Just wanted to share pictures of a very rare set, or so it certainly seems. This is the only Matte (M) Barbados 1975 set that I have seen, mintage of the 10 Dollars was 250 but these do not seem to have reached commercial channels; the others of low mintage also. The Franklin Mint struck Proof sets, consisting of eight coins for Barbados (similar to those struck for several other countries), and these consisted of a .925 fine silver $10 coin, an .800 fine silver $10 and base metal 1c through $1 dollar coins for the years 1973-1984. They also released the $10 as a single; and struck specimen sets of what were considered uncirculated quality coins and then some for circulation with some of the smaller denominations evidently being actually released to circulation. And this they did freely alongside similar design and denomination coins struck by the Royal mint but the latter generally not as well struck and without the "mintmark" or FM logo. Specimen sets of matte (M) quality were struck for 1973 had the larger two coins struck in the same alloy as the proof sets, but sadly silver was dropped for later years. Matte currency coins were also struck in addition for release to circulation. The 1974 sets also were of matte quality sans silver, with an additional quantity released to circulation. Thereafter through at least 1983 the FM struck specimen 8 coin sets in (U) or prooflike quality. Similar to some of the other mints however, for 1975 and 1976 and possibly 1977 (I've never seen these if they exist) matte quality coins were still struck but only released for circulation, and not as regular (U) sets with evidently a VERY FEW matte coins that were to my knowledge never released as official sets, and this pictured sets was not officially packaged - how and where they were assembled is unknown to me. In subsequent years the (U) coins were also struck in small quantities for circulation, effectively taking the place of the earlier (M) coins that had been released to circulation for 1973 and 1974. I have previously shown some of the single (U) coins struck for 1984 but have never seen them released together as a set. Hopefully this post adds useful information, PM me with any further questions or comment below. Here it is:
No, but I did buy it that way. The Capitol Plastics holder is very old and based on the condition of the 5 cents and one cent, it must have been placed in there very early on. These two fare very badly usually. The 1975-1977 matte coins were to my knowledge NOT released in sets but went to the Central Bank. I have no idea what happened to the 1977 matte coins as I have not seen any, nor the smaller denomination 1976 mattes (believe I pictured a 1976 matte 10 dollars before). Incidentally there were some quasi-officially packaged (Central Bank of Barbados) 1983 specimen uncirculated FM sets that were packaged horribly. I will put a picture of one of those up a bit later, very rare year although the 10 dollar 1983 coins in specimen unc. show up individually with some frequency - the lower denominations do not.
