Lēʻahi Ho’oku’i !

/ DrDarryl

Lēʻahi = Diamond Head

Ho’oku’i = Coming together

Diamond Head coming together? Yes, I’ve been working on it!

I believe I made this connection first, as I have 4 of the 5 items to complete the Lēʻahi Ho’oku’i Set. The following medals  have the same reverse but are listed with its own  M&R catalog numbers that are not consecutive. This means the connection was not made when the M&R book was published. I would have listed the Diamond Head as the obverse and state the differences on the reverse. This would have placed this set in consecutive order rather than placing each separately, thus losing the connection.

  • 2M-14, Aloha Tiki
  • 2M-24 USS Arizona Memorial Pearl Harbor Hawaii
  • 2M-97, Floating Restaurant Pier 6  Honolulu Harbor
  • 2M-170b, Hawaiian Wax Museum Waikiki Beach
  • 2M-174 (duh … error, same as 2M-170)
  • 2M-424, Waikiki Beach Hawaii
I believe these are the reverse.

I believe these are the reverse.

I believe these are the obverse.

I believe these are the obverse.

These were most likely visitor souvenirs available at various tourist stops on Oahu.

Does 2M-424 exist?

Hawaiian Memories

/ DrDarryl

Hawaiian Memories / Krewe of Nemises find!

Existing known (top row of image):

  • 2M-272 silver
  • 2M-273 gold aluminum
  • 2M-274 purple aluminum

Note: the aluminum specimens has a weight of 4 grams

Unlisted in M&R reference (bottom row of image):

  • THN-KON-01, Bright Bronze Hawaiian Memories, 21 grams, 39mm, unc
  • THN-KON-02, Antique Bronze Hawaiian Memories, 21 grams, 39mm, unc

Hawaii – Ali’i at Kauhale Makai Medal

/ DrDarryl

Depicts an Ali’i at Kauhale Makai (royalty at village by the sea).

Unlisted in the M&R reference. Estimated distribution is 1974 – 1978.   Source set to be identified in the book currently being written by me.

alii1

  • THN-FM-NGC-01, Hawaii Statehood-  Ali’i at Kauhale Makai Medal, sterling silver, 39 mm, proof

Hawaii the 49th State! 2M-391 (aka HK-722b So Called Dollar)

/ DrDarryl

I received my 2M-391 or better known as the Hawaii 4-9 error. This medal is also collected by So Called Dollar specialist and is known as HK-722b and has a R-6 Fuld rarity scale ranking (21 – 75 are estimated to exist).

“The 49th State” text is the error and was pulled from distribution. This one got away. If you review the So Called Dollar  reference book by Hibler and Kappen, you will see the 49 punched out and left with a gaping hole. My specimen is intact. There is also HK-722 and HK-722a with the same error (different metal composition) and their population is in the low single digits.

I am sad to say that my medal received a AU Details grade, however the 2M-391/ HK-722b NGC population remains at zero. My coin is disqualified in the population count as its classified as AU Details.

Still, this is the first 2M-391/ HK-722b  to be made publically available for viewing. So…feast your eyes!

As for the conservation effort by Numismatic Conservation Services, I’m happy in the results  as seen in the image below.

Image

New Discovery 2MS-4 (aka SC50C 1959 Hawaii Statehood Heraldic Art medal)

/ DrDarryl

2MS-4 is a thin variety of the 1959 Hawaii Statehood Heraldic Art medal. Its the size and thickness of a US half dollar and struck in sterling silver.  2MS-5 is the same medal,  but with an increased thickness as to change it dimension to comply with the desire of the US government.  This medal is collected by both the Hawaiiana specialist and  So Called 50 Cents (SC50C) specialist.

On the morning of  February 23, 2013, I was examining seven specimens (both 2MS-4 and 2MS-5) and made a discovery. I was improving my numismatic grading skill set by comparing different grades of the same medal. I posted this find on my twitter account that day. Both medals are NGC MS 68 graded/encapsulated (3511559-004 and 2782013-004 are the specific NGC certification identifiers).

That evening, I posted the two coins on eBay to fish for collectors inputs (price was set ridiculously high). Where better place to find the experts than one who is actively buying/selling?

I received confirmation by the so called SC50C experts that this was a new discovery. Imagine that. After 54 years, no one bothered to compare the exact same medals in their collection.

To located the shifting volcano:

1. Focus on the hula dancer’s head.

2. Locate where the volcano touches her head.

3. If the volcano touches her forehead, this is an original die.

4. If the volcano touches her chin, this is a re-worked die.

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Left is original die. Right is re-worked die.
Left is original die. Right is re-worked die.

Left medal has strong details (clouds, waves and volcanos). Volcano aligns with hula dancer’s forehead. Volcano’s slope is normal. Rightmost volcano has a steep incline.

Right medal has weak details (clouds, waves and volcanos). Volcano aligns  hula dancer’s chin. Volcano’s slope has a steeper incline . Rightmost volcano has gentle incline and has gained structure.  (This gained structure reflects a die was rework.)

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Right medal has lost details in the clouds, waves and volcanos.
Right medal has lost details in the clouds, waves and volcanos.

This is a cool  find and this discovery is  identified as:

  • THN-HAM-01, High Volcano , Original Obverse Die  of 1959 Hawaii Statehood SC50C, 31mm, unc
  • THN-HAM-02, Low Volcano, Reworked Obverse Die of 1959 Hawaii Statehood SC50C, 31mm, unc