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About this journal

If it's related to Hawaii, I will share it with you !

Entries in this journal

Kennedy Half Dollar Collectors Will Freakout

This is not a Hawaiian related entry.... In all accounts, the true precursor design of the reverse side of the Kennedy half dollar is from the Class 5 Kennedy President of the United States (POTUS) special Government medal (sGm). You have to remember that this Class 5 medal was struck while President Kennedy was still alive. The precursor proof is the placement of the designer's initial "FG" (Frank Gasparro) in a familiar position (see video at time 1:38). This was one of the most

Original 1998 Liberty Dollar (aka NORFED dollar)

This is related to Hawaii !!! NOTE: You can tell the writing style difference of an author's journal entry  by the subject matter. On one hand you get regurgitation of previously documented information or what one owns. It's OK, but not exciting or groundbreaking. On the other hand you get thought provoking or I did not know this with a dumbfoundedness result. I hope I'm in the later category. Bernard von NotHaus was one of the co-founders of The Hawaiian Mint, which evolved into the R

Vindicated - Grading/Encapsulation of Maui Coin Club medals

Back in the year 2014, I made an inquiry to NGC Support about the grading/encapsulation of medals listed in their listed numismatic bibliography titled  Hawaiian Money,  2nd Edition, by Medcalf and Russell.  My "coin club" medals were rejected (see images).       I now see that Hawaii related coin club medals (Maui coin Club and Hawaii State Numismatic Association (HSNA))are now being  graded! (see image below) Great!!! I made this video about a year ago related

Part 2: Kennedy Half Dollars Collectors Will Freakout

This is not a Hawaii related entry. The images of two pages below are from the US Mint (as you can see, Frank Gasparro has signed and dated the upper right on the first page). Item 1 and 2 in the document - Calls out US Mint's Presidential inaugural medal design (obverse and reverse) are to be used on the proposed half dollar.           Note: For proper visualization, I added a image of the reverse in this blog. The presidential seal is in a reduced state. Item 3 in the docum

The Third Official Manufacturing Function of the Bureau of the Mint/United States Mint

If you Google the term "special government medal" or "sGm" or "special medals for US government agencies" your search result relating to the Bureau of the Mint or United States Mint will be empty. However, if you search the term "POTUS sGm" you will get a hit to my website (discusses a particular type of "special government medal" of which I have ongoing research). This empty search result  points out that these common terms  are  unused and uncommon term within the US numismatic community. H

Alaska - Hawaii Statehood Uniface So Called Dollar

When I saw the Hawaii Uniface SCD HK-537 being offered for sale I jumped at the chance to own it. I've look hard and far to have one in my collection. This well known dealer convinced my to purchase the Alaska Uniface SCD HK-536 in order to keep them as a pair. It was good that I listened to him. These two medals are currently the only pair graded by NGC (or any other TPG company).

2012 Star-Spangled Gold $5 Proof and Uncirculated

For all posterity ... I had a phone conversation with one of the museum curators at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, Maryland. They finally received the coins, authentication paperwork and gifting letter. As he puts it, your name and gifts will be in the museum collection and shared "for all posterity". I never thought about it that way. He indicated there is a plan for the coins to be displayed in the near future as part of the rush of visitors attending the

A "66" for my "26"

My NCS conservation results ... Fee to conserve my 1959 Hawaii Statehood medal was $21. Shipping back to me was an additional $19.70. NGC grading fee was set at $42 which included an oversize holder fee. As for the results, my medal (serial number 26) graded MS 66 and is now residue free! I am well pleased with the service provided by both NCS and NGC. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

First of the First

What precedes a "First Releases" and "Early Releases"? "Release Ceremony"! It took some effort to get this designation on this gold 2012 W $5 Star Spangled Banner Commemorative in PF 70 UC. Its permanent new home is in the museum collection at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore Maryland. This is a 3rd Journal Entry relating to my efforts of these gifted coins. Other two entries: My Pending Set Donation dated 3/27/12 I Was There! dated 3/7/12 Plan

I'm Surprised!

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

Aloha

An Hawaiian idea for my new custom set .... As most of you are aware, I have a keen interest in coins, medals and tokens from Hawaii. Stage 1 of my Hawaii Statehood Medal collection is complete. The next stage is to collect each of the 17 remaining variations. The gold variations will be extremely tough to locate and obtain. In the meantime, I have set up an intermediate goal for a Territory of Hawaii Souvenir Set. The time period is set (Territory of Hawaii). The specific items to collec

Among Giants...

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?

My Pending Set Donation

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-Spangle

Knowledge is Power (Part II)

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

Coin Sleuth

A story of finding a coin's pedigree by accident... After purchasing a highly prized "Mid-Pacific Aloha Carnival Dollar" that depicts the great Hawaiian Olympian "Duke Kahanamoku" (So called dollar HK-721/Medcalf & Russell 2M-329) for my "Territory of Hawaii Souvenir" collection, I did an online search for similar coin in circulated condition. The coin is not dated, but the Mid-Pacific Carnival was held in 1914 in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii. A rare "Dukie" in uncirculated condition i

Hawaii Five-0 (The Series Teaser)

She is toned and close to perfection ... A wondrously alluring example that is fragmentally and translucently toned in various shades of grayness with exposed glistening silvery shine. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

Hawaii Five-0 (The Series Continues)

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.

Hawaii Five-0

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.

Means to an End...

I've been collecting and selling coins from my collection as a means to an end .... Rare coin collecting has been a very enjoyable and profitable hobby for me. I have been collecting and reselling rare coins as a means of supplementary support while pursuing each of my academic degrees. I have four conferred academic degrees, so this means to an end has really helped me out. My degrees include (from lowest to highest): AAS in Electronic Technology, BS in Computer Science, MS in Systems Enginee

I Also Collect Medals ... Sort of...

As most of you know by now, I have a passion for collecting. The beauty, the rarity and the history behind each item collected is my motivation. When individuals visit my home office, one of the first things they see is my medal collection. These medals come in all shapes and sizes, but each has a common theme. My personal goal is to collect eight or less each year. The most I ever collected was ten in one year. Don't get me wrong, I can collect more but it's nice to get them at a "good st

On a Hawaiian Trip

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 intere

Knowledge is Power

I was fortunate to have help in entering the coin collecting hobby... I did collect coins as a child, but it was more of a curiosity than a hobby. While serving in the US Air Force, I was given an opportunity to learn from a few coin dealers in Montana. Montana is a silver state and silver dollars were very plentiful. A Montana coin dealer told me to read up on the subject before buying any coins. After reading the Comprehensive Catalogue and Encyclopedia of U. S. Morgan and Peace Silver Do

Hawaii Statehood Medals!

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 num

My Best Circulation Find from the Past

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 t

I Was There!

I see a need for a Ceremony Release designation for coins/medals obtained at an US Mint coin/medal release day ceremony. Why? Because I was there! I was not there 30-days after the fact (designation criteria for Early or First Release labels). I was in attendance to support the celebration of the Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coin Release Day ceremony at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore Maryland at 11:00 am on the morning of March 5, 2012. The ceremony wa
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