A recent score on eBay, somehow I managed to locate an entire actual PROOF Bahamas 1966 9 coin set. Why do I say that when anybody can Google search "Bahamas Proof 1966 2 Dollar Coin", and a bunch will show up but they actually are NOT proofs but rather simply ordinary currency coins that have been stashed into boxed sets that are sometimes referred to as "Specimen Sets" or "Proof Sets" but are nothing other than as I've stated? Now for probably 25 years I have patrolled the internet and especially eBay for either British later pre-decimal silver and copper (with a couple of the smaller golds thrown in). As readers will recall there used to be MUCH better material on eBay, a source that has nearly dried up more recently. As these have run out, I have turned to also to coins of the British Caribbean both before and after independence. And these I look for with near religious fervor on eBay with scant but occasionally remarkable results to the tune of about once or twice per year. I also check many of the auctions (also with few results). Well, about 6 months ago I found an interesting Bahamas set on eBay that somehow looked different (on eBay UK). It was a 1966 Bahamas Set, and of most unusual appearance. All of the coin surfaces appeared highly reflective and not polished as best I could tell. Could these be proof coins? Well, I tried to research these in proof and could find NOTHING! Finally I found that the [British] Royal Collection has a set with none else to be found and NOT in any catalogue anywhere. So I put out an offer for about L110 which with shipping came to about USD 190, and got the set. They arrived about a week later and opened the package with somewhat mixed though generally positive reaction. Firstly I am sure that the coins are proof and many of cameo quality. This was good, but the bad was that the coins had near literally been tossed into one of the ubiquitous boxes like the common "Specimen" sets. These sets have felt liners with recesses somewhat fitted to the coins - the coins are not tightly fitted and there are no plastic packaging, so the coins bang about quite a bit leaving really too many bag marks. One of the more attractive and perhaps better than the pictures of the 2 Dollar coin below: I had the coins finally after 3 1/2 months graded by PCGS and they graded between Proof 63 and Proof 66 with most being cameo. Anyway, though I would just share a bit of the story with readers. BTW, these are NOT Franklin Mint coins but rather products of the Royal Mint and would be considered Record Proofs.
You're quite the rarity hunter! How does this one rank across your other great finds? I'm guessing pretty high.
You're going to make John J Pittman look like a piker. His collection was far superior because he had an eye to acquire quality coins before it was the in thing. He had no opportunity to buy scarce and rare coins because they were all far outside his price range and competition for them was so stiff that playing the Statue of Liberty at auctions would not have sufficed. But you are acquiring countless modern rarities often at fire sale prices and of the highest quality in most instances! I can only imagine the interest in your collections going forward. Kudos, sir.
Thank you Sir. It is a bit of a treasure hunt & sometimes get a bit tired of it but just as that is happening, I will be scrolling by and all of the sudden something jumps up off the screen (computer) and says: "Look at me"! Many times these end up duds and I have bought a few but nothing that stretched me out too badly. Internet pictures are sometimes REALLY bad so you have to try to see it from that light. One bit for fellow Frankin Mint folks (and remember this set was Royal Mint) is that the difference between matte and prooflike on toned copper-nickel or even silver is sometimes hard to tell even for somewhat with a bit of background. Recently I thought I might have an unknown silver matte 1975 Bahamas crown, silver and in matte & the pictures supported it as did the weight BUT the seller sent a couple more BADDDD pictures fortunately showing what I needed to know and that it was a toned proof that had really done so in a different fashion - but no money out as I did not buy. Funny thing is that though these are relatively inexpensive, I do actually have locked up in a SDB some very elite coins, though not from USA as I seem to end up selling mot of the best of those. Possibly my best finds are: Pattern proof 1838 Great Britain Sovereign that of course one of the TPGs did NOT recognise & traded away for something more in my area(s). A 1984 FM Trinidad and Tobago (U) uncirculated 50c piece not actually documented to exist for a grand total of USD 3.59! Held on to that one. 1975 FM and 1977 FM Jamaica (M) matte uncirculated 10 Dollar coins, both for a grand total of USD 23.00! Not seen before or since and NOT documented even though reported by the FM as being struck. 1984 FM (U) uncirculated Jamaica 10 dollars, not documented and not seen before or since. 2002 Jamaica proof set, reportedly authorised 500 to be struck but in fact MANY fewer with none seen before or since... Well, don't remember but a bunch of others too, LOL....