Just Having Fun

2MN-673 and 2MN-67a – 1973 Queen Emma Set

/ DrDarryl

Completed my second “trifecta” of Hawaii coin club medals.

This is my Hawaii State Numismatic Association set in bronze, silver, and aluminum.

qe1

 

The aluminum specimen was acquired first and described in a previous blog entry. https://thehawaiiananumismatist.com/2014/02/15/2mn-673a-queen-emma-hawaii-state-numismatic-association/

My Maui Coin Club “trifecta” was also discussed in a previous blog entry. https://thehawaiiananumismatist.com/2014/03/09/maui-coin-club-2m-316-silver-copper-and-2m-317-cupro-nickel/

It’s really challenging  to locate  each of the specimens for a single year. I’ve only seen one set being offered with all medal types at one dealer (was not interested at the time). I wished I purchased that 1980Duke Kahanamoku HSNA set (price was high at the time and my interest was focused on RHM gold).

 

The “Other” Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Coin

/ DrDarryl

I first spotted this coin at a collector website. I really like the obverse design.

I began to search the term “World Heritage Coin”. I found many other country’s World Heritage Coins, but nothing in the USA.

After searching a few minutes, I located the coin.

Can you locate this coin?

Do you know the popular Hawai’i artist who design the coin?

I found the source, the artist, and purchased one…(its being shipped to me). Source to be revealed in a future blog.

995311

THN-VNP-001

Honolulu Mint – Kim Taylor Reece Coin Jewelry and Issued Silver Coins

/ DrDarryl

This is a continuation of the Honolulu Mint gold coins that were originally issued as jewelry. This blog is about the gold coins commissioned by Kim Taylor Reece.  These are 24KT gold coins mounted in 14KT gold mountings.

ktr

My findings also found that there are three silver 1 ounce silver Kim Taylor Reece coins that were issued by the Honolulu Mint

reece

All are proof. The coin in the framed lithograph has the dancer in 24KT highlight plating. The lithograph image is same on the coin. The frame is solid cherry.

Honolulu Mint – Hawaiian Coin Jewelry

/ DrDarryl

I eluded to this in my last blog. Several of the Honolulu Mint coins were originally issued as jewelry. You have to remember that their competition back then was the Royal Hawaiian Mint gold coins. If you notice in the image, you can see the known images in Honolulu Mint gold coins (Kamehameha, Liliuokalani, and Kaiulani).

I suspect that the coins now being seen (graded by ANACS) are leftover jewelry inventory coins that were never mounted. These are 24KT gold and is relative soft for use as a coin. Again, jewelry use is pointed out due to its pureness. Also, these gold coins are not dated.

hmint

 

Here is an ANACS Honolulu Mint Kaiulani. Click to enlarge

anacskai

Honolulu Mint Issues

/ DrDarryl

The original Honolulu Mint went bankrupt in 1995. I’ve been performing research on its issues. Mintage numbers are hard to locate. However, I did locate a few with limited issues (will not reveal them at this time). My preliminary research has not enough material for a book, but a good article could be written.

Here is some preliminary information on two series. The code can be located on the rear of the collector jacket. As you can see, I have a working spreadsheet from the image. There are some errors (letter O used instead of number zero) in my spreadsheet.

 

honolulu

 

Below is the i’iwi collector jacket (rear view). Note the code (from my spreadsheet) under the bar code.

back

 

This is the front of the collector jacket.

 

bird

 

Overall, the Honolulu Mint issues are limited to specific collection areas. One issue that I see is that they issued several coins only on jewelry.

1992 Kaiulani 1/10 oz Silver

/ DrDarryl

This 1992 issue is still confusing to many.

The listed price for this 1992 specimen was high, but by using my “eBay bucks” I got it at a steal.

This specimen was also misidentified in its eBay listing. I really recommend learning as much as you can about the item in auction listing  before placing a bid (there is misleading information that sellers have been placing in their listing description based on inaccurate interpretation or simply bad information).

The original specimens of the 1992 Royal Hawaiian 1/10 ounce set (Kalakaua, Liliuokalani, and Kaiulani with common reverse of Hawaiian Crest) are dated 1991.  This is a 1992 dated 1/10 ounce coin.

It was either issued as  single coin (undocumented in the RHM database) or its was a replacement for the 1991 date Kaiulani 1/10 ounce in the 1992 Royal Hawaiian 1/10 ounce set.  If you study the 1991  Kaiulani 1/10 oz obverse die, is was used on several issues (gold, platinum, and silver) with a different reverse die. Die deterioration can be observed with the obverse of the Kaiulani 1/10 oz coins. The obverse die was most likely replaced with a 1992 dated Kaiulani obverse die.

The key identifier that makes this coin  highly desirable is the “Wb” initials between the letter “H” in HAWAII and  Kaiulani’s neck. Only two coins in the RHM series have these initials.

https://thehawaiiananumismatist.com/2013/11/02/new-princess-kaiulani-silver-110-ounce-die-discovery/ 

https://thehawaiiananumismatist.com/2014/01/12/new-king-kalakaua-dala-die-discovery/

Click to enlarge

1992