This is a very rare coin that I’ve wanted for 12 years. It is the 20th Anniversary of Papua-New Guinea Independence. Information about it is scant on the ground with google searches yielding near to nothing. So it is gold, handsome (IMHO), and rare. What’s not to like? It was also struck by the Franklin Mint well after their demise so is a bit of a mystery. Was it actually struck there or under contract. Whatever the case was evidently not advertised in the USA, but maybe in Europe? Anyway, here it is:
I realize not many hear care for the Franklin Mint (FM) but I have really liked their COINS (NOT the model cars, Michael Jackson faux dance gloves, barbie dolls, plated jewelry, etc.). The coins received excellent treatment with good metal, flans, designs, execution of the designs and really superb work that separated them from many of the World's National Mints, let alone private mints. Many of the currency issues in smaller denominations actually reached circulation, and generally were nearly as well executed as the proofs. As things went South for the "mother" corporation, the minting operations wound down; most including me thought that the swan song were the 1984 and 1985 issues. The last major currency coin contract, as opposed to collector coins were the 1984 Liberia 1c, 5c and 10c coins. We had discussed it in these columns before but evidently a contract was finalized in 1983 and originally coins of same denominations were to be struck in that year - evidently that did not occur but such coins are reported in Krause and Numista. Note that the latter is a generally good STARTING point for online searches of world coins but does contain some inaccuracies, so perusers beware. This is generally true, however someone at the mint was able to secure contracts to strike coins in later years (ie the British Virgin Islands 1991-1992 series of coins, and perhaps some of the Cook Islands of similar date?). This coin, struck in 1995 was of good metal and designs reminiscent of the good ole days and after coins were generally struck there.
That's what collecting is all about.......getting what you enjoy and not having to depend upon what others think is worthy. Nice coin.......what's the gold content?
It's a cool piece and the lack of information makes it even more intriguing. I like some of the less well known coins and have collected a few myself (non from the Franklin Mint though).
I will go and check but by recall are listed in Krause and Schon (you should get a copy for backup reference even if the listings are a bit abbreviated). Krause last produced to my knowledge a 20th C. catalogue in 2020 and got Schon off one of those major booksellers on interned but forgot which one). I found more info and pictures in Krause with regards to your question. Probably not exhaustive, but here ya go: 1988 Explorer series in $50 silver (this same ?? series continued by another mint in 1992 & 1993) AND then the FM mint evidently came back in 1997 for more explorer coins in $50 GOLD AND then a miscellaneous SILVER 1997 $50 series that commemorated Islam, QE II and some others. I do not have any of these vintage Cook or Virgin Islands coins and so don't really know them; they seem to show up in bullion lots on occasion. My favourite Cook Islands coin is the 1976FM $100 Revolutionary war commem struck in matte gold format (for what purpose I am not sure as there are Prooflike and proof coins struck). These may have been issued to whatever banking authorities there are down there & the only other matte I saw had been rather marked up consistent with such "treatment".
