United states "mini"coin set

COINS MAKE CENTS

Years ago someone brought this to a show to sell. I bought it and realised it's the only thing I've ever bought since becoming a full time dealer that I haven't put up for sale or didn't have a price. I just think it's so neat. The coins are as big around as a pencil eraser and are super detailed.

I took some pictures of it but there's tons of coins I didn't get close ups of

Batman23

That is cool. Just don't Drop it!

Are they gold, silver and copper?

AUandAG

@Batman23 said:
That is cool. Just don't Drop it!

Are they gold, silver and copper?

+1

coinsarefun

That’s very cool, I like it a lot. You need to get that professionally imaged.
I’m also wondering if it’s silver, gold and copper?

COINS MAKE CENTS

The copper and silver coins I believe are. The gold ones are plated

ricko

I have never seen one of those before....There must have been more made since it would be a total waste of money to not make/sell more.... Isn't there some indication of who made/sold it? Cheers, RickO

JBK

It is a great set from the looks of it but also a great example of how one person's junk is another person's treasure. When this was produced (any idea when?) how many of us would not have dismissed it as worthless "collectable" junk? But now, as a seldom (or never) seen curiosity, many including myself think it is neat.

jmlanzaf

I think it was the Franklin Mint. I've bought and sold several of them over the years. There's actually a couple different versions. There's also a similar rare stamp set also struck in sterling.

JBK

For all the flack the FM has taken over the years for their collectable "stuff", they always did good work. I recall in the 1970s and 1980s when they were the official mint for some smaller nations' proof sets, and the quality was impeccable. I am not even sure if they actually manufacture the stuff they sell any more, but I think back then they did.

1630Boston

Very interesting, the case in itself is interesting also

ms70

Now that is very interesting. Can you take a pic with a quarter or a dollar bill on it for perspective?

thebeav

That's a beautiful set !

Kkathyl

I was looking at sets like that but way out of my price range. Nice set great box too

WinLoseWin

They are from the Franklin Mint as I recall. I have about a dozen or so designs I liked that were picked out of a larger group back in the late 1980's or early 1990's. Paid a fraction of the original sales price which may have been something like 2.99 to 4.99 each, maybe more, based on a receipt I had seen. Some were still plastic sealed on a card with Franklin Mint printed on them.

These miniatures are die struck with proof or proof-like surfaces with frosty luster. Have a couple of gold issues that appear plated after striking which covers up the luster and don't look as nice to me as the copper and silver.

Wonder how they made the dies for these as they are very detailed. They are small enough that a COPY mark is not required on them. Some designs looked more accurate than others. Have not seen them for a while but seems that I liked the Bust Half and especially the Chain Cent. That was before the Gallery Mint issues that start in the early to mid 1990's which I liked even more.

JBK

@WinLoseWin said:

Wonder how they made the dies for these as they are very detailed.

Thx for the first hand backstory.

Back in the day the FM used to be a first rate (second to none) minting operation so I am not surprised these mini coin are so nice.