Honolulu Mint

Part 3: New Hawaii Error Identified (Honolulu Mint)

/ DrDarryl

Currently, only two GOLD errors are known (serial # 2023 and #2119). Check your coins and let me know what you find…The serial # is on the COA and not on the coin.

Serial # 2119 was first sold on eBay back in 2011.  I recently purchased Serial #2119 in September 2014.

Serial #2023. I also recently acquired Serial 2023 in September 2014.

Here are known Serial # of  the correct silver version

59, 580, 993, 1073, 1232, and 5044.

5044? Yes, I checked the serial# of a  coin already in my collection. I also have another without COA. The coin without a COA  is in a different capsule.

The question now. Did The Honolulu Mint catch the error and only let a few slip into their inventory or did they strike coins for the life of the die?

Based on my findings I say that they caught the error and had a few slipped into their inventory.  I located 18 sales of the SILVER variety and only 3 sales of the GOLD variety (counting the two sales of serial #2119).

Images of the four coins in my collection.

gs2

gs1

Previous blog entry  Part 2 https://thehawaiiananumismatist.com/2014/09/15/part-2-new-hawaii-error-identified/

Previous blog entry Part 1 https://thehawaiiananumismatist.com/2014/09/13/part-1-new-hawaii-error-identified/

The Honolulu Mint: King Kalakaua Gold & Silver Coins

/ DrDarryl

I’m still investigating/documenting the coins from The Honolulu Mint. Here are some preliminary findings.

There is a 22 mm  KALAKAUA MOI O HAWAII coin struck in both gold and silver.

The gold coin is 7 grams (0.25 oz) and 24 KT gold.

The silver coin is 16 grams (0.564 oz) and 0.999 fine silver. The coin is thick.

Both share the same obverse. Both are dated 1886. A distinction can be seen in the lettering with some of the letter bases touching one another. The two stars on each side of the date is another distinction of these coins (from the other mints).

Both reverse differ as the images shows.

The gold coin uses the same reverse as the Queen Liliuokalani coin I mentioned in a blog a few days ago. The silver coin has the ‘Iolani Palace as the main design element and with the dates 1836 – 1891 (birth year and year of passing of King Kalakaua). The King’s motto ” Ho`oulu Lāhui” is placed above the palace. The silver coin reverse has no “SL” initials nor any other markings indicating it was struck by The Honolulu Mint.

 

goldKing

kingobkingrev

 

 

Kamehameha I “with Welt” from The Hawaiian Mint

/ DrDarryl

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.

.dot

 

Below is an image without my yellow markings and shows the welt.

Click to super enlarge.

Kamehameha welt

 

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).

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.

 

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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.

The Honolulu Mint – Endangered Species Series (designated as THN-THM-ESXX series)

/ DrDarryl

There is a Hawaiian Endangered Species series that was issued by The Honolulu Mint.

The Honolulu Mint series is not well documented for the the Hawaiian specialist. This is good for some collectors (those who know can buy the series specimens at low prices), but bad for the whole Hawaiian coin collecting community (they are not really known, so collectors tend to shy away from them).

Below is the Nene Goose from the series. It comes in a booklet with the coin visible from both sides. The holder is well made and provides interesting facts about the the Nene Goose and the coins. It also functions as a COA. The coin is 27mm in diameter. This coin was issued in 2001.

Note that it was sold at the Bishop Museum (see the sticker). The selling price is also listed. Portion of the sale is to be donated to help protect the Nene Goose. It can be surmised that this series is  limited issued.

(click image to enlarge)

nenef

neneb

Here are a few other species in the collection series.

hm1

hm2

hm3

hm4

hm5

hm6

More information about this series can be read at The Honolulu Mint website…

http://www.storesonline.com/site/580760/page/133037

http://www.storesonline.com/site/580760/page/133034

The series is cataloged here as  THN-THM-ESXX

THN = The Hawaiian Numismatist

THM= The Honolulu Mint

ES=Endangered Species

XX = Unique Identifier

  • THN-THM-ES01 – Dolphin
  • THN-THM-ES02 – Green Sea Turtle
  • THN-THM-ES03 – Humpback Whale
  • THN-THM-ES04 – Humuhumunukunukuapua’a
  • THN-THM-ES05 –  I’iwi
  • THN-THM-ES06 – Monk Seal
  • THN-THM-ES07 – Moorish Idol
  • THN-THM-ES08 – Nene Goose

 

The Honolulu Mint also states that:

“An Exclusive, Limited Edition Collectible Coin Set
The Honolulu Mint offers a limited edition of the Hawaiian wildlife endangered species coin collection in a .999 pure silver one ounce coin; deluxe sets of .999 pure gold one ounce coin with two .999 pure silver one ounce coins. All coins are proof-minted quality with a certificate of authenticity.”

If you have images of these coins Please provide me images to aid in cataloging this series. Thank you.

The ESXX series may expand  by 16 (8 – 1 oz silver coins and 8 – 1 oz gold coins). It will depend on the gold/silver deluxe set combination(s).