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 Replies: 31 / Views: 14,627 |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
877 Posts |
A few weeks ago I was asked if I had a "gap" 2008 20¢. I had to answer that I only had some uncirculateds (a security bag from the bank) and some better grade aUNC I had kept as I came across them. A search of ebay showed some for sale but nothing I could find on the forum here. The gap is in the water swirl next to the platypus's head as opposed to the swirl touching the head. Sound to me rather like the London and Canberra mintmarks of 1966 20¢ Anyway, I went through some bulk bags of 20¢ from the bank recently and put all 2008 aside and checked them and did find some gaps. See attached scans for a "normal" and a "gap" example. It looks like it is not actually a gap but the swirl tapers down to negligible width at the end. Depending on the viewing angle, against the light [and how powerful a magnifier I use] there either is a gap or a microscopically fine point just touching the head. Not hard to find so, obviously, not rare. All ebay listings -even in completed items search- have now disappeared so nobody must have been buying. Any comments? thanks Jeff   |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
thanks for sharing that: another variety to keep in mind as I noodle ...
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New Member
Australia
17 Posts |
Hi Jeff, I recall seeing a few of these on ebay maybe about 8 months ago. They did fetch a handsome price. I found a couple too, and have put them away - just incase... Cheers. |
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Pillar of the Community
 Australia
877 Posts |
Hi Mulatto, Do you recall around what price they were fetching? Purely a coincidence but, last night, someone who bought some other coins from me on ebay asked about getting one of these. Everything is for sale, if the price is right. Trouble is I don't really know what is the right price for one of these.  thanks Jeff |
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Formerly nancyc
Australia
5385 Posts |
Goodness me, another error to check for.  I can't keep up with all of them any more. Must be getting too old!  I do have a couple 2008 20¢ where the right side claws are quite filled in. No good trying to do pictures, I just can't take any worth posting. After I check all my 2008's, I'll post here again if I find any 'gap' ones. life is a mystery to be lived not a problem to be solved
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
877 Posts |
Hi Nancy, It's been a while. And now the bad news -there actually seems to be about 4 variations of these swirls; - Normal swirl has a smal, but noticeable width where it touches the head
- Next one comes to quite a sharp point where it touches the head
- Next one comes to a point just away from the head and looks like a gap at first view. But, close inspection shows a very fine line from the point, touching the head
- Last one has a definite gap (0.6mm) and background in the gap is perfectly smooth
The first two are both common and about equal numbers; the third is slightly less common and the last is not common at all. This is the 45th year the RAM has been making this design. You would think they would have it standardised by now. Jeff |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
Quote: "... This is the 45th year the RAM has been making this design. You would think they would have it standardised by now"
- maybe, but engravers sometimes get bored ...
remember the 1959 florin; the 1982 50-cent ...
Gives us collectors something to look for and talk about.
Peter in Darwin
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Formerly nancyc
Australia
5385 Posts |
I think you're right there Peter. We'd all be sitting around biting our nails if all these errors and/or varieties didn't exist. Jeff, It has been quite a while.  I've been pretty busy. life is a mystery to be lived not a problem to be solved
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New Member
Australia
17 Posts |
Hi Jeff,
If I recall correctly there were three that went up for auction.
The first ended at over $40, the second & third in the mid $30's.
Did I miss something with the 1982 50 cent coin - is there an error I don't know about?
Cheers,
John.
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Valued Member
Australia
70 Posts |
Jeff. The first one of these I saw on E-bay went for $80.00. But I have only seen that one and one I sold, a "short gap" for about $5.00 or so. It was ages ago now, the old memory doesn't work as good as it should. I pulled a few of the short gaps and a few of the large gaps out when the 2008's first came around to me. But as the time has passed, my strike rate has dwindled. So I am keeping and hoarding all I can find. I believe the large gap, in particular, will have a heck of a lot of price potential in the coming years.
Simon
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
877 Posts |
Well, in one week I have found 15 full gap examples (and only 6 tiny gap/pointed swirl).
This may give an idea of the value of these [eBayItem]380211543367[/eBayItem].
cheers
Jeff
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
877 Posts |
Sold for 99¢! By my reckoning the seller would have made a loss on that gap coin.  Jeff |
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Valued Member
Australia
70 Posts |
I agree, a big loss!
Oh well, best to hoard for a while longer =o)
Well done on your finds, you hit the honey-pot!
Simon
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
877 Posts |
What honeypot  If they are only worth 99¢ I won't retire on my profit yet.  cheers Jeff |
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Valued Member
Cyprus
349 Posts |
I don't see the 20c 2008 Gap variety in Renniks. Is it in Maccas?
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Formerly nancyc
Australia
5385 Posts |
Quote:
I don't see the 20c 2008 Gap variety in Renniks. Is it in Maccas? I can't find any evidence of it in the 2010 edition. It's possible that the find hadn't been reported in time to make it into it before it went to press. It's also possible that Macca is waiting on info from the RAM to determine if it is another 'variety' or if they have a different explanation for it. Eg, worn die or die fill, I dunno. life is a mystery to be lived not a problem to be solved
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Replies: 31 / Views: 14,627 |
Posted 02/19/2010 03:58 am
