Coin collector spots unfortunate detail on limited edition buy: Can you spot it?
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In the quiet streets of Canberra, a situation unfolded outside the Royal Australian Mint, where coin collectors and enthusiasts queued up for hours, some even overnight, in hopes of securing a piece of numismatic history.
The object of their desire? A limited-edition $2 coin set that's causing quite the stir in the collector's market, with values reportedly soaring upwards of $1,000.
Maurice Mattei, an avid coin collector, was one of the many who embarked on this numismatic pilgrimage.
After driving for 2.5 hours and braving long queues, Mattei's anticipation turned to dismay when he discovered an unsightly detail on one of his purchased coins.
Despite the $235 price tag for the 35th-anniversary coin set, there was a visible scratch on the late Queen Elizabeth’s cheek!
The flaw was a disappointing blow to Mattei's expectations of mint condition.
The scratch, he believed, occurred during the production process, where coins are tumbled in drums, leading to potential damage.
His frustration is compounded by the fact that a previous purchase of a 12-coin set, which was not only cheaper at $75 but also arrived in pristine condition, set a different standard.
‘There are scratches on the head from where they’ve been bumped around in the drums,’ Mr Mattei said.
‘The last 12-coin sets were in much better condition and much cheaper.’
'For that sort of money, they should've made a special batch for just them and handled them with more care. Not just pick them out of the drum and stick them in the folder,' Mattei added, reflecting a sentiment shared by many collectors who seek perfection in their acquisitions.
Mattei claimed these rare coins are now being sold online for up to $1,500.
The Royal Australian Mint, however, stands by its product.
In a statement, a spokesperson assured, ‘The standard of the collection has been assessed by the mint’s quality control team and deemed to meet the mint’s quality standards for this class of product.’
This response, however, may not fully assuage the concerns of collectors who invest not only their money but also their passion into these tangible pieces of history.
The Royal Australian Mint has a history of producing coins that later became incredibly valuable due to errors in the minting process.
Just last month, a batch of $1 coins from 2005 featuring the iconic 'Mob of Roos' design by Stuart Devlin was reported to have an error that made it worth thousands today.
Out of the 5.8 million ‘Mob of Roos’ coins, only a few are said to have the error.
The error was a misalignment, causing the coin to be struck off-centre about 10 per cent or 2-3mm. That part of the design on both the obverse and reverse sides was chopped off, while the other had a wonky-looking blank space.
These coins have listings on eBay with asking prices as high as $6,999.90.
It's clear that the world of coin collecting is alive and well in Australia. With the recent transition from Queen Elizabeth II's portrait to that of King Charles III, there's an added layer of historical significance to these coins, making them even more sought after.
If you still want to collect the last coin featuring the late Queen, the Royal Australian Mint recently released a limited-edition 50-cent coin showing the late Queen’s final portrait before her death in September 2022. Read more details about the coin here.
Do you love collecting coins? Have you also encountered damage from any of your coin collections? Share them with us in the comments below!
The object of their desire? A limited-edition $2 coin set that's causing quite the stir in the collector's market, with values reportedly soaring upwards of $1,000.
Maurice Mattei, an avid coin collector, was one of the many who embarked on this numismatic pilgrimage.
After driving for 2.5 hours and braving long queues, Mattei's anticipation turned to dismay when he discovered an unsightly detail on one of his purchased coins.
Maurice Mattei found a scratch on one of the coins he bought. Credit: news.com.au
Despite the $235 price tag for the 35th-anniversary coin set, there was a visible scratch on the late Queen Elizabeth’s cheek!
The flaw was a disappointing blow to Mattei's expectations of mint condition.
The scratch, he believed, occurred during the production process, where coins are tumbled in drums, leading to potential damage.
His frustration is compounded by the fact that a previous purchase of a 12-coin set, which was not only cheaper at $75 but also arrived in pristine condition, set a different standard.
‘There are scratches on the head from where they’ve been bumped around in the drums,’ Mr Mattei said.
‘The last 12-coin sets were in much better condition and much cheaper.’
'For that sort of money, they should've made a special batch for just them and handled them with more care. Not just pick them out of the drum and stick them in the folder,' Mattei added, reflecting a sentiment shared by many collectors who seek perfection in their acquisitions.
Mattei claimed these rare coins are now being sold online for up to $1,500.
The Royal Australian Mint, however, stands by its product.
In a statement, a spokesperson assured, ‘The standard of the collection has been assessed by the mint’s quality control team and deemed to meet the mint’s quality standards for this class of product.’
This response, however, may not fully assuage the concerns of collectors who invest not only their money but also their passion into these tangible pieces of history.
The Royal Australian Mint has a history of producing coins that later became incredibly valuable due to errors in the minting process.
Just last month, a batch of $1 coins from 2005 featuring the iconic 'Mob of Roos' design by Stuart Devlin was reported to have an error that made it worth thousands today.
Out of the 5.8 million ‘Mob of Roos’ coins, only a few are said to have the error.
The error was a misalignment, causing the coin to be struck off-centre about 10 per cent or 2-3mm. That part of the design on both the obverse and reverse sides was chopped off, while the other had a wonky-looking blank space.
These coins have listings on eBay with asking prices as high as $6,999.90.
It's clear that the world of coin collecting is alive and well in Australia. With the recent transition from Queen Elizabeth II's portrait to that of King Charles III, there's an added layer of historical significance to these coins, making them even more sought after.
If you still want to collect the last coin featuring the late Queen, the Royal Australian Mint recently released a limited-edition 50-cent coin showing the late Queen’s final portrait before her death in September 2022. Read more details about the coin here.
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