Here's the situation. Boss recently bought a LOT of World coins. A speciallist came down from Chicago today to do some buying. We got slammed so I just kept feedind the guy boxes of the stuff. Honest guy. Pulls out a proof set from Burundi and says it is quite rare and the boss should sell it on ebay. I heard the conversation and we did some digging toward closing. Guy said only 2000 sets were made for starters. Couldn't find it in Krause but seems it may be in a special Krause from 1992 that we don't have. Basic description of the set is: 1966 Proof set consisting of four coins we could not locate. 100,50,25 and 10 Franc. I apologize but I have no pics as the coins are at the shop. My information is sketchy I know as well but what the guy told us was that it retailed at about $1100. Any help would be sincerely appreciated. clembo
I can no record of a Burundi Proof set for 1966, only for '62, '65 and '67. And they are listed in Krause. The '62 & '65 are listed as worth $1100 - the '67 as $1200. And it makes sense there wouldn't be a '66 Proof set as that was the year that the kingship was overthrown by a military dictatorship. You sure they are dated '66 ?
There are a couple of possibilities for this. Did the "coins" have King Mwambusta IV (50th Anniversary) or Ntare V (Coronation) on them? If so, they are medallic coinage AKA fantasy pieces / tokens / quasi-mint products / etc. They are featured in the Unusual World Coins book. They are prooflikes, not proofs according to the book. Worth about $40-$50 each, but the book can be frequently out of line on prices.
There isnt a worse book than Krause for listing special coins and their prices. I regularly have coins come and go out of Krause as they please and no this is not a joke. If you are sure that the set is a 66 then i would try and get the 1992 krause. Its a lottery with the pricing as well. The set might be worth 1100, or 2000, or 200. you wont know unless you try to sell it. Ebay is the best place to sell these things but i would get the 1992 KM and do a price ratio before you even think of selling it. Coins from around that time are expensive so be careful also it might/might not be an official set (political situation)
Got another look at them today but no scans. Scanner at work died These do feature Ntare V though. Found a King Mwambusta IV on ebay. 500 Franc and the guy was asking $235.
