Trinidad and Tobago 1981 5 cents
This specimen was lot 73605 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, 1981. Kings Norton Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-65 Red Gold Shield. A blazing red Gem, this piece is exceeded in the PCGS census by just three specimens. Ex: 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 after 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: unknown.
Specification: 3.31 g, bronze, 21.2 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 30.
- 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.
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