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MTC'S ON EBAY
DECEMBER, 2012
12/31/12
Iowa, Miles 1972 and Preston 1970. Souvenir/Centennial Coins. Oxidized nickel-silver. Two similar coins, they look a lot alike and have similar mintages: 2,500 for the Miles and 2,222 for the Preston - but the Preston is significantly harder to find than the Miles issue. Both were offered for a $2.99 start and I was able to buy both at the start price. The seller combined shipping so the $2.95 shipping fee didn't seem too outlandish. A couple more duplicates for my trading stash!
12/28/12
Ohio, Gallipolis. 1938 25¢/5 Sous Northwest Territorial Centennial. Heavy paper or light cardboard. An interesting, scarce issue that straddles the line between being of interest to Municipal collectors, Paper Money or Script collectors, Wooden Nickel collectors (paper, after all, is made out of wood) as well as collectors of Ohio Exonumia. With a Buy It Now price of $17.50 + $1.75 shipping, and with a very low number of 176, I'll have to say it tempted me - but I somehow was able to hold back, and I didn't buy it. No one else went for it either, and it went unsold. I would for sure have bought it as a duplicate at the $10.00 level. I think "crossover" issues like this have greater potential for appreciation than standard municipals, simply because they are sought by collectors of more than one kind of token.
12/27/12
Mississippi, Laurel. 1957 Diamond Jubilee 5¢ - Masonite. Another of those "crossovers" , this one of interest to Wooden Nickel collectors as well as Municipal Collectors. Masonite is a product made from wood chips, chemically bonded into a smooth-surfaced material often used in construction, especially in the 1940's and 1950's. It is the perfect material for a commemorative from Laurel Mississippi, as it was invented there in 1924 by William H. Mason, a friend and protege of Thomas Edison! These issues are especially scarce because the design was printed on the surface of the masonite in gold print, and the smooth surface - which is ideal for repelling moisture and grease - also makes it difficult for the printed design to stick on the coins. In fact, the ink they used has more of an affinity for cellophane or vinyl, so when it is put into a traditional coin 2 x 2 holder, or PVC 'flip", the printing has a tendency to stick to the holder, and actually be lifted off the coin! I don't think I have ever seen one of these in perfect, completely readable condition. The seller noted that there was "some wear to the gold-colored print". Start was 99¢ plus $1.95 postage, and after 8 bids it ended up at $19.37. My bid (as a duplicate) was in there at about $6 less than it actually sold for.
12/27/12
(Virginia), Franklin County Money 5¢. A scarce piece, not often encountered. This one in extremely fine condition, and sort of dirty, was offered at a Buy It Now price of $24.50 + $1.75 shipping. I think it is a $10 token, and so passed on it. It looks like everyone else thought it was too much as well, as it did not sell.
12/27/12
Hawaii, Molokai 1976 Trade Dollar. Another of alohadon2000's Molokai Dollars. This one started at $29.00 with FREE shipping and had four bids: $29.00, $35.99, $36.99 and another by the winning bidder at some level above $36.99.
12/22/12
Hawaii, Hilo Dollar, 1974. Sterling silver. Very scarce in this composition, and very popular among Hawaii collectors. Mintage is reportedly only 100 pieces so you know it does not appear very often. This is the variety with the date to the right of HILO - so far the only type I've seen for the silver 1974 Hilo Dollars. This one started at 99¢ and after 15 bids going back and forth between 4 bidders, it closed at $89.88. A hard-won addition to someone's collection.
12/22/12
Missouri, Lee's Summit. Sterling Silver Half Dollar, 1974 - Cole Younger's Gravestone design. Very scarce in silver, this one numbered 81 on edge. Started at $9.99 plus $3.50 shipping, and after 6 bids, it sold for $39.88. I was the underbidder at $38.88 with no other bidders above $17.56. Darn! I would have liked to have won that one! Another design for the same year features an antique train - same value as the gravestone design.
12/22/12
California, Lawndale Pirate Days, Not Dated, 10¢. Offered at $27.50 + $1.75 postage in XF/AU. No bids. Just plain too much for this one. Any one of the other denominations MIGHT be worth this much, but not the 10¢!
