 2. Was the coin sold as a proof set?
Question 3. Is the coin for auction in its original RHM box for a single coin?
Question 4. Can you visually see a different between the proof and BU? (need to search an image of proof and BU of the same coins)
Answer 1: Not sure (don’t trust the auction description).
Answer 2: Yes. If the coin was sold as part of a limited proof set, its is highly unlikely it would have NOT been sold as an individual proof. Check the RHM database carefully.
Answer 3: Yes. Original individual RHM box provides the hint its highly likely a BU coin. Need additional proof (no pun intended)
Answer 4: Yes. I located a proof image and compared it to the auction image. I found two differences
See images
Difference 1:
In comparing the images, I made a discovery (there is a “with RHM” and “without RHM” obverse die varieties of the 1994 Kalakaua 1/10 oz gold).
I checked my intact 1994 Kalakaua proof set and inspected the 1/10 ounce coin. No RHM is present.
The BU coin has RHM hallmark.
Difference 2:
The BU coin’s field lacks “true” mirror fields.
Conclusion:
I now own a BU coin with a population of 140 and in original RHM box
As for the spots on my new coin, NCS conservation service can remove those spots.
I finally completed my 1994 Princess Kaiulani Dala Set.
Each coin has a 1994 Princess Kaiulani obverse. Each coin also has a different design reverse.
Three of the specimens are not listed in the Royal Hawaiian Mint (RHM) database which makes this set rather unique and unknown to most Hawaiiana collectors.
I originally identified the Princess Dala and Akahi Dala error in the RHM database (search for the blog entry on this finding).
Later, I obtained a mule specimen of the Princess Mahalo Dala. I have a letter of provenance from the original owner. This is a unique specimen with only 1 known (The Meredith Specimen ) . (Search for the blog entry on this finding).
Recently, I acquired a very limited struck Princess $10 Dala specimen at a very reasonable price. I actually had a NORFED broker search for a specimen for me. He located only one. Unfortunately, the price was $1,500 (not a typo). The seller was out for cash and my response was ” NO WAY!”. It’s a very tough coin to locate according to the NORFED broker. This coin has an estimated 20 coin striking.
The following images are the four coins that are part of this rather unique 1994 Princess Kaiulani Dala Set.
http://www.rhhj.com/simple_detail.php?prod_id=494
I might have posted this before. Shipping is high.
Visit the store on your next trip to Honolulu, Aiea, or Kailua-Kona.
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