VickySilver

Yes, I quite agree. I wonder if he can work with Chris on such a book, replete with as many illustrations as possible. I know just from this forum there would be quite a few sales. In fact I will speculatively reserve mine right now! LOL

There was a response to this query on the PCGS forum. I also think it has the appearances of 5 over 5.

OK, you guys are pushing me to go back and look at my copper pennies with magnification. If I find anything, I will report. Heretofore I had just pretty much left it to the 1860/59 and the 1858/2-3.....Excellent. I will report back with any findings.

Uggh, I hate thinking about such but mercifully only one: 1863 GEF Florin (ex- Mark Rasmussen list 2006 #10, item 270). Raw, not slabbed. This coin is of prohibitive rarity IMO, and is possibly worth multiples of purchase price. My ex-wife took it with her when she left and was not returned on divorce even though stipulated in decree. As I rather love currency Vicky, that one did hit me. I have a Record Proof, but would rather have the currency version. Photo in next post

Yes, that damn 1984 specimen set was grabbed immediately as I signed on within 10 minutes and it was GONE! The less rare 1984 Jamaica proof set is scarce but that seller is crazy on his prices and I do not buy from him. I once tried to even up trade one of my Barbados rarities straight across for a much more common Panama Balboa, and he wouldn't do that either... I do believe this sale of the 2002 proof set will go through as it is indicated as having shipped. I know it is an UGLY design, but it is quite scarce (Royal Mint will not give information but I believe less than 50 sets) and so was delighted to apparently get it - not counting chickens until hatched.

News!!: I believe that I have secured this 2002 Jamaica proof set. I will post when in hand....At long last. Now for the 1984 Jamaica Specimen Set from the Franklin Mint......

Here is the type of coin you can get on Ebay and the type that keeps hope alive: 1983 Franklin Mint Uncirculated Barbados $1 coin. Mintage 141. Price? 0.99 USD

My Best penny of the year, 1853 PT from Goldberg. I apologise for the pieplate pictures that need some help. This ended up at about 300 USD with all the fees and is one of the very nicest that I have seen recently. As they like to say about Morgan dollars, this has booming cartwheel lustre that is very hard to show. I took a video as these pictures don't show the amazing cartwheel lustre this coin has. In hand it appears much more striking (like the pun?). I have really tried to get better pictures, but this was all I could do with iPhone and natural light:

With all due respect, please do. "Sh - - happens". Thankfully it was not a big ticket coin. My best to the Both of you, and I mean it.

Ah, thanks. I just looked at the example on PCGS World Coin pops that is supposed to be 65? Yikes, both of mine clearly better - that coin is NOT acceptable at the grade given.

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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.