Lord Marcovan Giveaway Prize List (for my "pick your prize" contests)

United States: 1959 silver proof Franklin half dollar, Type 2 reverse (ANACS PF66)



Numista-2835.

ANACS PF66; cert. #7707568.

A mostly white Proof Franklin half dollar with a few subtle hints of toning at the peripheries.

While there is no Cameo contrast (this is a Brilliant Proof), it has nice flashy mirrors.

Though not so attributed on the holder, this has the Type 2 reverse, with three wing feathers to the left of the eagle's perch.

Ex-Don Rupp ("ajaan" on Collectors Universe), 15 January 2025.

 

(5 coins) Canada: 1967 Canadian Centennial prooflike set (w/3 silver coins, original mint packaging)



An attractive, untoned Canadian Centennial prooflike set, with the special Centennial commemorative designs for that year, featuring native wildlife. The 10-, 25-, and 50-cent pieces are silver (.800 fine). Comes in the original Royal Canadian Mint cellophane pouch, though the external paper envelope has not survived.

 

United States: 1969 bronze Lincoln Memorial cent, double clipped planchet error (PCGS MS64 RB)



PCGS cert. #51102410.

Numista-42.

A Mint State example with an incomplete planchet (two elliptical clips- one quite prominent).

 

(8 coins + plaque) Great Britain: 1970 proof set; last of the predecimal coinage



This is a lovely 1970 British proof set consisting of eight coins plus a rectangular Royal mint medal (plaque). These sets were issued with the final coins of the the old pounds-shillings-pence monetary standard, as Britain switched to a decimal system in 1970. I believe the 1970 penny was only issued in these sets.

This particular set is in the original holder, with all the associated paperwork, and even the outer paper envelope, which seldom survived.

 

Canada: 2011 silver 5-dollars of Elizabeth II, Grizzly Bear bullion coin (1 ounce, .9999 fine)



Numista-19876. KM-1109.

A Gem Mint State Canadian Grizzly Bear bullion coin.

Very brilliant, with frosty contrast.

1 ounce, .9999 fine. In a plastic capsule.

 

Australia: 2012-P silver dollar of Elizabeth II, Kookaburra bullion coin (1 ounce, .999 fine)



Numista-26278. KM-1692.

A nice Gem Mint State Australian Kookaburra bullion dollar from the Perth Mint, with frosty prooflike contrast.

One ounce .999 silver. Mintage: 500,000. In a plastic capsule.

 

Canada: 2016 silver 5-dollars of Elizabeth II, Cougar bullion coin (1 ounce, .9999 fine)



Numista-84007.

A Gem Mint State 2016 Canadian Cougar bullion coin.

Very brilliant, with abundant cartwheel luster.

1 ounce, .9999 fine. In a plastic capsule. Most if not all of the faint scuffs seen in the photos are on the plastic, not the coin.

 

United States: 2020 American Silver Eagle bullion coin (1 oz- ICG Hurricane Helene salvaged)



Numista-1493.

This 2020 American Silver Eagle bullion coin is in Gem Mint State condition, but your first reaction upon seeing it is likely, "Wow, what an ugly Silver Eagle!"

And it is ugly. But that is because it has a story to tell.

You see, this coin is a relic of a catastrophic natural disaster: Hurricane Helene.

Starting on September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene swept into Western North Carolina and caused widespread damage and historic flooding which was even worse than the Great Flood of 1916 that affected that area. Many people died and some riverside communities were essentially wiped out.

The story pertaining to this coin was related to me by my friend Jason Foster, an Asheville, NC coin dealer, who sold the coin to me.

The story went something like this (and I'm paraphrasing, from memory):

There was a man who owned property alongside one of the rivers; likely the Swannanoa River in Buncombe County. When his home was swept away by the floods, among his possessions there was at least one 500-count "monster box" of Silver Eagles, which was washed downriver with everything else. During the recovery phase after the storm, some volunteers were out doing search and rescue or recovery work and came upon the coins. Not only were these finders heroically lending assistance in the dangerous recovery work- they were also scrupulously honest. They found out who owned the coins, and eventually returned them all. But the recovered coins presented a dilemma. They had been contaminated by muddy floodwater. Eventually one of the Asheville coin dealers who bought them submitted a number of them to ICG, which encapsulated them in special custom slabs noting the hurricane pedigree.
​

Like the Silver Eagles recovered from vaults below the destroyed World Trade Center towers in New York after the 9/11 attacks, which were subsequently certified with special custom holders, this is an interesting piece of disaster history. Even if it's not very good looking. In fact, I chose one of the scuzzier-looking ones, since if you're going to buy a coin that was contaminated by floodwater, you might as well have one that shows it, and tells that story, right?

Ex-Jason Foster, at the 2025 FUN show.

 

Canada: 2023 silver 5-dollars of Elizabeth II, Maple Leaf SML bullion coin (1 ounce, .9999 fine)



Numista-356135. KM-3304.

An attractive Gem Mint State Canadian Maple Leaf bullion coin with the enhanced security features.

Issued posthumously in 2023 in the name of Queen Elizabeth II, though she had died in September of 2022 at the age of 96.

There is an additional pair of dates in the left obverse field (1952-2022) to commemorate her 70-year reign., which was one of the longest in history.

1 ounce, .9999 fine. In a plastic capsule.

 

Great Britain: 2023 silver 2-pounds of Charles III, Britannia bullion coin (1 ounce, .999 fine)



Numista-353110. KM-2370.

A Gem Mint State Britannia bullion coin. This issue was the second Charles III Britannia type for 2023 (the first, issued for his coronation that year, featured a crowned portrait instead of the bare head seen here). The design of this coin incorporates many of the modern security features (contoured backgrounds, micro text, etc.).

1 ounce, .999 fine. In a plastic capsule. Most if not all of the faint scuffs seen in the photos are on the plastic, not the coin.

 

All future additions to the list from here on down will be listed in no particular order.