Weekly World Numismatic News for March 3, 2019
Royal Mint’s 26 Alphabet 10p Coins
Image courtesy of the Royal Mint
This is not to say these publications are wrong, but they are prone to hyperbole and exaggeration. Take for example the story “Two million RARE 10p coins enter circulation – get one here” that was posted to the Daily Star’s website this past week.
The title refers to the release of Royal Mint’s “The Great British Coin Hunt of 2019.” Using the same designs as last year, the Royal Mint will place into circulation 10 pence coins with 26 designs representing the letters of the alphabet.
The Great British Coin Hunt started last October with the weekly release of several coins at a time until 2.4 million were placed into circulation. As part of the program, collectors can purchase a special folder from the Royal Mint (£9.90 or about $13.10) or other items to help people collect the coins. The Royal Mint also sells uncirculated 10p coins for £2 each.
If you think that the U.S. Mint overcharges for their products, 10p is worth about 13-cents at the current exchange rate and £2 is about $2.65. Does packaging and other expenses cost $2.52 per coin?
But to call 2.4 million coins rare may a bit of an exaggeration.
Or is it?
If each coin has the same circulation, that means there will be about 92,000 coins per letter. Since the United Kingdom’s population is around 66 million people, that means only one-tenth of one percent of the people can collect these coins.
Maybe the tabloids are not wrong calling 2 million coins “rare!”
And now the news…
February 25, 2019From dark designs mourning the dead, to figures celebrating military accomplishments and well-known buildings, Roman coins held by the Otago Museum… 
→ Read more at odt.co.nz
February 26, 2019Originally posted on http://www.1007sandiego.com/story/40029522/a-story-of-honor-the-curious-history-of-military-challenge-coins If you’re a member of the United States military,… → Read more at kxxv.com
February 26, 2019FRESHLY minted collectable 10p coins are being released this month — and they have a “quintessentially British” theme including tea and fish and chips. → Read more at dailystar.co.uk
February 27, 2019THE ROYAL MINT have announced that they are set to release 26 new designs of 10 pence coins, for its 2019 Great British Coin Hunt collection. → Read more at express.co.uk
February 28, 2019If you lost a coin in Montreal’s west end, there’s a good chance it was picked up by Young S. New. But he didn’t slip that coin in his pocket with the intent of spending it on himself — he picked it up so he could give it away. → Read more at cbc.ca
February 28, 2019The nine British bullion coins were discovered by chance after being hidden near Allington Castle in Kent. Detectives have launched an appeal to return the hoard to its rightful owner. → Read more at dailymail.co.uk
Happy New Year Canada!
I have a modest collection of Canadian coins. Nothing special. Just some circulating coins and Silver Maple Leaf bullion coins. So when I received a note about the release of new Maple Leaf coins, I thought that it was just another alternative Mapel Leaf from the Royal Canadian Mint. The RCM has a lot of products for collectors that seems a bit too much. I limit my purchases to silver Maple Leaf coins and circulating coins.
When I finally read my email, it was from a Canadian dealer announcing the availability of 2007 Maple Leaf coins. Like any good consumer I went to the RCM website to check the prices there, but found no 2007 coins listed. After visiting the websites of a few other Canadian dealers to find they were advertising 2007 coins, I called the one who sent the original note. It was explained to me that the RCM has minted and delivered limited number of “popular” collectibles to dealers to help boost sales with the holiday season coming. The RCM will post these coins for sale online in November.
This dealer had both the 2007 one ounce gold and silver Maple Leaf and the special 2006-2007 season coins commemorating Canadian hockey teams. These coins carry the 2007 date. He was expecting more coins later this week.
So to all our Canadian friends, Happy New Year!
Winding Down the US Mint Numismatic Year
With the exception of the South Dakota State Quarter, the US Mint will not be introducing any more new coins this year. The Mint still has yet to deliver the uncirculated American Eagle coins with the “W” mint mark, the Greetings from America partnership products with the US Postal Service, and the San Francisco Old Mint Commemorative coins. All this from a mint that produces more coins and medals than any other production facility in the world!
