OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF ROYAL HAWAIIAN MINT TLI. Announcing... First Silver Proof Set. In All 5 Sizes

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1 OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF ROYAL HAWAIIAN MINT TLI SILVER PROOF ISSUE MARCH 1996 Announcing... AKAHIDALA ONE OUNCE HAPALUA DALA HALF OUNCE HAPAIWAKALUA HAPAHUMI DALA DALA HAPAHA DALA TENTII OUNCE TWENTIETH QUARTER OUNCE OUNCE Reverse Designs - shown actua1 size First Silver Proof Set In All 5 Sizes First Silver 1/2 oz., 1/4 oz. & 1/20 oz. ever issued! The sun was slipping into the sea just below Barbers Point and for the last few minutes of that dying day cast a dreamy, surrealistic light over Honolulu. The wonderfully warm golden light streamed though the windows of the Royal Hawaiian Mint and illuminated... nothing! The counters and display cases where visitors and collectors viewed the Mint's special issues and numismatic treasures... the huge press where each and every coin was meticulously minted, even the "guards" at the front door, regaled in the uniforms of the Hawaiian monarchy... were all gone. It was rhe end of the day... a very special day at the Mint. It was the last day at 1421 Kalakaua Avenue. Tomorrow, the Mint would open at its new location at 1427 Kalakaua Avenue- right on The Royal Corner of King Street and Kalakaua Avenue. Moving is a chore... whether its halfway around the world or right next door, like this one was. Everything still needs to be gathered up, wrapped and packed. On the mezzanine level that served as the Mint's offices, I was preparing to pack the last few items that still remained.

2 Ha"VVaii' s First Silver Proof Set In Five Weights and Sizes HAPAHA DALA QUARTER OUNCE HAPAHUMI DALA TENTH OUNCE Time Capsule In A Closet HAPAIWAKALUA DALA TWENTIETH OUNCE ALL SILVER IS.999 FINE The closet behind my desk had served as my private storage place... my personal archives... where sketches, samples and paperwork relating to projects completed and uncompleted were kept. I reached up and took the first file, but as I turned to place it in the waiting box, I paused and opened it.... and the memories came pouring out. Here was a letter dated November 12, 1982 that read in part, "we would like you to join the festivities in Waimea... (where) the highlight will be the minting of our new Gold Centennial Crown and Silver Centennial Dala... (to) commemorate the 1 OOth Anniversary of the only authentic coinage of the Kingdom of Hawaii ever to circulate as legal tender." I recalled that the coins minted at that special party were all struck with a special hallmark showing the First Day of Issue... Dec. 4, There was more... so much more. The copies of MINTLINE issued long ago traced the journey of the Mint from Waimea on the Big Island to Koula Street in Honolulu. There were some of the flawed dies of the l988 Aloha Gold issue and a test strike, for the 1989 Royal Hawaiian Gold issue and the 1991 Princess Kaiulani Set. There were a couple test strikes of the Official Pearl Harbor 50th Anniversary Commemorative... one with the erroneous obverse (the helmet and machine gun shown were not issued until after the attack) and one with the corrected design. To me it seemed like I had struck the first of the Pearl Harbor coins only yesterday... to commemorate the beginning of World War IT. Yet I knew that what I had really done yesterday was strike the final test pieces of the commemoratives marking the end of World War IT. page2

3 An Unfinished Treasure Is Found It was late now. The fading sunlight had long ago been replaced by the dull glow of a single light bulb. Reluctantly, each file.. and the memories it held... bad been carefully closed and packed in the last box. Only one small file remained. Unlike the others, this file was bent and wrinkled. It looked like it may have been accidentally pushed behind the other files and somehow forgotten as more and more programs were completed. When I opened it, I knew my suspicions were true. In this file was a single sheet of paper showing the specifications and designs for a set of proofs unlike any other ever issued by the Mint. There were five proofs in the set... a one ounce, a half ounce, a quarter ounce, a tenth ounce and a twentieth ounce. The one ounce obverse featured Kamehameha with the Royal Hawaiian Coat of Arm on the reverse. The obverse of the half ounce showed King Kalakaua, the quarter ounce had a new proposed obverse and the tenth ounce featured Queen Liliuokalani. The reverses of all three had the same design - the Royal Hawaiian Crest. The last one, the twentieth ounce had Princess Kaiulani on the obverse and the Wreath from the original 1883 legal tender issue on the reverse. What made this set unique was that all five proofs were SILVER! The Royal Hawaiian Silver Set Now, it came back to me. I conceived of an all silver proof set in the late Only $79.00 eighties. The idea was to make a "sampler" set with a sample of all our royal coin designs. A set that would be more affordable to our collectors and to take advantage of the appreciation of silver prices that was anticipated at that time. All the sets issued by the Royal Hawaiian Mint have always inc1uded one or more gold proofs. We had never issued an all silver set... and still haven't. I had given the silver set the working name of "Royal Hawaiian Silver". Now that I had rediscovered it, I decided to complete the plans for the issue and make it the first new issue from our new location. (And to mark the way I rediscovered it, I gave the set anew working name... "The Lost Silver Set".) Months have passed since I found that folder in my closet. During those months, I have worked diligently to turn that silver proof set from a sketch on a wrinkled piece of paper into a magnificent set of five lustrous silver proofs. And now, I can announce to you that "The Lost Silver Set" is ready to be minted. page3

