Reference

Planned 2015 Book Release: Royal Hawaiian Mint® Issues Relating to Princess Victoria Kaiulani

/ DrDarryl

I hope everyone had a good Christmas!

One of the difficulties in collecting  Royal Hawaiian Mint® (RHM) issues is the lack of a comprehensive reference book for collectors. Information is scattered and incomplete among several resources. As an avid collector of the RHM Princess Kaiulani series, this lack of a collector reference book is a hinderance.

While acquiring my RHM Princess Kaiulani collection, I have been compiling notes and have gained a good understanding of this series. As such, this information should be shared with other collectors as a  numismatic resource. I plan to release a book with working title: Royal Hawaiian Mint® Issues Relating to Princess Victoria Kaiulani. Actual 2015 release date is TBD.

From my count, the RHM Princess Kaiulani series consist of over 50 pieces. In comparison the Wafs in Gold Boots (RHM database) identifies roughly 34 pieces. I’m still in the draft copy stage of this book. However, a working book cover (with currently selected title) is shown below along with a draft page.

If you notice, the 1991 Princess Kaiulani Akahi Crown (in gold) with First Day Issue counter stamp on the book cover is NOT documented in any numismatic reference book.  In addition the 1994 Princess Kaiulani Hawaii Dala is also NOT documented in any numismatic resource.

Hopefully, by sharing these two unknown Princess Kaiulani issues it will generate interest for the book prior to its official release in 2015.

pkbook

The catalog numbering system is unique and is somewhat of a carryover from one of my previous books. The catalog numbering system is expandable for other RHM series:

RHM=Royal Hawaiian Mint

PK=Princess Kaiulani series

39=39mm

06=6th iteration in the 39 mm size coins

(Click to enlarge)  Color images are planned. (I’ve mastered the technique to generate a slight shadow around the coin).

pkexample

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unlisted: Save the Ocean in 24K Gold

/ DrDarryl

Unlisted in Waifs in Gold Boots (Royal Hawaiian Mint (RHM) database). High probability that this was a made for jewelry striking. However, any 24kt gold striking by the RHM is a great collection addition for the modern day Hawaiiana specialist.

Striking is estimated 1994 or later (Save the Ocean design was first introduced in 1994).

savetheocean

Now Online: English/Hawaiian Translation Listing of Commonly Used Words/Phrases on Hawaiian Numismatics

/ DrDarryl

A new link was added to the “About” page (flagged with banner “Updated 12/15/2014  —————————–Start”)

This document was created by Garry Moore with the purpose:

“To foster a better understanding of Hawaiian Numismatics through the native Hawaiian language. Outlined below is a list of commonly used English/ Hawaiian numismatic-related words or phrases and their translations.”

The actual link to the document is also provided below:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6vVuqixrM45bVdEc2FYMHJINnc/view?usp=sharing

Thank you Garry for your contribution !

First Hawaiian Center Dedication Medal

/ DrDarryl

I added obverse and reverse images of the First Hawaiian Center dedication medal to the First Hawaiian Center Wikipedia page

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Hawaiian_Center

Click the medal image to get information about the medal.

The medal is in my collection. When I purchased the medal it was misidentified as a service award. A quick check of the building name indicated it was built in 1996 and corresponded with a Hawaii Star Bulletin write-up (below). Key item of interest is that First Hawaiian Center is the tallest building in the State of Hawai’i.

fhc

Competitive NGC Registry Sets Relating to State of Hawaii

/ DrDarryl

Currently, there are are NO  competitive NGC Registry sets relating to the State of Hawaii. The Kingdom of Hawaii has three such sets:

http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/registry/coins/public_sets.aspx?CategoryID=42&sets=us

There is a possibility to create several State of Hawaii sets. I have contacted NGC today (via email) making a formal request based on the following information from the NGC website:

—————————-

What coins are eligible for the NGC Registry?

