VickySilver

LOL

Stacks-Bowers has just sold a "Churchill" crown of the expected 1965 date, except struck with two obverse dies and evidently not doctored or messed with. So, two QE II effigies and none of Churchill. Grade appeared to be at lower mint state levels - maybe a 63 in the Sheldon scheme. Has anyone seen/heard of one of these? Price? $2880 USD

And as careful as I try to be, I have had proofs to deteriorate as far as surface toning or loss of original copper "red". The worst example is what was a completely red and original 1926 ME that now would have to be characterized as "Red and Brown". Still well struck and one of the finest, but just not all there the way it was 15 or so years ago.

Pete, you know, I am in the same place as you. I guess that I was a borderline fanatic at one time. If it was a rare DATE penny or milled silver 1830-1970 rarity, I was on it. Now, a bit of a ho-hummer. At one time the upcoming Spink Waterbird Sale would have really gotten a charge out of me, and now I am just a bit interested . I suspect many of us have a mild version of the malady as well. Anyway, again I like looking at this marvelous 1926ME and Richard's evidently photographic memory. Maybe I need to look again on his site at the '26ME's. Cheers, gents (and ladies)!

Better lustre? Wow, that would be nice. I really like coins such as this that are not "micro-varietals", rare and beautiful! Wish I could post mine also...It is the one on the PCGS site for 1926RB (MS65).

Yes, I think that the made-to-order was SOP for them. I don't know what happened to the extras and would like to know. About 3 years ago, I got from England on eBay.uk the Jamaica matte unc. 1975 and 1977 dollars which had recorded mintages of 27 and 28, but had in 40 years NEVER seen one on offer at shows, internet or printed...And this includes many that have specialized in such material. As they were made in CuNi (essentially pot metal) and really huge with very little face value they may have been tossed by the Central Bank. It is possible that the leftovers were put into circulation like the 1984 FM PL Trinidad 50c - I have never seen one word uttered or printed about any specimen set from this year and do not recall it being advertised. The Jamaica 1984 FM Specimen set was advertised for a short period of time in the Gleaner (a major newspaper there) but have not seen other reference except two Eastern European sources!

Interesting point there, were any of the PNG FM coins circulated at all? The 1995 PNG 100K was actually struck by the FM even after it's "demise" in 1985. Not sure how that happened - these are quite rare.... Interestingly, at Downies some years ago I purchased the holdings of a former PNG Central Bank ?Director? that included ALL of the matte uncirculated 1975-1977 1t - 10K coins with multiples of the smaller denominations; many of these I had slabbed and were of MS66-67 calibre. As far as circulation, I got about 6 months ago a Trinidad and Tobago 1984FM 50c in Unc. but that had obviously been at least in a bag if not lightly circulated - it had certainly not originated in a mint specimen set (which are unknown in any case). Also, many of the Belize issues 1c-50c from the FM show some signs of circulation, a lot in the case of the 1c pieces.

Yea, that is good - kind of taken off of Heritage. thanks to them at least for that.

I had a GEF specimen at one time, and wife on leaving me took it - have not replaced it since...Boo hoo.... I did get a proof specimen but would readily trade it for the currency.

IMHO, most bidders don't fully take into account all the "extras" in fees, VAT, etc. when they bid and just suck it up as more expense.

Indeed, the grading optimistic as well....

