Samoa 1986 1000 tala
This specimen was lot 33007 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2024), where it sold for $2,400. The catalog description[1] noted, "AMERICAN SAMOA. 1000 Tala, 1986. PCGS PROOF-68 Deep Cameo. Commemorating the marriage of Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. A nearly flawless example, displaying sharp cameo contrast and sharp details." This is not an issue of American Samoa, but Western Samoa, originally a German (1900-14), then New Zealand colony (1914-61). In 1997, after this coin was issued, the "Western" was dropped from the country name. Despite the tiny mintage, it trades for its melt value. Prince Andrew and Sarah divorced in 1996.
Recorded mintage: 50.
Specification: 33.95 g, 0.917 fine gold, 1.000 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Fr-18; KM-65.
- 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, May 2024 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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