• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

TheHawaiianaNumismatist

Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    30

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Journal Entries posted by TheHawaiianaNumismatist

  1. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    US Mint series uncovered after over 5 decades of being hidden...
    I've been receiving many emails relating to family numismatic heirlooms as it relates to President Eisenhower appreciation medals. This is the most recent.
     
     
     
    See the image for her question and my visual answer.

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  2. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    Did you know that several medals were struck in 1959/1960 to commemorate Hawaii's admission as the 50th state to the Union?
    As part of Hawaii's admission as the 50th state to the United States of America, several medals were stuck in celebration during the years 1959 (statehood) and 1960 (50th star added to US flag). Many of these medals have low mintage numbers. There are 5 medal design types that expands to 22 variants.
    Each of these Hawaii statehood medals are also collected in other numismatic specialties such as: so called dollars, so called half-dollars, Alaska Statehood, and statehood medals.
    These other specialties areas increases the demand and drives the prices higher due to their minuscule mintage numbers.
    http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/wcm/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=9345
    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  3. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    Still waiting for a reply...
    To make a long story short:
    1. On 09/06/15 I asked about the grading and encapsulation of a silver Hawaiian medal. Two gold version were encapsulated by NGC and can be seen at the Ira & Larry Goldberg Sept. 7, 2009 auction.
     
    2. I provided supporting documentation from an ANA Periodical (June 1960) that the silver version and gold version were designed and manufactured by Precious Medals Hawaii (original designer amd manufacturer).
    3. This is the orginal NGC reply "Thanks for your question. At this time, NGC does not grade items minted by the Royal Hawaiian mint."
    4. My rebuttal (I recommend that every save a copy of messages exchanged with NGC):
    1) Medals shown are not a product of the Royal Hawaiian Mint. They are a product of Precious Medals Hawaii (PMH). PMH has no affiliation with the Royal Hawaiian Mint. The PMH hallmark can be plainly seen on the bottom reverse (on both the gold and silver medals)
    2) The 1980 American Numismatic Association clipping provides an accurate pedigree of the original manufacturer, Precious Medals Hawaii.
    3) Medals struck by Precious Medals Hawaii have been previously graded/encapsulated by NGC so these medal are not setting a precedence of being the first.
    4) As shown ( Ira & Larry Goldberg Auctioneers catalog dated September 7, 2009), two Precious Medals Hawaii gold medals were graded/encapsulated by NGC.
    5) I perceive a preferential treatment toward large auction houses in getting "esoteric" type medals graded/encapsulated with my example of the Ira & Larry Goldberg Auctioneers catalog dated September 7, 2009. Is this true?
    6) NGC does grade several Royal Hawaiian Mint issues as identified by their Krause numbers as indicated in their book title Unusual World Coins. Was this recently changed?
    7) Several medals listed in the Medcalf & Russell book, Hawaiian Money Second Edition, are in fact Royal Hawaiian Mint issues. If not all items listed in the Medcalf & Russell book do not qualify to be graded/encapsulated, I recommend that you put a note on your webpage that states this fact.
    8) Was my original question actually forwarded to a grader that specializes with medals from Hawaii?
    9) As a non-paying NGC member (I'm using my ANA membership to get items encapsulated/graded), I would like items 1 through 7Should I contact the ANA to notify them that clarification from their perspective
    Today is 11/7/2015 and I have not seen a updated reply to me.

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  4. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    Delineating Hawaiian numismatics between World and US listings
    NGC classifies coins, tokens and medals in the Medcalf & Russell reference (Hawaiian Money Standard Catalog) as "World Coins".
    However, in checking the online NGC World Coin Census there are no United States selection or Hawaii selection. I would have expected the Hawaii coins, tokens and medals to be listed here as they are classified as "World Coins"
    In addition, if you check the online NGC US Coin Census, NGC only lists the Kingdom of Hawaii coinage. Very strange listing since the Kingdom of Hawaii was never part of the US.
    Hawaii lesson:
    Hawaii was its own country as Kingdom of Hawaii, Provisional Government of Hawaii and Republic of Hawaii. It became part of the US as Territory of Hawaii and later State of Hawaii.
    Stopping the confusion ...
    Coins, medals, tokens prior to June 15, 1898 should be listed under "World Coins" (Hawaii was not part of the US until June 15, 1898).
    Coins, medals, tokens dated June 15,1898 and later should be listed under "US Coins".
    This sets a solid boundary in what is "World Coin" vs "US Coin" as it relates to Hawaiian numismatics.
    I took the following panoramic picture of Manana Island (aka Rabbit Island) on December 3, 2012 while vacationing on Oahu.

