VickySilver

OK, I know I should find a picture for best effect (or be able to post it): Just bought a two coin Br. Honduras lot for USD13.20. In it was a 1954 50c that was usual crappy. The prize was a 1960 25c which is quite scarce to rare in higher (unc.) grades - it was really ugly with what could have been early verd. HOWEVER, the thing that struck me in pictures was that the rims were sharp (no, not a proof) and representative of what could be a nice unc. specimen. Not to mention a bunch of muck in the devices and lettering. Long story short, I cleaned it with ammonia - NO friction, just tamping with cotton buds - and then rinsed it well. Voila! I had what is likely an MS63 or 64 coin. As I had bought the Richard Stuart MS63 example for USD120 or so, this was quite a find. Really more about the difficulty of finding such more than the money. Perhaps I can email a reader and they can post pictures?? Sold Ebay item: 303634274564

Yes, there are a few false alarms here and there. A seller the other day had a set listed as 1984FM Jamaica specimen set and thought I had one of my "white whales"! Nope, it was a 1983 set....Scarce, but I have three already. LOL

I think they may not like the "halo" in the fields around KG5. Also, poor lustre - but as we know this is not the vintage for fabulous colour. I looked at the blowup on their site and think I might even have gone 61 or 2 with it. Nice coin. Please look up my specimen of this date on their site which got a ????61???? That was crazy and this for an "only known" specimen.

Yikes, micro-varietals on the rampage in this column! The good thing is something for everybody & don't have to be exhaustive....

PS - that on ebay is actually a year 2000, not the track and field (athletics) coin with a portly female sprinter on it...LOL

Good spot. Not sure what these are worth & have two of them. A portly runner there !

Ah thanks! Sadly, these are quite common compared to those I listed. Good Looking Out!!!

LOL, that is my take on many "types" - when is enough clear variance enough to make it a type? IMO many of the "dot" varietals are somewhat in the category of this one.

I see it listed at 200 sets. Are they like the RM, where often we see reported maximums as oppose to actual number sold - modern mints have an issue with this? The OP set 2002 Jamaica is listed as are all the other Jamaica sets from 1988-2001 at 500. These must be maximums because some are much scarcer than others. I suspect an original set limit is the first number, the number released another, the net number out to actual collectors (net after returns, losses, etc.) possibly entirely another.

Although good practice to calculate SG (and a minor pain in the ass). This coin fails on more important grounds, including those I have broached.

Ha, Tom. Good looking out! Have you found others since, and was that a set as released by a mint (which?). I am so glad to see others in similar hunts to myself and the search is quite entertaining, if sometimes without fruit for periods of time.

Good research, fellows! John Ford was able to put together very comprehensive collections in a time when it was a bit more possible on a "normal" person's budget....As opposed to that (IMHO) infernal Hansen fellow in the USA putting together a virtually complete collection of US coins on an unlimited budget as a BILIONAIRE. Easy come, easy go... I am not selling either of my 1882 (no H) Jamaica pennies as they were hard won.

I am not particularly concerned about SG on this coin as IMO it fails on other merits. I think it might actually be die struck but the counterfeit dies created by something similar to spark discharge - might be possible by computer guided laser?? There are many other details that are all wrong that I left out. If you enlarge the photo at all, you can see the roughness to the fields and devices and as mentioned the loss of critical detail in many areas.... In any case, although I love my Gothic florins would sadly have to reject this one. I was trying to be polite, so please excuse if I am not quite so.

Yes, good point. I am not sure established rarity scales of times past apply to top grade coins nowadays...This would be pennies as well as the silver series of Victoria. As far as the 1856 penny, I am not sure if I would rate either type as significantly scarcer as I have seen "streaks" of appearances of both.

I love a great Victorian florin as you may guess, but with all due respect that one looks a bit off. The surfaces, especially in the fields not quite right, nor are the decorations at the neck and shoulder margins of the gown. Hair detail also not quite correct IMO. The usual caveats apply, and we sorry viewers do not have the coin in hand. I. am quite suspect despite the weight. I would have it checked in hand by a local expert.

I know Ive heard a limerick with mancus before.....

Keep up the search; I am, but just can not find either this or the 1984FM Specimen Set.... I would say that I would extend to ALL Franklin Mint 1984 uncirculated coins in sets or not, with the exception of the 1984 FM Jamaica 20c, 25c, 50c which are available in the cobbled up Coins of the World cardboard sets that were part of a multi-national issuance by the Franklin Mint - most of those were from mints other than the Franklin Mint with Jamaica being an exception as stated. To any reading this with questions or coins possibly for sale, do contact me.

Yes, I haven't been too excited by the offerings either...

Craigy - is this yours? I also am a bit taken aback by the "newness" appearance.

No real update to speak of - I searched for coin shops and clubs in Jamaica and to no avail. If there are collectors down in Jamaica (Jammy) they are pretty quiet and understandably so. Not always the safest of places when money/coins/related are mentioned....No facebook groups there related to coins that I could find.

I do hope they will carry on with the auctions!

Yes, I think they did and always irritated me just a bit as it was nonsense.

Well, kind of.....LOL

Yes, quite average. I do like the English Lion and not the Scots one of this vintage shilling. Scots looking to be taking a dump or some such....