Royal Hawaiian Mint
X# 201 10 Liberty Dollars
Busy with work, but I’ve been acquiring specimens.
Initials “LB” on Royal Hawaiian Mint Issues
It took some time for me to figure this out (slaps forehead). I should have been more observant. The initials LB stand for designer Luigi Badia.
I know of two RHM products with his initials on the obverse.
1992 dated Princess Kaiulani 1/10 oz silver
1991 King Kalakaua Akahi Dala 1/oz silver
Here is a plaster model of the obverse die with the LB initials.
Princess Kaiulani: Side-by-Side Comparison of X# MB60 and Newly Identified Variety
I took a few comparison photographs of the two uncirculated gold 1991 Princess Kaiulani Akahi Crowns in my collection.
Both are absolutely stunning gold coins.
The X# MB60 is on the right and the undocumented version with First Day Issue counterstamp is on the left.
Planned 2015 Book Release: Royal Hawaiian Mint® Issues Relating to Princess Victoria Kaiulani
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.
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).
Wonderful News -Royal Hawaiian Mint Selling Previous Inventory
The Royal Hawaiian Mint is selling items of the past at their website. Its hard to believe that they are selling previous inventory. Enjoy the limited bonanza! Hope you have some deep pockets , there are quite a few previous issues being sold! (And its not cheap). Current RHM re-sellers are going into a mild recession…
http://www.royalhawaiianmint.com/
Update: 10:07 EST – After reviewing RHM inventory I picked up a few low mintage items. I was disappointed that only 2 gold items was being sold (1989 HSNA which I already have and undocumented 1996 1/20 oz)).
The AG Center Punch – Two Varieties
I’ve been examining the sterling silver Kamehameha I “with welt” that was issued by The Hawaiian Mint in 1975 and 1976. The two images are of coins in my collection.
What I have uncovered are two varieties of the AG center punch. The RHM database lists only one AG center punch for “with welt” issues. The Medcalf & Russell book does not reference any for the “with welt” issues.
If you read the description in the RHM database carefully it will make sense.
In the RHM database for the year 1976, 2MB-3, Kamehameha I -W, sterling, mintage 350. The description reads “…center punch has hand punched sterling”. What does it mean? The “center punch AG” has a “hand punch sterling”. Wait…can this be true?
Below is a sterling silver Kamehameha I “with welt”, with “AG” and “with sterling hand punch”. Notice the incomplete letters in “STERLING”.
Now compare it to the rare (only 6 struck) sterling silver Kamehameha I “with welt”, with “AG” and “NO sterling hand punch”.
The astute Hawaiiana collector should know how to spot the two AG varieties on the sterling silver Kamehameha I “with welt”.
Royal Hawaiian Mint – 1992 Gold Salute 1/20 Ounce
A matching purchase to the 1/10 ounce sister coin. This is the 1/20 ounce 1992 Gold Salute coin.
A scant mintage of 100 by the Royal Hawaiian Mint.
This makes up an interesting pre-NORFED Liberty head obverse design gold set
When is the Royal Hawaiian Mint Not the Royal Hawaiian Mint?
The title of this blog entry seems a bit confusing. Let me explain. I will be discussing a curious King Kalakaua coin that is being misrepresented as a Bernard von NotHaus’s Royal Hawaiian Mint issue. This misrepresentation also applies to a few other coins that I will point out at the end of this blog.
For the curious King Kalakaua coin. In 1969, Royal Hawaiian Coins Inc (of Honolulu, Hawaii) had a division named “Royal Hawaiian Mint”. Their issues are anodized aluminum with gold color. You will see a a “RHM” hallmark to the left of the King’s portrait and just above the left dot. These are tourist coins sold in decorative package for mailing. Below is an image of one (click to enlarge, click twice for max size) with packaging in rough shape. If you read the reverse, it provides a date and business name of the manufacturer as described earlier (Royal Hawaiian Coins Inc with a Royal Hawaiian Mint division).
This coin was also used in other decorative Hawaii items. Below is an image (click to enlarge, click twice for max size) of an inaugural 747 flight by Continental Airlines on June 26, 1970. If you carefully look at the coin, you will see the RHM hallmark above the left dot. Both the pre-packaged coin and the embedded coin are one in the same.
Now, if you look at the Medcalf & Russell book on page 134. A short history is provided about the mint names used by Bernard von NotHaus. In 1986, he re-organized and began to use the “Royal Hawaiian Mint” name.
Now you see the issue?
The Royal Hawaiian Mint of 1969 is not the same as The Royal Hawaiian Mint of 1986!
To further clear up the issue, look at the description of 2M-230 (page 115). The three images above are of 2M-230 (anodized aluminum with gold color). The above coins are not a product of Bernard von NotHaus.
To prevent confusion, the proper description a seller should be using is … “minted by the Royal Hawaiian Mint, a division of Royal Hawaiian Coins Inc”.
Now…to the other coins by the Royal Hawaiian Mint, a division of Royal Hawaiian Coins Inc.
Medcalf & Russel 2M-322 (Menehune Money), 2M-280 (Queen Liliuokalani), and and unlisted Princess Kaiulani. It just so happens an eBay seller has listed a set in their original packaging.
21 mm 18K Gold Proof Liliuokalani
How do you identify the date of this coin?
Reverse has the year 1986. 1986 is the year the reverse die was created.
This coin was issued in 1987. Mintage is low and its in a top grade tier. A very collectible Hawaiian proof gold coin.
Gold proof coins are highly desirable. Just look at the proof coins US Gold series.