12/21/12
Michigan, Onaway 1949 50th Anniversary Quarter. Lot of 10 pieces, Uncirculated. BU, but weakly struck as all are. Not very scarce, and certainly much easier to find than the the 50¢ coin from the 75th Anniversary Celebration in 1974. This lot was offered at $29.95 with FREE shipping. Just two bids - the minimum of $29.95 and a second bid just a dollar higher.
12/20/12
New York, New York. 1973 - 1983 Bicentennial American World's Fair. Good for $1,000.00 Fairgrounds Exhibit Space . Uncirculated, copper. This is the highest denomination Municipal token. Start was $4.95 + $2.50 shipping. No takers.
12/20/12
Texas, Vernon. 1958 Centennial 50¢. Almost uncirculated. The seller noted that this was the " only one I've ever seen still in existence". Start was $129.99. No bids. Offered again in January, at a much lower $49.95. Still no bids. Mintage for this was 4,500, and it shows up fairly frequently. The value, I think, would be about $10.00 in Uncirculated, $5 or $6 in Almost Uncirculated. A very handsome issue with a lot of potential.
12/19/12
Washington, Winthrop. 1991 Souvenir Centennial Dollar. Uncirculated. Offered at $14.95 + $1.99. No bids. Offered again in January at the same price, again no bids. This issue is generally available for $5 or less. Mintage, a respectable 10,000.
12/18/12
Alaska, Alaska Dollar, The Last Frontier, "1878". Oxidized bronze finish with gold colored Liberty Head. A souvenir issue that is rather hard to find. It comes in several finishes, and this was one I did not have. Start was $8 plus $3 for shipping. Three bids pushed the price up to $13.83. I was very pleased to win this! The price was just about right. My guess for the value for any of the varieties would be $10 to $15, and this one was right in there.
12/15/12
Maine, Scarborough. 1958 Tricentennial 50¢ Token. Uncirculated, or very close. Despite a rather high mintage of 10,000 pieces, these are not offered very often on Ebay, probably less than a half-dozen pieces a year. Two of these were offered by the same seller. Both started at $1 plus $2 shipping and both sold for $1.25 each. It seems a very reasonable price for a 55 year old token. My estimate of value: $6.50 in Uncirculated condition, half that used.
12/14/12
Pennsylvania, Youngsville. 1963 Sesquicentennial 50¢ Token. Uncirculated. I do not know the mintage of this one, but it is an issue that has always been very easily available. This one opened at $9.90 plus $3.50 shipping. Wow! There were two bids, both by the same bidder, so it sold for the opening bid. The bidder has a feedback rating of 3, for whatever that's worth. Steve's value estimate is $3.50 in uncirculated.
12/14/12
Iowa, Goldfield. 1955 Centennial 25¢ Token. Extremely fine, with minor edge damage. Offered at a start of $5 plus $3 shipping, this one garnered no bids. Actually a fairly scarce issue with a mintage of only 1,000. I would have bid if it didn't have the edge damage. The first one of these I got cost me $8 back in the early 70's, during a sort of mini gold rush for Iowa Municipals. They were very aggressively collected for a few years. They are not so popular now, but as a result of the interest at the time, more mintages and data is now known about Iowa municipals than for any other state. This one was relisted for 99¢ + $3 and this time sold for that amount. Today a nice example in extremely fine or better is worth $10 or so.
12/14/12
Iowa, Cascade. 1984 Sesquicentennial Souvenir Dollar. Uncirculated, nickel silver. With a fairly low mintage of 1,000 pieces, this seemed like a good buy at $9.99, plus $3 shipping, but no one took the bait. These were also made in real silver, and that is one of the issues I am still looking for. If you have one you don't want, I know just the guy to see! This was offered in the following weeks, each time with no takers, but then when offered in the middle of January for the same price, but with FREE shipping - it sold.
12/14/12
Kansas, Arkansas City. 1971 Centennial Commemorative Coin. Scarceish. Is that a word? This one was offered with a Buy-It-Now price of $7.95 plus $2.50 shipping and someone bought it. I think the price was a bit more than this issue is worth at this time, but still not a bad deal. If you have this one, check the edge and see if it is the much scarcer numbered issue, currently worth 15 bucks or so. Kansas is a state to keep your eye on. There is quite a bit of interest in municipals and other commemoratives from this state, and they generally sell well to an eager bunch of collectors aggressively patrolling Ebay. One of my buddies is currently working on a catalog of Kansas commemoratives (municipals and others), and when it comes out, Kansas issues are going to dry up and prices rise dramatically.