  5. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    1 of 6 possible "First Day Ceremony" sets to be permanent part of National Park museum ...
    If you read my previous journal entry titled "I Was There!"...
    The coin set mentioned has been NGC submitted for a "First Day Ceremony" designation. After correspondences and telephone calls to NGC, it was agreed that these coins will be designated as "First Day Ceremony"(they could have easily obtained a "First Release" or "Early Release" designation). I believe this is the first and only Star-Spangled commemorative 4-coin set to seek the "First Day Ceremony" pedigree.
    The "First Day Ceremony" pedigree is established with authenticated paperwork from the US Mint and The Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission obtained during the Release Day celebration. US Mint reported that their gold inventory at the ceremony was a scant 16 gold coins (all sold within the first hour).
    My intent for obtaining the "First Day Ceremony" designation is to provide a historical gift donation to the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. I was among the first in the nation to purchase these coins from the US Mint sales at their launch ceremony held at the Fort (this launch ceremony sale occurred before the 12 noon online sale on March 5th, 2012).
    These Maryland-themed coins highlight the Star-Spangled Banner, Fort McHenry and the War of 1812. I was honored to be present at the Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin Release Day Ceremony.
    The curator at the Fort's museum is delighted in the pending donation and await the NGC designated/graded coins.
    I'm even more delighted that "my coin set" will have a permanent home in the Fort's museum collection and enjoyed by all who visit Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine.

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  6. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    What a find!
    I review auction listings periodically and scan for items of interest to add to my collection. Two weeks ago, I found a very interesting listing. The seller did not know exactly what they were selling (as stated in the listing) and was not able to locate any information about his item.
    My "cherry picker" curiosity kicked in. I reviewed the wording in the auction listing and its pictures multiple times. The information provided was sparse and the low quality pictures were not that revealing.
    I checked my trusty collector catalog. There was a single sentence that subtly mentioned this mysterious auction item. There were no pictures in the catalog (of this item), just a single sentence. I re-reviewed the auction listing pictures and noticed the miniscule details. What I saw in the low quality pictures was now being revealed to me based on that single sentence from my trusty collector catalog.
    I began to search the internet with this partial set of usable information. I found two additional references about this item. I located a previous realized price (with a very helpful description) from a major auctioneer and a blog entry by a medal specialist describing this curious item. With this newly found information in-hand, I placed a conservative bid for the item at the auction.
    One week ago, I watched the auction final minutes with cautionary anticipation. I bumped up my secret high bid as a safety net. I was expecting a bidding war because I knew the rarity of this item. The bidding war never materialized. I was ecstatic that I won the auction well below my secret high bid.
    The item that I won is called by several different names: production sample set, progression set, production run set or process set. The focus of this set is the high relief 1959 Official Hawaii Statehood medal. It showcases the five stages of this high relief medal production effort with an actual medal from each of the stages. This set contains a blank planchet, medal after first strike, medal after second strike, medal after third strike and completed medal (obverse and reverse).
    My trusty collector catalog (Hawaiian Money 2nd edition, 1991, by Medcalf & Russell, page 100) states that only 30 such sets were produced and this set showed the 5 stages in the production life of the high relief Official Hawaii Statehood medal.
    Two items that tipped me off that this was a "process set" were: 1) Design details became sharper and crisper on each proceeding strike. 2) The circumference of the medal became larger (extra medal beyond the rim expands outward on each proceeding strike (high relief medals are not struck with a collar). The excess metal beyond the rim is later trimmed.
    Days after the auction ended, I found an exact set sold at Stack's September 2006 auction. I was surprised to find out that each of the three struck medals is uniface. The 2006 auction listing is http://preview.outside-affiliatelinksnotallowed.com/bruou54
    This "process set" is extremely nice and rare addition to my Hawaiiana collection.
    To be continued with Part 2 (set has been received; I'm studying it and will document/share my findings).
    Picture is from the 2006 auction (I believe it's the medal after the third strike).

