Another Franklin Bargain: 1976 matte Guyana 25 Cents

Just bought this for a princely 5.15 USD including tax and handling. Very nice Harpy Eagle - well executed:

 

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Franklin Mint, I mean....I stay on the lookout for these. Krause does some detail on these, but see previous posts of mine about the finishes on these. To review, there are the following types:

Uncirculated, proof-like finish (U)
Uncirculated, matte (M). - this coin

Proof strike (P). Of course these can be normal, cameo, or deep cameo term used by PCGS (or ultra cameo which is the NGC term).

Another discussion about this is the following: since there are two basic types of uncirculated as stated, which were issued for circulation and which were put in sets, termed "specimen" sets by the Franklin Mint. Occasionally, in countries such as Guyana, the Central Bank then packaged up sets.

These are a lot ruder than the Franklin Sets and come as five coin (1c through 50c), and six coin cardboard sets (1c through $1) and the $1 dollar by itself and all for the years 1976-1980. By that, I mean these are (U) types but the planchets had very little preparation and the fields have a bit of a pebbly or almost a cast appearance.

The matte coins such as the OP coin were sent down to Guyana for the most apart and [potentially] and may or may not have been released to circulation.So all Guyana uncirculated coins are scarce, but in the case of this coin Krause has it as follows:

1976 Guyana 25c (M) mintage 4,000
1976 Guyana 25c (U) mintage 50

The latter packaged into Central Bank of Guyana sets as best I can determine with the former release to the Central Bank and either released, or melted or held.
Interestingly, the former is near as scarce as the latter so many may have not been released and either held or melted or ??

I have similar but don't have as much background in the Franklin Mint Philippines issues, but I believe similar holds true for them.

Does anybody have other to contribute?

 

I don't have any information to add, but I enjoy your finds and have learned a lot from them. While I don't actively collect them, I'll pick up FM issues of circulation coins if the price is right, they're great quality.

 

Here is the PL version of the 1976 25c - (U) and this from a Bank of Guyana set:

 

I just thought I'd share mine. I've had these for years. No idea what I paid for them.

 

Yes, beautiful coins, the simple renditions of animals done so very well - almost medallic. I even like the larger National Heroes - as opposed to those on other Latin American countries or the terrible Jamaica series, as the artwork is stirring.

Here are Proof ((P) and uncirculated (U) versions of the 10 Dollars:

 

Excuse my naivety but who is CUFFY? Nice coins, thanks.

 

He is a National hero that led a breakout slave rebellion of 2,500 slaves against the Dutch in the region of Berbice, which later became British Guiana (Guyana) in 1763.

 

Thank you 7Jags.