While we wait for the release of these product, this gives us time to look to next year. With the Westward Journey Nickel Series ending this year, the design that appears in your change today will continue into the future. The five states honored in the 50 State Quarters® program are Montana, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah. There will be one more year of State Quarters in 2008.
Coming in 2007 will be the start of the Presidential $1 Coin Act. Beginning in 2007, the Mint will issue one dollar coins commemorating the past Presidents of the United States, four presidents per year (for more information see my article The Presidential $1 Circulating Commemorative). The presidents featured in 2007 will be George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. Also being featured on their own ten dollar gold commemorative are the First Ladies Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, Martha Jefferson, and Dolley Madison.
For the fans of commemorative coins, 2007 will bring the Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Program honoring the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown Settlement. For more on this program, see my article Commemorating 400 Years of Living in America.
It will be interesting to see how the Mint presents these programs. One prediction will be the continuation of the First Day Coin Covers as part of the Presidential $1 Coin series. Stay tuned!
Canadian Counterfeiters Caught
A friend sent an article from Canadian Broadcast Company website entitled RCMP find fake coin factory near Montreal. The story claims that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Quebec Police “have broken up a highly sophisticated counterfeit ring that was manufacturing fake loonies and toonies”
For those who do not collect or use Canadian money, loonie; is the nickname of the Canadian one dollar coin. The name was adopted because the reverse of the coin has an image of the common loon. The toonie is the nickname of the Canadian two dollar coin as being worth “two loonies.”
The RCMP said that this is the first time that they have seen a counterfeit coin ring in Canada and worry about the number of coins that have been placed in circulation. It is being reported that the quality of the coins are so good that it may be difficult for the ordinary consumer to tell the difference between the real and fake coins.
It would be interesting to have a copy of these coins as a collectible. If you have one of these loonies or toonies, and can verify that they are counterfeit, I will pay US$10 (total, plus postage) for one of each of the fake coins plus a real 2006 loonie and toonie. Package them as tokens and numismatic collectible that are not to be used as currency to satisfy customs requirements. Contact me to make arrangements.
Pricing Controversy for the 20th Anniversary Eagle Set
Since the release of the new Twentieth Anniversary American Eagle coins, a lot of collectors are expressing disappointment with the US Mint for the pricing of the Gold and Silver Set. The Mint’s online catalog lists the set that contains one ounce each of the uncirculated American Eagle gold and silver coins with the “W” mint mark in a specially made box and certificate of authenticity for $850. This would not be bad a bad price except that the one ounce uncirculated gold American Eagle is selling for $720 and the uncirculated silver American Eagle for $19.95. These individual coins will be delivered in their own commemorative case with certificates of authenticity.
For $739.95, or $110.05 under the price for a set, collectors can purchase the individual coins in their own display cases rather than the two coin set. The numismatic media is reporting that collectors are canceling orders for the set and placing orders for the individual coins. However, there are reports that the Mint is near a sell-out for this set!
Interestingly, the three coin gold set sold out within the first few hours after it went on sale for $2,610. The gold and silver set has not sold out. Can the slow sales be a result of the over $100 “premium?” Some that I have spoken with said that a $10-$20 premium would have been fair.
While considering the prices, one can only wonder if the price is not a typing error that has not been corrected? Maybe the set should be priced $750 but wrongly entered by someone who thought “this cannot be right!” What do you think?
Uncircluated Eagles with W Mint Mark are on Sale
As of noon today, the US Mint started selling the uncirculated American Eagle coins with the W mint mark. According to the Mint’s online catalog site, the coins will be shipped on November 13, 2006.
I ordered five silver coins online just after noon with no problems. You can also place your order by telephone at 800-USA-MINT (800-872-6468).
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