I wrote a new article on South Korean mint sets. A few here have shown some interest in these. Click on the link below in my signature to view the article. It includes information about the "official" Bank of Korea sets, as well as the special limited-mintage Foreign Proof sets issued in 2001~2004. Also mentioned is the immensely popular 1998 mint set with the mint set-only 500-Won coin (8,000 only). From the article: "The 1998 BOK mint set is probably the most recognized of all BOK mint sets in South Korea —and possibly even outside of Korea. Although most South Korea collectors have been well aware of its rarity for years, the spotlight that has shined recently on the 1998 BOK mint set has helped to propel it, and the rest of South Korean numismatics, out of relative obscurity and into the national news. With attention-grabbing headlines such as “The 500-Won coin that is worth a million won !,” the 1998 mint set had been ‘burning up the wires’ as an entertainment news feature on practically every media platform in South Korea. In the five or so years prior to 2017, untold numbers of people in South Korea have been exposed to the existence of the 1998 BOK mint set, as well as other higher-priced Korean numismatic items, thanks to the mimetic nature of South Korea's myriad TV shows, online videos, and talk-radio shows that have highlighted 'rare Korean coins.' "
Interesting. I was in Korea from April 1997 to April 1998 while I was in the Air Force. I wish I had been into collecting coins back then, I might have picked up a 1998 set while I was there.
Not sure when the annual mint sets got released back then, but nowadays I have to wait until July every year to get the latest one. I just got two 2017s in the mail today from Korea.
Oh, how much I would like to say "Yes!" but they're really not such a big deal. The Seoul Olympics silver commemoratives (like all other Olympics silver coins) are some of the cheapest silver coins for their weight in silver that you can buy. The simple fact is, they made WAAAAAAY too many of them. It's a pity, because they are pretty decent pieces in design and strike. From my COINage article back in February: "The coins issued to commemorate the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics are among the most familiar and omnipresent of all South Korean coins in numismatic markets worldwide. Perhaps the scale of these commemorative issues might be some indication as to why this is so. From 1986 to 1988, the Bank of Korea issued four separate sets of seven-coins each, along with a single four-coin set, for a total of 32 coins composed of either gold, silver, nickel or copper-nickel. Most of the coins were made in both mint and proof versions, with mintages of both often in the hundreds of thousands. After the glow of the Olympics had worn off the following year, the Bank of Korea found that it had a sizable portion of the total number these coins left unsold (over 2.5 million). Many retailers in the country began to ask that the bank buy back their own unsold stock. "
Thanks @mlov43, These two pieces are copper-nickel, and they're not worth much in the US either. The good thing about these coins, is that they were a gift from a friend.
Yep. The 1959 [4292] 10 Hwan (bronze) coin is a major key date in Korea and elsewhere, and like much of the rest of S. Korean key-date coins, highly collectible and valued in Mint State condition. The 100 Hwan and 50 Hwan coin (1959) are also prized in high Mint State condition, especially in graded holders. That goes for most coins in S. Korea nowadays. The Koreans are not averse to TPG holders like some in Europe or elsewhere.
Need more information. Denomination, photos etc. These days one cannot take anything for granted. Even common Korean coins are counterfeited! https://www.pcgs.com/news/south-korea-50-hwan-counterfeit
