Prooflike Hawaiian Quarter... yeah, that's a thing

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by physics-fan3.14, Nov 18, 2022.

  1. physics-fan3.14

    physics-fan3.14 You got any more of them.... prooflikes?

    And no, I don't mean the America the Beautiful Quarter!

    In 1883, there was a sugar baron who contracted to supply coinage to the (then independent) islands of Hawaii. Charles Barber designed the coins, using a bust of the current King Kalakaua I of Hawaii and the shield reverse. 5 denominations were designed (10 cent, 12.5 cent, quarter, half, and dollar), although the 12.5 cent was never issued for circulation (very rare proofs were made). The rest of them used the same silver planchets that standard US coins utilized. The coins were minted in San Francisco and saw limited circulation, but a large number were melted.

    As far as I know, only the quarter and half dollar are known in PL condition. I've long watched, waited, and bid unsuccessfully. But now, its mine! This one is graded MS-64PL, and has such intense mirrors and cameo contrast. Very few PL coins have such stark contrast. Feel free to comment, or post your Hawaiian coins if you have them!

    IMG_0056.JPG IMG_0058.JPG
     
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  3. mrweaseluv

    mrweaseluv Supporter! Supporter

    This is one of those coins we need a "Love" button for :D
    My one attempt at a Hawaiian turned out as a very good fake. I go a full refund and got to keep it lol.... I still have it
    1883hi (2).jpg 1883hir (2).jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2022
  4. jtlee321

    jtlee321 Well-Known Member

    Gorgeous!! I can only imagine how it looks in hand. Congratulations on acquiring a gorgeous example.
     
    GoldFinger1969 likes this.
  5. Jaelus

    Jaelus The Hungarian Antiquarian Supporter

    Well that's just gorgeous!

    Here's mine:
    JGnjFXoSm2x8BXr7789m_4930314-032-Obverse-HiRes.jpg
    WSlB6NjvSJmL2AFa2zaa_4930314-032-Reverse-HiRes.jpg
     
    MIGuy, Anthony Mazza, KSorbo and 12 others like this.
  6. ddddd

    ddddd Member

    Congrats! I'm a fan of these and have wanted a pl too. I've settled for examples that are semi-pl on both the quarter and the half (for an ideal balance of price to eye appeal). The photo of the half doesn't show it well but it is quite nice for an AU 55.

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  7. messydesk

    messydesk Well-Known Member

    Fantastic coin! I don't have any Hawaiians, and most of the photos I have are of enameled ones.
     
  8. Mr.MonkeySwag96

    Mr.MonkeySwag96 Well-Known Member

    My relatively humble VF half dollar

    upload_2022-11-19_1-37-26.jpeg

    upload_2022-11-19_1-37-40.jpeg
     
    MIGuy, Anthony Mazza, tibor and 4 others like this.
  9. physics-fan3.14

    physics-fan3.14 You got any more of them.... prooflikes?

    Well I can let you take pictures of this one, if you really want photos ;) haha
     
  10. messydesk

    messydesk Well-Known Member

    It looks like I can work with the prongs, so I'd like to shoot this one. I'll be at FUN with my stuff.
     
    MIGuy likes this.
  11. rmpsrpms

    rmpsrpms Lincoln Maniac

    I didn't know the Hawaiian coins were minted in SF, thanks for letting us know this tidbit. Shame the series does not have the S mintmark like the USPI coins have.
     
    MIGuy likes this.
  12. physics-fan3.14

    physics-fan3.14 You got any more of them.... prooflikes?

    Yeah, I didn't know this either. Seems weird it doesn't have the S mintmark. But the NGC website and Heritage both say it. I don't have any more references than that, but I assume they are correct?
     
    Jaelus likes this.
  13. Jaelus

    Jaelus The Hungarian Antiquarian Supporter

    Yes that's correct. I have this for my US 25C types.
     
    tibor likes this.
  14. messydesk

    messydesk Well-Known Member

    From CoinFacts: "In 1883, dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars were struck at the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia for Hawaii. These coins display a bust of the King David Kalakaua. The sizes of the coins match those of United States coins and, although the Hawaiian coins bore unusual Hawaiian denominations, they were valued the same as their U.S. counterparts."

    I suppose mint records would clear this up. SF makes more sense from a location standpoint.
     
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2022
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  15. ddddd

    ddddd Member

    CoinFacts appears to have made a mistake.
    Multiple other places mention San Francisco. The dies were prepared in Philadelphia and then sent to San Francisco.

    Here is a Wikipedia article (subject to error, of course):
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalākaua_coinage

    Here is an article (see 3rd page of pdf)
    https://evols.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/10524/415/JL11103.pdf

    And here is the NGC page:
    https://www.ngccoin.com/coin-explor...-territories/hawaii/50020/1883-hawaii-25c-ms/

    "Four official denominations of Hawaiian silver coinage were produced at the San Francisco Mint this year in far greater quantities than was necessary for the island kingdom. A powerful west coast banker and sugar baron named Claus Spreckels had focused his attention on Hawaii upon passage of a reciprocity treaty between the two countries in the 1870s. Reduction of tariffs provided for in this legislation potentially made sugar cane production extremely profitable, giving Spreckels the window of opportunity he needed. He soon leased and later acquired thousands of acres of land on Maui, irrigated the once-dry isthmus, and built mills to process the cane. His influence on King Kalakaua and strong connections in California eventually prompted a contract with the United States Mint to produce the 1883 Hawaiian coinage, on which his healthy commission included the hundreds of thousands of coins that were later melted. Of the four denominations, the quarter is by far the easiest to acquire in Uncirculated grades as the result of a long-dispersed hoard."
     
    MIGuy likes this.
  16. messydesk

    messydesk Well-Known Member

    Mint Director Report FY 1884 (7/1/83-6/30/84), page 12:

    "San Francisco Mint
    ...
    The coinage authorized for the Hawaiian Government, of one million dollars in silver coins was executed in a satisfactory manner and completed befor ethe close of the fiscal year."

    From the horse's mouth.
     
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  17. Muzyck

    Muzyck Rabbits!

    Here's my .25

    Hawaii Quarter obverse-side.jpg
     
  18. physics-fan3.14

    physics-fan3.14 You got any more of them.... prooflikes?

    Hard to argue with that, I suppose. Thanks!
     
  19. ksparrow

    ksparrow Coin Hoarder Supporter

    Mine are all pretty well circulated
    Hawaii Dala 1883 obv.jpg Hawaii Dala 1883 rev.jpg half obv.jpg half rev.jpg
     
    Anthony Mazza, tibor and ddddd like this.
  20. ksparrow

    ksparrow Coin Hoarder Supporter

  21. psuman08

    psuman08 Active Member

    I still need the quarter. Don't have pics of my dollar or dime. Here is the half dollar (PCGS AU-50):
    1883 Hawaii Half PCGS AU50 obv 1.jpg 1883 Hawaii Half PCGS AU50 rev 1.jpg
     
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