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  7. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    I don't want to regurgitate so I must create!
    I use the heading "Numismatic Detective" with the condition that what I document is new information that I created, derived or is missing in numismatic reference books or periodicals. I try not to "regurgitate" all my information that was previously documented by other numismatic sources. Why?
    I was once given an example by a professor. Three college students were given a blank piece of paper and told to take notes during the guest lecture. The first student (undergraduate) handed in the paper. It was simply regurgitation of information from the speaker. The second student (graduate student) handed in the paper. It was reasoning and explaining of the presented information. The third student (doctorate student) handed in the paper. It was questioning the validity of information and it provided new information above and beyond was the guest lecture had presented.
    Hmmmm... regurgitated, explained and new ...Three perspectives...Three writing styles....
    The reason for this journal entry is twofold:
    1. I updated my custom set description with "New" information that will enlighten all readers. The intent is to make this set a numismatic resource, not simply a collection of numismatic items.
    http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/wcm/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=12054
    2. News that after 75 days, two Mint State specimens for this custom set have been encapsulated graded and on their return trip to their newly prepared upgrade position within the custom set.
    To my knowledge, the image below is the first NGC mint state example for the 1941-Dated Remember Pearl Harbor medal.

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  8. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    Thick vs Thin => re-discovered error
    I received 11 encapsulated medals/coins back from NGC. Of particular interest is the 1959 Hawaii Statehood SC50C Thick (aka Heraldic Art Medal). This so called 50 cent Thick variety has a mintage of 1,200 (while the Thin variety has a mintage of 4,600). The Thin was illegally made the same thickness as a standard silver half dollar.
    I examined my newly arrived MS 68 Thick with my MS 68 Thin. I found that my Thick variety had a 180 degree rotated reverse.
    I did a quick check with other Thick Hawaii Statehood SC50C within the NGC registry. I found one with the rotated reverse. I did also checked a few NGC graded Thick Hawaii Statehood SC50C on eBay and found a normal reverse.
    After more internet searching, I found a SC50C website. At the website was a page that documented known SC50C errors. I found a listing for my Thick.
    I now must pencil in and correct my copy of the Hawaiiana Numismatist's "bible" (Hawaiian Money Standard Catalog 2nd Edition, by Medcalf & Russell) with this missing error (for 2MS-5).
    With this re-discovered find, the number of Hawaii Statehood Medal varieties has increased to 22.

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  9. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    Ugh..a table!
    http://goo.gl/VcIZ5o
    Copy and paste the above path
    I just completed adding a table to another custom set. Not as tough as I thought.
    I added some original US government images and information never presented to the public before.
    More work to be done....
    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  10. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    Seller uses my research ...
    I was searching the numismatic listing at an auction website (eBay) and found a "Remember Pearl Harbor" medal (I call it a medal due to its listing in the 2nd edition of Hawaiian Money).
    I noticed several key words used by the seller from my previous NGC journal entries relating to this medal.
    The terms include "Pocket Coin", "The Medal Arts Co" (word "The" is not normally used as its missing on the medal", "69 days" (estimated days between attack and advertisement for "pocket coins", and finally claiming its the first Pearl Harbor "commemorative" (numismatic material in remembrance of the Pearl Harbor attack, entry of the US into WWII and to seek vengeance on this act of war).
    As update to my previous Remember Pearl Harbor medal journal entries. I submitted 11 medals for NGC grading (3 have undergone NCS conservation). Each are now awaiting NGC grading and encapsulation. I estimate that I should receive the medals in mid December.
    My dad is a US Army World War II veteran. He was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal. The three medals are in the photo. He was also awarded the Honorable Service Lapel Button World War II and the Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar.
    Pretty cool to say that my dad is a WWII veteran (he is still alive). What is remarkable about him is that he is of Filipino ethnicity and born/raised in the Territory of Hawaii.