12/14/12
Hawaii, Molokai 1976 Trade Dollar. Ebay seller alohadon2000 must have been gathering these up for years! Another piece, again offered at $29.00 with FREE shipping. This time his token got two bids from the same person, so with no competition, it sold at the opening price.
12/13/12
Ohio, Archbold Area. 1966 Centennial Quarter. Hard to find. Started at 99¢ plus $2.95 shipping, and selling at $6.05 after 5 bids. I think this one brought just about what it is worth. As I mentioned, this issue is scarce, but no so much as its predecessor - the Archbold 1941 Diamond Jubilee Dime. I thought there should have been another issue for the 1991 125th Anniversary, but so far I have not seen one.
12/12/12
Ohio, Mogadore and Tallmage. 1957 Sesquicentennial Half Dollars. A pair of offerings for two old and hard-to-find Ohio issues. These were both offered by the same seller for $8.50 + $2.58 postage each. Both were nice coins, apparently uncirculated or nearly so. No bids on either - they should have sold, and will look like real bargains after the catalog comes out.
12/11/12
Minnesota, White Bear Lake. 1967 All America City Official Souvenir Dollar. Scarce, with a mintage of only 1,000 - but sponsored by a coin club, so plenty were saved for collectors. Started at 99¢ and three bids pushed it to $4.53 plus a reasonable 95¢ for shipping. Just right - I'd say it is a $5 token.
12/8/12
Kansas, Hamilton County. 1961 Official Souvenir Coin. One of the scarcer of the 105 Counties, so the selling price of $9.95 + $.95 seems pretty cheap.
12/8/12
Hawaii, Queen Liliuokalani. 1994 Royal Hawaiian Silver Aloha Dala variety, unnumbered. A beautiful coin that started at $44.99. Three bids raised it to $51, plus $4 shipping.
12/8/12
California, Yucca Valley. 1976 Bicentennial Trade Dollar. Scarce, but maybe not worth the $6.99 + $1.99 the seller was asking. Offered again in January. Still no takers.
12/8/12
Maine, Whitefield. 1959 Sesquicentennial Half Dollar. Very scarce, with a mintage of only 1,000 pieces. Almost Uncirculated. Offered by someone who knew what he had for $29.95 with FREE shipping. No takers. This is a key issue that will be bringing more than this price a year from now.
12/7/12
Hawaii, Queen Liliuokalani. 1993 Overthrow Dala. Silver. Prooflike uncirculated in plush case of issue, with information card. $49.95 plus $4.00. No bids. I see commoner Hawaiian issues sell for more on ebay with regularity. Very attractive.
12/7/12
New York, Sherburne. 1968 175th Anniversary 50¢. Supplies of these seem to have dried up, and they seldom appear on ebay. Not rare, but you will have to search for one of these for a while. Offered at $10.00 with free shipping, someone snatched this up with a Buy It Now purchase.
12/7/12
Montana. 1964 Official Souvenir Dollar. One of the easiest silver municipals to obtain. Mintage reported as 1,000 - but it shows up at a rate that suggests a higher mintage. Comes in two edge varieties. Lightweight, about .6 ounce of sterling silver. This one offered at $39.00, Buy It Now, with FREE shipping. No takers. Not a good buy, plus the seller noted that the reverse was "toned" by the foam packaging in the original case. That plastic foam is nasty and after a few years can really affect any coin it comes into contact with. If you have any coins in those clear plastic snap-lock boxes with foam backing - take them out NOW.
12/7/12
Colorado, Grand Junction. Undated Lions Club Annual Carnival . Good For 10 At Booths. An issue that some MTC collectors collect, but to me it does not seem to fit. I am not sure if I am going to list it in the catalog or not. This was a lot of 4 pieces, Almost Uncirculated, that started off at 99¢ and after 8 bids was pushed right on up to $3.26 plus $1.25 shipping.
