Trinidad and Tobago 1975 5 cents
The first specimen was lot 73604 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, June 2020), where it sold for $105. The catalog description[1] noted, "TRINIDAD & TOBAGO. 5 Cents, 1975. Kings Norton Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-66 Red Gold Shield. As tremendous as one can possibly acquire, this stunningly red Gem is tied with a small handful of others for finest in the PCGS census. Ex: Kings Norton Mint Collection." The second specimen was lot 74902 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2023), where it did not sell. The catalog description[2] noted, "TRINIDAD & TOBAGO. 5 Cents, 1975. PCGS SPECIMEN-67 Red. Sitting at the top of the population report at PCGS, this Gem is blazing red and sharp details. From the Kings Norton Mint Collection." The islands of Trinidad and Tobago, originally invaded and occupied by the Spanish, were wrested from Spanish control by the British in 1797. The two islands were merged as a single entity in 1888. It remained a colony of Great Britain until achieving independence in 1976. The coinage from the early 1970's leading up to independence retained similar designs after 1976. The coin shown is a bronze five cents issued before the proclamation of a republic. It is listed in the SCWC as a product of the Franklin mint but this example lacks the mintmark normally seen on the obverse. The type continued 1976-2010 as KM 30. A few silver proofs were struck in 1981. The SCWC labels the bird on the reverse as a bird of paradise, a species native to New Guinea.
Recorded mintage: 1,500,000.
Specification: 3.25 g, bronze, 21.15 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 26.
- 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 June 2020 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, November 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancient & World Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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