Hi T, Well, thanks for that which as far as Solomon Islands go, jibes with what I have seen. The FM "Coins of all Nations" are indeed uncirculated pieces put together by the Franklin Mint, some after their demise as a minting facility but have not been reassembled by anyone else (these include both FM and other sourced coins). Interestingly, they can be a source of scarcer bits. One example are the sets that include Jamaica 1984 issues - these include the 1984 FM proof like uncirculated 20c, 25c, and 50c bits that otherwise would be unknown. What I have been unable to sort out is just what they (the FM) did with uncirculated strike issues, both with the 1975-77 matte type uncirculated, and the 1978-84 PL uncirculated strikes. I believe, but can not prove that they sent off a small mintage besides those in the 78-84 specimen sets and sent these to the central banks; what then became of them I do not believe anybody else has sorted out. Thus I was able to get a Trinidad & Tobago 1984FM Proof like (U) 50c that had obvious bag marks and had not been part of a specimen set - indeed none are known from this year from T&T. Also, the 1984FM Barbados 25c, $1, $5 and $10 PL (U) coins. The T&T I got for a princely sum including shipping of $3.59 USD! That for an otherwise upublished coin.... Another intriguing bit: from a Brit eBay seller three-four years ago I got Jamaica matte unc. 1975 and 1977FM $10 coins at a total of 23 USD and these for coins of mintages in the 27-28 range - I have never seen these before or since.... Anyway, I have written this down for you and all who care to read about it and willl respond on these boards or to PMs.... PS - I have been trying to get a 1995 Papua New Guinea Proof 100k coin - have you seen such or have a line on such a coin?

I agree, really did not see but maybe 1/2 or less of the usual....

Does anyone know of the vendor, let alone the contents aside from the E8 penny and the 1808? it was my understanding that there are to be half crowns and crowns as well, perhaps 200 or more milled specimens.

What would be your commentary on the scarcer bits of those islands? I have a few & the Solomon FM mint sets 1977-83....

Bull? On holiday now so can't check. Some of Bull I have reservations about - I would think such a report would have to have some form of confirmation. I hate having [now new] nightmares about 20th C. half crowns I DON'T HAVE!

As an admitted addict to the Franklin Mint coins of the 70s and [moreso] the 80s, I have noted that these are very difficult to obtain on occasion. The 1976 coins were mainly released to collectors in proof format, but a scant few were sent to the Central Bank in Valetta. Original mintage of the matte UNCIRCULATED 50c was 150 specimens, and the matte UNCIRCULATED 25c was all of 300. These evidently were bagged up and distributed with coins of like design struck by the Royal Mint (of both previous and later years), and at least with the one each I have gotten were not saved in any special way. I believe that the smaller issues were struck to like numbers but have not seen them - one mil is a very small coin, even for Malta. Then there are the specimen sets that were struck between 1977 and 1982, with mintages in the 252-850 range in the case of the latter. Interestingly, it seems to be rather scarcer than the earlier sets even though the mintage is higher... There are no silver coins in this set, only aluminum, bronze and copper nickel, so maybe like the currency bits that the FM struck for other countries, they may have just languished in vaults, and destroyed or maybe still in those vaults. As it has been well over 30 years since they were issued, it is difficult to tell - only that these are scarce bits...

On the other hand, what is there to lose if the price is low enough? I think the usual attack would be correct: mild detergent with lots of water and NO abrasion; then go with the acetone - I use the gentle cotton bud application with possible repeat applications & then followed by the aforementioned suds and water. This looks to be a chloride/PVC conglomeration on the surface and have used dilute ammonia to some effect on these before, but not before trying the other methods out... PS - I do not subscribe to the "infective" capacity of such reaction as the conditions that caused it must be there for subsequent coin(s) to develop their own versions....

Would it bother you if the US Mint were to begin trading in the classics, buying and selling in competition with other dealers? I guess we could make all the National Mints participate in the primary and secondary markets, manipulate it as they please with the backing of their governments. I would rather them stick to their own business of minting coins, and go ahead and make their monies from that enterprise.

Interestingly, even with the poor pictures, I think I can see an EF40 on this coin - HOWEVER it was very poorly struck. Please look at the rims and denticles as well as the fields (as best you can see). That would be a technical grade. I certainly would skip on it, that having been said.

Or E over R, wow, that is a nice catch there! I'm not a farthing nut but rather like this one; again, excellent spot there.

The PCGS one is die #88, have to find the NGC which is not with the rest??

Sorry, mine are in SDB but one each has been graded by NGC and PCG at AU55. Mine is pictured on the PCGS site when you look under population census; I got them so long ago I don't remember where they came from....

Hazard a guess as to price reached? I would have to guess that despite the results of the 1952 penny that this may go 200k??

Nice work Ashtonian. I have two 1879 London half sovs so will check on them later tonight for die numbers. What is the best you have seen, mine are both gEF...