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 Replies: 8 / Views: 5,027 |
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New Member
United States
7 Posts |
Hi all, I am brand new to the forum and hope some experienced folks know something about the value and potential market for this coin. I have a 1938 Fiji sixpence that appears almost uncirculated (was likely even in better condition but was kept in a metal box, unprotected, with other old coins for the past 70 or so years by my great uncle). I can find almost nothing on the coin, other than it appears that 40,000 total were minted. It is a very attractive coin - especially the turtle) - but no one seems to be buying, selling, or even discussing this coin. Thank you for any information you can provide - I am such a newbie and the learning curve is really steep :). I have many other old foreign coins that are also a mystery to me - so I'll likely be making additional posts - thank you for tolerating my level of ignorance! Nancy   |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1040 Posts |
Hi Nancy, and welcome. It is a little hard to tell exactly from the pictures, but if it is uncirculated, it is worth around $50.
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New Member
 United States
7 Posts |
Thank you Sean - I don't know if it is uncirculated - or I guess almost uncirculated - which is more likely - or maybe lower - because I am too much of a newbie to judge. It does appear to have some frosty patina on the flat surfaces of the coin though. Should I take it to a dealer and have it officially graded? Thanks again for helping me! Nancy
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
Nancy- It seems that that coin is probably an AU (almost uncirculated). All in all a very nice coin!
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New Member
United States
7 Posts |
Hi Archraz,
Thank you for responding to both of my initial posts to the forum! I appreciate the information! I have quite a few south Pacific and Asian British coins so I may pester you for additional information. I know little about them and some there isn't much to find - such as the 1940's coins from Malaya, and I think coins that may be from India (maybe IND is for India) - again, I'm just learning - but it is all very fascinating to realize all the history surrounding the coins - as well as about the specifics pertaining to a particular coin, mint, etc. Mind-boggling - I had no idea there was so much to know. If there is any coin that is particularly interesting to you, let me know and I'll look in the "pile" to see if there is one there. I guess I shouldn't toss the Fiji coin back into the metal box I found it in - I think I should treat it very kindly now that I know it may be worth more than a couple of dollars :). Thanks again - this is fun! Nancy
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Pillar of the Community
United States
790 Posts |
When I was in Jr High I had to pick a country and put together a report. I wanted to be a weirdo and picked a place nobody had heard of, I picked Fiji. After that I became obsessed with Fiji (name a jr high student that wouldn't love a place that used to be called the cannibal islands!). Of course before ebay, getting coins from a place like Fiji when you live in Wisconsin is almost impossible. I used to wait all year for the coin show in my city. It was small and had almost nothing. I got a lot of my earliest Fiji coins in Minneapolis where I had an aunt I used to visit during summers. I even got a Dansco Fiji folder there (which I still have). With the advent of ebay, coins from Fiji became much more possible. I bought one set of predecimal coins in a single purchase. I also finished up a second set. I have two of those 1938 6 pence coins, though neither of mine are nearly as pretty. This obsession with Fiji has dwindled now that I have two complete sets, but the experience has triggered new obsessions. I am now obsessed with acquiring former British colonials, especially smaller places. I recently completed a pre-Republic set from Seychelles (and working on a second). I also recently completed a set from British Gambia. I'm currently also working on British Nigeria, Mauritius, British Jamaica, New Zealand, Malaya, and Malaya & British Borneo. All of these are, to some degree or other, acquirable sets. I'd love to tackle some of the bigger ones like British India, Australia (I'm actually quite a bit into this one), South Africa, Straits Settlements, Hong Kong, etc. Partly the thing stopping me is money, but mostly it is the stupid postage on ebay. Most of the coins I want are a few bucks at best, but when postage is $4 or more for a single coin....it's no longer a cheap coin. Edited by Jays-Dad
02/13/2010 8:10 pm
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New Member
United States
7 Posts |
Hi Jays-Dad,
Thank you for your post and for sharing the origins of your interest in Fiji and British colonial coins - I do think the Fiji coin with the turtle is really an engaging coin - but then again, I love anything associated with a tropical ocean and have a 300 gallon salt-water aquarium in my living room - so my attraction to Fiji is location, location, location - although I've never been there - and have been dealing with snow and below zero temps in Omaha this winter :( Anyway, I do have some coins from Malaya, British India (I think), one from Straits Settlements, several from Hong Kong, about 6 from new Zealand, 1 or 2 from jamaica, and some other locations - mostly from the 1920's - 1940's time frame. I know little about the coins, but could upload some tomorrow to see if you or anyone has interest and information. I am finding that there is so much fascinating information related to coins and the history they represent and am developing a whole new appreciation for the level of knowledge and expertise of people who have been into coins for years - it is like numismatics are part historian, treasure hunter, archival researcher, and compulsive perfectionists, all rolled into one! Let me know if you'd like to know more about any of my coins or would like to help educate me about them. Thanks, Nancy
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Pillar of the Community
United States
790 Posts |
If you first post a list of dates and denominations by country, I, and others I'm sure, could tell you which might be worth the effort of photos.
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New Member
United States
7 Posts |
Thanks, that's a good idea! I'll work on a list this week and will post soon! Nancy
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Replies: 8 / Views: 5,027 |
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Posted 02/13/2010 6:34 pm