4 Special Issue For A Special Occasion The first Lost Silver Proof Sets will be issued on Wednesday, May 15th, ~~~ To commemorate the occasion, each proof set will have a special ~ hallmark struck on the one ounce proof. Then the set will be packaged with a special case and certificate, both attesting ~~.f!~~~~~~~ifj that it is a "First Day of Issue." The coin case which was designed as a display case for all five coins - also includes a base so that you can actually display your beautiful Silver Proof Set. If you are going to be around The Royal Comer in Honolulu on May 15th, I invite you to join us for this very special moment in the Mint's history and to watch as we mint your own personal Lost Silver Proof Set. I suspect that most of you will be someplace else on that day, but you can still reserve one of these First Day of Issue sets at a special pre-issue price of $79.00, if you act now. After May 15th the Silver Proof Set will be $99.00 and of course the First Day of Issue will be available only on the secondary market. Reserve Your First Day of Issue Set Now To order your SPECIAL frrst day of issue of Proof Silver Set, simply check "First Day of Issue" on the Order Form. Because of the expected 1 demand, I can only allow two "First Day Sets" to each customer. This extra special set will be available exclusively to MINTLINE readers and those who actually attend the special ceremonies at the Mint. Only sets ordered before or at the ceremonies will bear the special "First Day" hallmark. Reservations for your First Day Set must be received at the Mint no later that 12 Noon (Honolulu Time) Wednesday, May 15th. I suggest that you fax ( ) or calj in your order to us if time is tight in order to ensure that we receive it in time. You may order as many as five regular (i.e. without hallmark) Silver Proof Sets at the regular price. This unique set will not only be the first issue from our new location, but it is also the first all silver proof set ever issued by Royal Hawaiian Mint. page4 iiil~

5 27mm 22mm "As special as the Mint's silver proof set is, this issue is even more special and more rare... " HAWAII'S FIRST ENAMEL COIN Commemorating Halau Hula 0 Maiki's 50th Anniversary Shown actual size Shown actual size Fifty years ago, Halau Hula 0 Maiki, (dance group) was founded by Mrs. Maiki Aiu. From tlus balau, au current Hawaiian hula groups have grown- throughout Hawaii and around the world the 50th Anniversary is being commemorated with a special enamel coin as a fundraiser. All three sizes have the same design and the same great quality that is only possible with the ''old world'' double fired enamel of ground glass. Oh! What a work it is! You can see through the translucent green maile leaves to the micro engraved leaf detail stamped in the coin. The drum is covered with clear glass enamel which protects the drum's detail while presenting its rich detail. The background of each coin is opaque white with all the letters and rim in either gold or silver. Beautiful! The reverse has been left blank to be engraved with a heirloom message and name. Limited to only 50 coins in each of the three sizes. While most have already been sold, the Mint has been ailotted 5 coins of each size. So, if you have ever quested after a future rarity - one of these is indeed it. Gold half ounce enameled coin is $750.00, Gold quarter ounce is $ and the Silver one ounce is $ Each coin is.9999 Gold or.999 Silver. BIG Mahala to Ms. Coline Aiu, Maiki Aiu's daughter and a Mint collector, for this commission. World War II and V-J Day Commemoratives Final Offer for these Historic Proofs As you know, the US Mint did not issue any coins commemorating either V-J Day nor the 50th Anniversary of the End of World War II despite the fact that the war remains as the watershed event of the 20th century. Here at the Royal Hawaiian Mint, I'm happy to report that the last orders were filled in time for the Christmas holiday but we ~~... still have a small number of V-J Day and End of WWII '--~~... Commemoratives sets and individual coins. All remaining commemoratives are now scheduled to be melted down on May 1st. I urge you not to miss this last opportunity to own one or more of these beautiful commemoratives. I suggest that you place your order immediately because, after May lst, they will be available only at a surcharge on the secondary market. Either single silver $ Two coin special WWII Set $ page5 39mm

6 Aloha Collectors, As I look back over our twenty plus years, I am amazed that we had never done a five coin Silver Proof Set- announced with this issue. Given the successes of our five coin Gold Proof Set at much higher prices - this ''sampler" set with all the Royal obverse designs plus the Kuapapa Mo'i from last year is definitely an impmtant collection to pick up and especially at the pre-issue price of only $ And the First Day of Issue Hallmark is an added bonus. A very big thank you for your many calls regarding our new rare coin service for the collector in all of us. Yes, in answer to your inquires for collectors items that we don't carry and that we know nothing about, I am pleased to confirm that we are finally making an effort to be a full service provider for your collector needs. Currently we are doing a test with a mainland company to see if we can be of service for your collector needs. If you have been called, please know that we have NOT sold your name - as we would never do that. We are simply trying to be of service. If the material that is offered is of interest to you and of good collector value then please collect with the confidence that we have retained Collectors Advantage to be of service. If you don't wish to be contacted, then by all means, please inform them by calling toll free: or us. If there is any problem, please contact us immediately. Here's wishing you the best with your collecting. Please stop by the new Mint at the Royal Comer whenever you're in Honolulu and need that special Hawaiian gift. Plus, a whole line of Royal Coin Jewelry is only a toll free call away. Ask for Telle or Manulani via Big Mahalo for your suppmt. Bernard von NotHaus Mintmaster/Editor. PS: Found in Vault Special: A few (46) trial silver pieces tbal are not weighted. They are well struck and simply the pieces created on our way to designing the first silver set. All are l8mm (11116" diameter) and packaged in an air tight capsule for $8.50. Limit one per collector. PPS: We have three of the five coin Kuapapa Mo'i gojd sets. At $1750 this very. very limited edition of only 95 sets is an outstanding gift for that special person. Please call to confirm order.