All NGC-certified coins are eligible for the NGC Registry, although there are not Competitive Sets for every coin. You may request a new Competitive Set by emailing Registry@NGCcoin.com. US Competitive Sets and all Custom Sets accept both NGC- and PCGS-certified coins. World Competitive Sets accept only NGC-certified coins.

—————————-

1) Hawaii Statehood Medals. From the NGC Bibliography (America Overseas Territories) Hawaiian Money by Medcalf & Russell. I request 2MS-1 though 2MS-20 inclusive be created as a Hawaii Statehood Medal Competitive Registry Set.

2) Hawaii Undated So-Called Dollars. So-Called Dollars as listed in Hibler & Kappen. I request HK-721 though HK-723 inclusive be created as a Hawaii Undated So Called Dollar Competitive Registry Set.

3) Alaska-Hawaii Statehood (combined) 1959 (Mishler Issue) So-Called Dollars. So-Called Dollars as listed in Hibler & Kappen. I request HK-528 though HK-537 inclusive be created as an Alaska-Hawaii Statehood (combined) 1959 (Mishler Issue) So Called Dollars Competitive Registry Set.

4) Hawaii Statehood 1959 So-Called Dollars. So-Called Dollars as listed in Hibler & Kappen. I request HK-547 though HK-551 inclusive be created as a Hawaii Statehood 1959 So-Called Dollars Competitive Registry Set.

These have a good change in becoming Competitive NGC Registry sets.  The following are examples of subset sets (large sets are reduced to a particular focused collecting area).

If you are interested please e-mail NGC at Registry@NGCcoin.com.

Royal Hawaiian Mint Gold Ingot

/ DrDarryl

In 1992, the Royal Hawaiian Mint issued three designs for the 1 gram gold ingots. Mintage is 300 each. Each is listed in Waifs in Gold Boots (Royal Hawaiian Mint database). Two are currently being sold at the RHM website

Kamehameha http://www.royalhawaiianmint.com/catalog/jewelry/golf-kine-kamehameha-ingot-rope-pendant.html

Aloha Diamond Head http://www.royalhawaiianmint.com/catalog/jewelry/gold-aloha-ingot-rope-pendant.html

Hula Dancer: Currently none being sold by RHM

Undocumented 1991 Princess Kaiulani Akahi Gold Crown with First Day of Issue Counterstamp

/ DrDarryl

I’ve been monitoring an item listed on eBay since mid-November. It finally got sold. It was a 1991 Princess Kaiulani Akahi Gold Crown. 1 ounce of 0.9999 gold. This coin is listed in  Waifs in Gold Boots (Royal Hawaiian Mint (RHM) Database). This coin looked  intriguing.

When I first observed the coin I believed it was a gold plated silver 1991 Princess Kaiulani, but it was not.

Click image to enlarge.

kai1

An astute Hawaiiana collector should have spotted the “1” on the reverse indicating it’s an uncirculated gold specimen. The “1”  is a unique identifier for the uncirculated version of the gold coin. The proof gold version would have a raised engraving pad used for serialization (1 to 400) for the 1991 Princess Kaiulani 5-piece gold proof set. The uncirculated Princess Kaiulani gold coins had a limited mintage of 55 and makes it uncommonly rare. Yes, 55 specimens.

What makes this coin more intriguing is the First Day of Issue (FDI) counterstamp (1990 Queen Liliuokalani IKI  on the obverse and a Day of Issue  3-9-91 on the reverse). This is the first time I have encountered a RHM gold coin with FDI counterstamp.

By combining the two attributes (gold coin with 55 mintage and with FDI counterstamp), you can get a feel of its rarity.

Now the question of the day is:  ‘How many of the 55 specimens were struck with a FDI counterstamp? ” I’m taking a guess that it’s minuscule (since its not listed in Waifs in Gold Boots). Whatever the answer is…this gold coin is extremely rare.

Below is the same coin in my collection without the FDI counterstamp.

goldcrown