Fiji (1990) 50 dollars
This specimen was part of lot 3384 in Goldberg sale 84 (Los Angeles, January 2015), which did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "Fiji. Complete Three piece Gold Set: 100, 50, 25 Dollars, 1990. Total weight 1.3123 ounces. All three coins are serial numbered 001 on the edge - only 161 sets minted in total and this is the very first set struck. In original presentation case with certificate. Extremely Rare. Lot of 3 coins. Choice Brilliant Uncirculated." This bizarre issue, only 18 karat fine, was dated by a privy mint and is recorded for 1990-92. Sterling coinage was issued for the islands starting in 1934. Decimal conversion occurred in 1967-69, the same time as Britain. Fiji left the British Commonwealth in 1987 (hence the absence of the queen's portrait) but rejoined in 1997.
Recorded mintage: 161.
Specification: 15.55 g, 0.750 fine gold.
Catalog reference: KM-MS9 (for the set), KM 59.
- 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]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, Aleeza Brown, Yifu Che, Jason Villareal and Stephen Harvey, Goldberg Sale 84: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2014.
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