1966 Specimen Coin Set in VIP Presentation Wallet
We Last Sold This Item For: | $4,950.00 |
---|---|
Last Sold On: | 12/10/2021 |
# Sold In Past 12 Months: | 0 |
Recent Sales in this Category
Australia 2015 Uncirculated Mint Coin Set 50th Anniversary of the Royal Australian Mint
1966 Uncirculated Mint Coin Set VIP Presentation Wallet
Denomination | Grade | Cert # | Denomination | Grade | Cert # | |
50c |
PCGS PL62 |
37508840 | 5c |
PCGS PL64 |
37508844 | |
20c |
PCGS PL66 |
37508842 | 2c | PCGS PL Genuine VIP Wallet |
37508845 | |
10c | PCGS MS66 VIP Wallet |
37508843 | 1c | PCGS PL Genuine VIP Wallet |
37508841 |
This set is a truly scarce slice of decimal memorabilia - the 50c at least looks to be unique in private hands.
The introduction of decimal currency to Australia in 1966 was of course a major event in our national history. A major component in the strategy to ensure that the new coins were accepted without hesitation from the outset was a strategy of informing opinion leaders and other influential parties far and wide of the new designs.
To this end, the Royal Australian Mint produced 520 special "VIP" wallets - these are a dusty blue colour, the clear wallets and cards inside them are slightly different from those issued for collectors.
If strongly rising values are any indication, collectors these days are increasingly appreciating the history and "cool" factor that 1966-related decimal memorabilia has.
Compare the number of these VIP wallets that have turned up at auction over the past few years with the equivalent number of 1966 twenty cent coins with the wavy baseline in UNC condition, and you get a clear understanding of why many collectors see these VIP sets as being excellent value for money.
Characteristics That Set the Coins Apart
Review the images of the coins that are included in this VIP set of coins, you can see they don't match the look of other VIP sets that have been sold or are on offer. The most startling difference is that the one-cent coin has what looks like a planchet error right across the reverse.
A planchet error like that is unusual enough on any decimal coin, but for it to be seen on a set of coins that were apparently presented to a VIP really is eye-catching. Aside from the lamination error, the surfaces of the copper coins are quite glossy (in contrast to the dusty surfaces normally seen on our early decimal copper coins), while the 50¢ has a mirrored look to it - quite different to the standard white frosty appearance that the 1966 silver 50¢ struck for circulation have.
A former employee of the Royal Australian Mint advised that "The wallets were stored in a locked cupboard within the Mint, access to them was restricted to only the most senior RAM staff." That same employee further stated that when a VIP set was required, RAM staff removed coins from one of the standard green and white "poly-pack" carded mint sets, and inserted the coins into one of the empty VIP wallets. The above description of this process indicates that, officially, only standard circulation-strike coins were ever included in the VIP presentation sets.
Two Production Runs Only - Proof and Circulation
Existing numismatic literature identifies only two production runs of 1966-dated decimal coinage - proof strikes and circulation strikes.
The only 1966-dated Australian coins sighted to date that exhibit technical characteristics different to the coins struck either for circulation or inclusion in proof sets have been a very small number of patterns or specimens struck for trial or sample purposes. A very small number of those specimens or patterns are held by public institutions in Australia, even fewer have been sighted in private hands.
Standard procedure for the VIP sets was for coins from the standard “poly-pack” mint sets to be included, however we understand that as James Miller Henderson was one of the two RAM staff with access to the cupboard that contained the VIP folders, it is not beyond reason to accept that some or all of the coins may have been sourced from somewhere other than one of the “poly-pack” sets.
A passage in the book "Heads I Win" clearly demonstrates that Henderson distributed “samples” to people outside the Mint when he deemed it appropriate to do so, and that his distribution was not always conducted under formal particular oversight by other RAM staff.
This set is an incredibly rare slice of Australian decimal currency history - the coins themselves may well be unique in private hands.
SKU: 22621
Browse our catalog of Uncirculated Mint Coin Sets below:
I've taken my coins to Andrew a few times. Him and his staff are very nice people. Andrew is honest and down to earth. 👍
I have purchased several bulk lots of world coins from Sterling & Currency over the last few years. Read more...
I live on East Coast but prefer dealing with Andrew on the West due to his integrity, knowledge and prices, Read more...
Just purchased a 1966 blue case decimal mint set. Andrew gave me a ring to ensure it had arrived and provided Read more...
The team at Sterling & Currency is a family affair – small but growing. Andrew Crellin is the main dealer in the business, click here to read this credentials and how he started with the Perth Mint; spent a decade in Sydney working with two leading dealers and relocated back to Perth in 2006.
Jo is our budding Numismatist, Chief Event officer, Photographer and Packing Extraordinaire. Natalie is our media creator and photographer. Nicole manages the accounts and is part of the Packing Team. A myriad of important duties are carried out by the team that include photography, website updates, office admin, and chocolate eating.
Ruby the Ridgeback quite frankly has learned nothing about coins, however contributes by barking at anyone wearing hi-viz.
We're Always Buying!
We need to buy tens of thousands of dollars worth of coins and notes each and every week of the year.
If you'd like to turn all or part of your collection into cash, get in touch with our expert staff and we'll be happy to start working on a deal with you.
Australian Gold Coins
We have extensive experience in handling all Australian gold soveriegns and halves, from the Adelaide Pounds of 1852 right through to the last coins of George V of 1931. All of the Australian gold coins in our online shop are described in detail with high resolution images.
Coins
At Sterling & Currency, we specialize in handling Australian coins dating from our nation's settlement in 1788 through to the introduction of decimal currency in 1966. We have an extensive range in our online store of Australian gold, copper and silver coins.
Decimal Coins
The Australian proof and UNC coins struck by the Perth Mint and the Royal Australian Mint are the most accessible coins available to collectors today. If you're not able to find a particular coin that you're keen to add to your collection, let us know and we'll be contact you when it becomes available.