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Lundy Island Puffins?

Anyone ever hear of these? Neat story behind them:

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This coin helped defeat the independence claims of the proprietors of Lundy, a small island in the Bristol Channel about 11 miles off England's Devonshire coast. The island had traditionally asserted its independence from England, and its owner, Martin Coles Harmon, brought the matter to a head by issuing local coinage.

In 1929, Harmon had 50,000 coins in each of two denominations minted in Birmingham and put them into circulation on Lundy. The coins were the Puffin and the Half Puffin, named for the aquatic birds that nested in large numbers on the island. Devonshire authorities reacted by charging Harmon with infringement of the Coin Act of 1870, a charge that was valid only if England had jurisdiction over Lundy. Thus, rather than a simple determination of culpability in a coinage charge, the case became an inquiry into jurisdiction.

On Lundy, no taxes or duties were levied by England; inhabitants did not collect British pensions; and British officials landed on the island only with the permission of the owner. Harmon stated, to the amusement of the court, that disputes on the island were settled by the 'heavy hand' of his Agent who stood six feet four inches tall and weighed more than 250 pounds.

Harmon lost his court case when the county court justices ruled that England did indeed have jurisdiction and that he was therefore guilty of the infringement charge; his fine was five pounds and his costs 15 guineas. He subsequently appealed the ruling to the High Court of Justice, King's Bench, but England's jurisdiction over Lundy was again upheld and Harmon's appeal dismissed.
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Here are pictures of some: Lundy

Anyone know how much these are worth and how often they come up?

Comments

  • CIVITASCIVITAS Posts: 2,256 ✭✭✭
    They come available fairly frequently. We had a nice UNC brown Half Puffin a few months back. They retail in the $20.00-$30.00 range.
    image
    https://www.civitasgalleries.com

    New coins listed monthly!

    Josh Moran

    CIVITAS Galleries, Ltd.
  • laurentyvanlaurentyvan Posts: 4,243 ✭✭✭
    Interesting story, nice looking coins. Boy is that a determined face on the obverse!
    One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics
    is that you end up being governed by inferiors. – Plato
  • Here is another link to these coins, Spoon , sorry also that time in Russian---please see my last thread on that topic: Unusual coins.."
    Here the link:
    Laundy
    N. N.
  • LloydLloyd Posts: 887
    I sold one of those on Ebay a month or so ago - cracking coins.....

    L
  • They are great - I have 2 of each - one set in brown and 1 set in RB. I keep looking for a full red set but I haven't found it yet...
    Cecil
    Total Copper Nutcase - African, British Ships, Channel Islands!!!
    'Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup'
  • spoonspoon Posts: 2,798 ✭✭✭
    Hmm.. this was the first I've ever heard of them! I might have to look out for one next time I have some money imageimageimage
  • harashaharasha Posts: 3,096 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Karl Stephens had a 1929 BU 1 Puffin, last month, for $24.50. I was going to give it to my boss, who has this thing for Puffins, but the coin was so nice, I decided to keep it myself!
    Honors flysis Income beezis Onches nobis Inob keesis

    DPOTD
  • CoulportCoulport Posts: 1,087 ✭✭✭
    I've got the boxed set of 4. It's the 40th year commemorative 1925 - 1965.

    Any idea what these bring?
    The most money I made are on coins I haven't sold.

    Got quoins?
  • I paid around $50 for the boxed set that I have...
    Cecil
    Total Copper Nutcase - African, British Ships, Channel Islands!!!
    'Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup'
  • ColinCMRColinCMR Posts: 1,482 ✭✭✭
    I have had my eye on these for a while now. they are cool with an interesting history.
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