12/6/12
California, San Diego. 1936 over 1935 California Pacific International Exposition 10¢. While there are a couple overdate Municipals where the date was altered in the die, this is the only one where the date was changed with a punch on coins already struck. Actually more common than the regular unaltered 1935 issue. Like the Grand Junction pieces above, this is not regarded as a Municipal by all collectors, but to me it is more acceptable as a MTC and will probably be listed. This one was offered at $9.99 plus $2.25 shipping and four bidders pushed the sale price up to $13.30. San Diego tokens are very popular right now, so I suppose this is about right.
12/6/12
Illinois, Grayville. 1955 Centennial 50¢. Very scarce classic municipal featuring a paddlewheel riverboat,in uncirculated condition. This one was offered for 99¢, and I was astounded to be the only bidder! I think it is more like a $10 token. The only thing that might have affected the bidding is that the seller was asking $3.77 postage, which is way too much. I also think that if the seller had featured the attractive obverse design instead of the generic reverse, it may have garnered more interest.
12/6/12
Wisconsin, Black River Falls. 1983 Centennial Dollar, goldene, almost uncirculated. Very scarce issue which originally had a reported mintage of only 250 each in four finishes, and an additional 100 in silver. However, I have seen specimens numbered up to #349, making me suspect a second order was placed with the manufacturer. Still a very seldom encountered MTC. This one started off at $4.99 with FREE shipping, and I won it for $7.50. There was only one other bidder. This is another of those issues where I still need the silver issue. I ordered it when I saw a notice of its issue in The Numismatist, but by the time they got my order the silvers were sold out. If you were luckier than I was, and were able to get one, I'm the guy to trade/sell it to!
12/6/12
Idaho, Ketchum. 1960 Wagon Days Souvenir Dollar. Scarce issue worth $7.50 - $8.50 today. Offered for $4.99 plus $3.00 postage. No bidders. Sometimes people just refuse to bid when they think the postage charges are too high.
12/4/12
South Dakota, Sioux Falls. 1960 Territorial Centennial Half Dollar. Lot of 9 pieces, Extremely fine to Uncirculated. Very common. Reported mintage 300,000 but probably higher as the state decided to extend their use for a year beyond their stated expiry date. Lot of 9 pieces sold for starting bid of $15.00.
12/4/12
Alaska, Fairbanks. 1967 Alaska Purchase Centennial Dollar, private issue for Chena View Hotel. Sold to a single bidder at the starting bid of $9.99 plus $1.00. Just a bit high, in my estimation.
12/3/12
Indiana, Brazil. 1961 and 1962 Friendship Festival 50¢ tokens. I had known about the 1961 issues forever, but the 1962 was absolutely new to me. Start was $5.00 plus $1.50 shipping. I was prepared to pay a lot for this lot, but I was the sole bidder! I don't need to say it made my day! I contacted the seller, who lives in Brazil, Indiana, and was able to get three additional pieces. See the January 2013 listings for more info.
12/2/12
Wyoming, Greybull. Undated Days of '49 10 Cents in Fun tokens. Lightly circulated, as most are. Sold for $2.53 plus $1.79 shipping. Too cheap for this Late 1940's - early 1950's token. Not rare, but scarce, so it's gotta be worth over $5.00! The seller, guilliaumus, is someone I have dealt with for many years, and is a seller you can trust. Check out his listings by doing an ebay advanced search by seller.
12/1/12
Hawaii, Oahu. Waikiki Beach Dala, 1996. One ounce Silver Proof. Another of those gorgeous Royal Hawaiian Mint issues. With a mintage of only 500 pieces, this one ounce Dala is just might be worth the double silver starting price of $70.00. A second bidder sent the selling price up to $71.00. Shipping was $3.75.
12/1/12
Kansas, Leavenworth. 1969 and 1970 Dollars. Two separate lots by the same seller. Each nickel-silver piece started at $6.00 plus $2.50 shipping. The same bidder won them both - the 1969 (mintage 3,650) for the opening of $6.00, and the 1970 (mintage 1,275) for $12.00 with two bidders. Both just about right.
12/1/12
Kansas, Barton County. 1961 Territorial Centennial Souvenir Coin. This one, from one of the most easily obtainable counties, started at 1¢ plus a reasonable $1 shipping - and that is exactly what it brought! This despite the fact that the seller described it as an unlisted So-Called Dollar!