Belize 1985 25 cents
The first specimen was lot 71082 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, October 2019), where it sold for $120. The catalog description[1] noted, "BELIZE. 25 Cents, 1985. PCGS SPECIMEN-65 Gold Shield. FAO issue: World Congress for Forestry. A highly brilliant and lustrous Gem, this issue is tied with just two other specimens for the finest certified by PCGS." The second specimen was lot 73402 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2021), where it sold for $65. The catalog description[2] noted, "BELIZE. 25 Cents, 1985. PCGS SPECIMEN-65 Gold Shield. FAO issue: World Congress for Forestry. A delightful one-year type, this blazing Gem presents great vibrancy and is tied with just five others for the top spot in the PCGS census. Ex: Kings Norton Mint Collection." This one year type interrupted the regular issue twenty-five cents (KM 36) struck 1974-2000. Concurrently with that series, the Franklin Mint issued silver collector coins with a different design, without the queen's portrait.
Recorded mintage: unknown but common.
Specification: 5.60 g, copper-nickel, 23.6 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-77.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The October 2019 Collector's Choice Sale: World and Ancient Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2019.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The June 2021 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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