View source for Cook Islands 1996 250 dollars KM-296

[[Image:SB621-70614o.jpg|300px|thumb|from the Stack's Bowers June 2021 Collector's Choice sale, lot 70614]]
[[Image:SB621-70614r.jpg|300px|thumb]]

This specimen was lot 70614 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2021), where it sold for $2,040. The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, "COOK ISLANDS. 250 Dollars, 1996. NGC PROOF-69 Ultra Cameo. Yellowstone National Park: Grizzly Bear. A minor spot and hint of haze is noted, but this brilliant Gem offers great radiance and a charming cameo nature." 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. The SCWC states that this NCLT was sold with a multicolor bear, altho this example clearly lacks this feature. [[Cook Islands]] issued several dozen NCLT's honoring various American national parks.

''Recorded mintage:'' 1,000.

''Specification:'' 31.10 g, 0.999 fine gold, AGW: 1.00 oz. 

''Catalog reference:'' Fr-B10; KM-296. 

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]''
* 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.
* <sup>[1]</sup>Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, ''The June 2021 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins,'' Costa Mesa, CA: [http://www.stacksbowers.com Stack's Bowers LLC], 2021.

''Link to:''
* [[Cook Islands 1990 25 dollars KM-85|1990 25 dollars, cougar]]
* [[Cook Islands 1995 25 dollars|1995 25 dollars, 1996 Olympic Games, archery]]
* [[Cook Islands 1997 500 dollars|1997 500 dollars, Ferdinand Magellan]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1996]]

[[Category:Selections from the Stack's Bowers 2021 Collector's Choice sale]]