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  11. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    Newly documented Presidential Award medals ...
    Seems interest has been sparked with the release of my latest book:
    Authoritative Numismatic Reference: Presidential Medal of Appreciation Award Medals 1958-1963, ISBN 1511786744.
    Even the American Numismatic Association Facebook page has posted a link to the COINWeek write-up....

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  12. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    Existing format was boring ...
    I looked at my custom set and saw an issue. The set listing looked like a webpage full of words without any formatting.
    I modified the set by: adding a video, adding paragraph headers, adding ordered list, adding url links, and modified the text (bold and italics).
    More work remains...
    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  13. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    A recent 50c acquisition to my collection ...
    The image is a coin I recently purchased. It's a so-called 50c, 1959 silver Hawaii Statehood, thin variety (illegally made the same thickness as a US 50c piece). Purchased at a reasonable price...

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  14. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    Oh my ...
    So...
    I was looking for other HK-548 Hawaii Statehood so-called dollars on the internet. I Googled and explored my hits. Then I started to Google images. I took a double take on the NGC certification number on a image hit. I compared it with the eBay image I captured on my recent purchase and it was an exact match! This HK-548 used to be on a dealer's inventory in Virginia Beach. I bought this coin from an Austin, Texas resident on eBay.
    The HK-548 arrived today (that was fast...I won/paid for it this past Wednesday). Picture to the left is my picture. The picture to the right is from the internet (with the previous coin dealer name/logo removed).

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  15. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    I patiently wait...still enjoying life
    NGC status
    11/05/2012 - 11 medals (Hawaii related) sent registered at my local US post office
    11/08/2012 - Received at NGC
    12/14/2012 - Scheduled for grading
    TBD - TBD
    My Status
    - 26 consecutive days of vacation
    (started 11/09/12, ended 12/04/12)
    - Daily morning runs windward Oahu (various distances)
    - 10 mile Turkey trot run in Honolulu (on turkey day)
    - Spent Thanksgiving in Hawaii with parents, brothers, sister and relatives
    - Played tourist (sometimes)
    - Played Kama'aina (most of the time)
    - Flew my AR Drone 2.0 at various Oahu beaches
    - Lectured at high school alma mater on topic of engineering
    - Flew my AR Drone 2.0 at the lecture
    - Ran in the Xterra 21K trail run (got my butt kicked by the mountainous hillsides)
    - Spent time on the beaches
    - Back to work on 12/05/12
    - Visited the Holiday decorated White House
    - Planning holiday retreat (11 consecutive days)
    - 3 incorrect body bagged Hawaii medals sent back to NGC
    - 12 additional Hawaii coin/medals submitted to NGC
    (My first AR Drone 2.0 flight is on youtube (search AR Drone Hawaii...by DRG0M3Z (with number 0 and 3 as letter substitutes) ... I am better drone pilot today...)
    White House tour was ok ... picture taken in Blue Room looking at south lawn toward Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument.

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  16. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    My mindset is in the land of Aloha...sort of
    My birthplace is Honolulu, Hawaii. I grew-up on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii (aka Big Island). My career keeps me on the continental US, but I often have vacation trips back "home". In all my trips, I allocate a period of time in which I pursue my Hawaiiana collectable hunts. From coins to documents.
    I have been advocating the concept to read as much as you can about a coin or coin type, as a mater of fact, anything that is of collectable interest to you. But,on occasions you have to go with your gut feeling...
    The attached article is about a gut feeling purchase I had. In the end, I donated this item to the Iolani Palace as they did not have an example...It feels good to donate a historical piece in which it can be admired by many. I donated the item in 2010.
    My article was printed in a newsletter published by the Hawaii State Society of Washington DC.

