1977-1980 specimen crowns

[Gary D]

I,m looks for both the 1977 and 1980 specimen crowns. Spink quotes "Specimen in presentation folder" What am I looking for? I have the 1981 which comes in a cardboard fold out about 4"x6" . Are the two I'm looking for similar?

Gary

[Peter]

There are 3 1977 crowns

Currency and presentation folder are the same coins.

Normal proof (issued with the 1977 proof year set)

Silver proof (get it with the case of issue to insure its the silver one)

& 2 1980 crowns

Currency and presentation folder are the same coins.

Silver Proof

[Guest Guest]

Are I see, the 1981 in the presentation folder although similar to the circulation is of much brighter finish and scratch free, sort of proof like. You can see the difference if you hold the currency, specimen and proof side by side. I was hoping the 1977 and were the same. What does the 1977 & 1980 presetation folder look like?

[Unknown]

If it is what I think, it comes in a Blue box with a crown on the top and the date 6 FEBRUARY 1977 underneath.

Inside there is a small booklet telling you that is it a crown piece being issue in proof silver for the Queen's Silver Jubilee and it gives you a list of other 25 pence (rupees in Mauritius) coins available.

The coin itself is in a trasparent plastic holder and is resting in a red softy thingy and the coin is beatifull and shiny, I got it from Chris I think to remember... funny enough a friend of mine just gave me this week the same coin but in Nickel? as he bought it from the post office when it came out. He just had it in a drawer all this time and it comes in a plastic envelop with the outline of an eagle with 3 crowns inside it on the cover that closes the envelope.

[Guest Guest]

If it is what I think, it comes in a Blue box with a crown on the top and the date 6 FEBRUARY 1977 underneath.

Inside there is a small booklet telling you that is it a crown piece being issue in proof silver for the Queen's Silver Jubilee and it gives you a list of other 25 pence (rupees in Mauritius) coins available.

The coin itself is in a trasparent plastic holder and is resting in a red softy thingy and the coin is beatifull and shiny, I got it from Chris I think to remember... funny enough a friend of mine just gave me this week the same coin but in Nickel? as he bought it from the post office when it came out. He just had it in a drawer all this time and it comes in a plastic envelop with the outline of an eagle with 3 crowns inside it on the cover that closes the envelope.

No, that's the Silver Proof. The specimen is likely the version sold through the Royal Mint coin club. At least that's where I got my 1981 specimen.

[Gary D]

Rightl, logged in now, that's better.

Just to clarify, according to spink there are for the 4 E11 crowns.

1972

Currency

Proof is set

Silver Proof

1977

Currency

Specimen in presentation folder

Proof in set

Silver proof

1980

Currency

Specimen in presentation folder

Silver proof

1981

Currency

Specimen in presentation folder

Silver proof.

The 1981 specimen is quite distinguishable from the currency and I was hoping this held for the 1977 and 1980 specimens. Sort of proof like at least

[Unknown]

If it is what I think, it comes in a Blue box with a crown on the top and the date 6 FEBRUARY 1977 underneath.

Inside there is a small booklet telling you that is it a crown piece being issue in proof silver for the Queen's Silver Jubilee and it gives you a list of other 25 pence (rupees in Mauritius) coins available.

The coin itself is in a trasparent plastic holder and is resting in a red softy thingy and the coin is beatifull and shiny, I got it from Chris I think to remember... funny enough a friend of mine just gave me this week the same coin but in Nickel? as he bought it from the post office when it came out. He just had it in a drawer all this time and it comes in a plastic envelop with the outline of an eagle with 3 crowns inside it on the cover that closes the envelope.

No, that's the Silver Proof. The specimen is likely the version sold through the Royal Mint coin club. At least that's where I got my 1981 specimen.

Thanks, yes I was talking about the silver proof, sorry!

[Chris Perkins]

As far as I know, the Specimen ones were the same as the 'circulation' issues. Unless you call the issues in the small plastic cases specimens, which is probably what the book means. But they are indistinguishable.

Don't forget the wonderful Churchill Crown, and the 1960 and 1953, as well as the later ones (although they were all £5 coin type crowns).

[Gary D]

Yes, I suppose the specimens are the same as the currency but weren't they the first few off the new dies which were then carefully handled and sold as a higher grade than the later currencies like the 1935 specimen. I'm just trying to fill the last few gaps in my run of crowns. I've got everything from 1900 to 1981 the last 5/- apart from the VIPs and Matts, too many matts around lataly mmmm. The only other one which I need to tie down is the 1960. I purchased an exhibition piece recently only to find when I got it home that it is identicle to the one I already had, so now I'm not sure, perhaps my original is an exhibition also lol.

[Chris Perkins]

I very much doubt they went to all that effort with new dies, early strikings etc. Just try to get the most pristine examples you can and call it a day!

The 1960 Exhibition one is pretty prooflike but always usually bag marked. And it's common for people to have put normal ones in the plastic cases.

[kuhli]

I,m looks for both the 1977 and 1980 specimen crowns. Spink quotes "Specimen in presentation folder" What am I looking for? I have the 1981 which comes in a cardboard fold out about 4"x6" . Are the two I'm looking for similar?

Gary

Here is the 1980 carded crown. Similar to the 1990 £5.

edit to add: this is a picture given to me, I do not have the coin in hand. looking to get one someday, soon!

Edited December 15, 2005 by kuhli

[Geoff T]

I very much doubt they went to all that effort with new dies, early strikings etc. Just try to get the most pristine examples you can and call it a day!

The 1960 Exhibition one is pretty prooflike but always usually bag marked. And it's common for people to have put normal ones in the plastic cases.

Yes, there are two 1960 crowns. They are identical in design but one was struck from polished dies and looks somewhat prooflike. I think I'm right in saying that these were the ones struck here and sent to New York. The intention was to strike them in situ but it wasn't allowed, hence the need to strike them here. The unsold ones were returned loose, which is why you almost always find some bag marks on them.

The reverse is identical to the 1953 crown except for the date.

G

[Geoff T]

edit to add: this is a picture given to me, I do not have the coin in hand. looking to get one someday, soon!

Over here they're almost as common as Churchills, albeit usually unboxed. I can always pick one up for you.

G

2005 issues are on there way.