Cook Islands 1978-FM 200 dollars
This specimen was lot 73461 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2022), where it sold for $1,020. The catalog description[1] noted, "COOK ISLANDS. 200 Dollars, 1978. Franklin Mint. Elizabeth II. CHOICE PROOF. Honoring the bicentennial of the discovery of Hawaii by James Cook. An enchanting piece celebrating one of the many accomplishments of James Cook, this marvelous proof is housed within an attractive folder and presentation envelope issued by the Franklin Mint, and includes a stamp." The Cook Islands, like many small, impoverished nations, has contracted with private mints to produce and market a large variety of commemoratives sold in lands far from the issuing country. Captain Cook is relevant (the islands are named for him) but other issues honor Garfield the cat and Mickey Mouse.
Recorded mintage: 26 matte + 621 BU + 3,216 proofs.
Specification: 16.60 g, 0.900 fine gold, 0.480 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Fr-6; KM-22.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The February 2022 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancients & World Coins, Featuring Selections from the Kings Norton Mint Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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