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  17. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    Kona 'Kono' Kalakaua (Grace Park) is beautiful .. so is this Kalakaua
    Just having fun...
    My King Kalakaua fifty cent piece (or hapalua) with PhotoProof picture.

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  18. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    The final medal for my Hawaii Statehood Medal Type collection arrived from NGC today ...
    Size does matter (for my large Hawaii Statehood medal).
    Picture is a comparison between the normal and oversize NGC coin holders. Now I need to figure out a method to display and house these different sized holders.
    I really like the semi-circle notch (directly above the medal). One can view the serial number on the medal's edge).
    http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/wcm/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=9345 set one completed. Off to the next collection set challenge....

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  19. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    A Matching Pair of Top Pops!
    Only 11 Alaska-Hawaii uniface pairs were struck...
     
     
     
    This is the only pair encapsulated and graded by NGC.
     
     
     
    Both were originally part of the Harold E. Hibler collection (author of the reference book: So-Called Dollars by Harold E. Hibler and Charles V. Kappen). Sold as part of the Ostheimer Collection back in January 2011.
     
     
     
    The Alaska uniface is the plate coin in the Hibler-Kappen 2nd edition book.
     
     
     
    Both are great additions to my collection!

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  20. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    Planning purchases and possible visit to first day release ceremonies...
    I visited the US Mint website a few days ago and reviewed their 2013 product release schedule.
    I am speculating that there is a high probability that I will be attending the release ceremony at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historical Shrine in August/September 2013 (as I did for the 2012 Star Spangled Banner commemorative coins).
    I find coin release ceremonies interesting ... I found a website for the Hawai'i Volcanoes (starts midway on page).
    http://www.thecoinguyhawaii.com/contact.html
    So look out NH, OH, NV, MD and SD for a 2013 US Mint coin release ceremony near you....
    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  21. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    Read, study, and learn your collecting interest...
    No matter where or from whom you purchase your numismatic material always be an astute hobbyist by being knowledgeable expert in your interest area or seek proper expert advice.
    I seen too many individuals make purchases that they have regretted from seconds (at auctions) to decades (at appraisals) later.
    The challenge for each collector, no matter what is collected, is to be more knowledgeable than the seller/dealer.
    At some point as a collector, it will be second nature to "cherry pick" the true rarities from the "so called common junk" being pushed by the profit seeking seller/dealer.
    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  22. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    I'm eager to see the conservation results by NCS ...
    I submitted a 1959 Official Hawai'i Statehood sterling silver medal (serial number 26) for NCS conservation and NGC grading. I was expecting a details encapsulation as some sort of chemical layering and reaction was occurring on the medal's reverse.
    This is the lowest serial number for the medal I have encountered and picked up this prize just for the serial number.
    I checked the medal's status. It graded MS-66! Now it's a bigger prize...
    Sunrise picture taken at Makapu'u Point on the island of Oah'u

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  24. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    She is an incredibly beautiful and captivating Hawaiian ...
    She...as in my coin...
    Sharply struck with hints of light aqua and a sprinkling of gentle rose hues makes this a pulchritudinous example of the 1883 Kingdom of Hawaii quarter dollar.

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  25. TheHawaiianaNumismatist
    The year was 1995. The location was Southern Maryland. The find was ...
    In May of 1995, I stumbled upon a news article about a woman who unloaded a few coins at a coin shop in Annapolis, Maryland for a whopping $200 a piece. With this news, I rushed to the local bank to purchase a new box of coins.
    I opened my first roll and started to delicately view each. As I detected something odd with the coin I would place it aside. I looked at each coin with a 10X loupe. It was tedious and my eyes took a beating.
    To my surprise I found a grouping of these coins. Not having a picture of what I was looking for, I assumed these were the $200 a piece prize.
    I latter found a picture online and they were an exact match in what I had in my possession. In total, the value of my find was $10,000.
    What I found were fifty (50) mint state 1995 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln pennies.
    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.