Hello,
As the title says I am after opinions. I had a bit of a Lotto win in a group at work, and every so often I like to but a Silver proof set. ( Australian ) While looking I found one from Belize which has all Birds. Something else I like. It says they are Silver, although the 2 smallest denominations look a different colour. The price seems OK compared to stuff from the US, but they are from the Franklin Mint. So, would these be legal tender ? Are they all Silver ? What do you People all think about it ?
Quote from: 'Coiny Chris' pid='65096' dateline='1420834065'Hello,
As the title says I am after opinions. I had a bit of a Lotto win in a group at work, and every so often I like to but a Silver proof set. ( Australian ) While looking I found one from Belize which has all Birds. Something else I like. It says they are Silver, although the 2 smallest denominations look a different colour. The price seems OK compared to stuff from the US, but they are from the Franklin Mint. So, would these be legal tender ? Are they all Silver ? What do you People all think about it ?
MOPO CHRIS , stay away from the franklin mint . ,, kel ,,
Stuff from the Franklin Mint is definitely not legal tender, and although I'd love the Birdie coins, I still would not touch them with a barge pole. At one stage, the Franklin Mint was owned by Downies, but not sure if that's still the case.
If it can be guaranteed that they are silver, then maybe a price slightly above value of silver content could turn out to be a good buy for you, but still nope for me.
I agree with the above posts as well... I would not buy anything from F/M. If you have the funds I would look for Perth or RAM sets... I am sure you will find a bargain on eBay or similar. Just my 2 c worth...
Quote from: 'Nevol' pid='65100' dateline='1420844218'Stuff from the Franklin Mint is definitely not legal tender, and although I'd love the Birdie coins, I still would not touch them with a barge pole. At one stage, the Franklin Mint was owned by Downies, but not sure if that's still the case.
If it can be guaranteed that they are silver, then maybe a price slightly above value of silver content could turn out to be a good buy for you, but still nope for me.
The Franklin mint has minted coins for many countries throughout the world that are legal tender.....Belize being one of them. I have MANY Belize silver proof sets that I have purchased over the years due to the FACT that all of the coins are STERLING SILVER.....even the cent! The amount of silver in each set (ASW) is 3.08 ounces....worth $51 (US) today for melt value. True, in the past, I have paid up to $66 for a few sets when silver was high, and lower prices as silver has come down, but to me, the uniqueness of that set is very unusual.
The majority of the Franklin Mint sets had one or maybe two Silver coins from 50% upwards in the sets .
The rest were base metal.
These are TRUE Grannybait coins in every sense of the word :ok:
The Perth Mint and RAM are also producing coins of this Ilk but at least they are legal tender ( with the exception of the 25c coin in the dollar and dump series)
My advice for what its worth is to run away from this garbage and spend your windfall on something truly numismatic :ok:
I understand that the Belize (and several other countries) issues were with approval of the Government. So possibly could be classified as "NCLT".
The small value ones that are not silver are probably aluminium.
I would not buy them but that is not the point. If you like them and consider them worth the price then, by all means, buy them. That makes you a "heart" motivated collector (as opposed to a "head" motivated collector).
I just happen to think the former is more a true collector than the latter. Interesting that many collections of people who collect what they like do appreciate in value and many investment collections turn out to be disasters [especially those guided by 'expert' advisers collecting commission -but that is another story].
I have a 1974 proof set. I like them, they're nice coins. The documentation that comes with them doesn't say what they are made of.
Hello,
No real surprise with the response. It is an interesting novelty, not for an investment. If they can be resold for a similar amount later, I haven't lost much. There are sets in the US of varying years and all seem to be about the same price. I dd have 2nd thoughts before my Post that I would lose any credibility.......
Quote from: 'Nevol' pid='65100' dateline='1420844218'At one stage, the Franklin Mint was owned by Downies, but not sure if that's still the case.
Really? Or are you thinking of the Macquarie Mint?
Quote from: 'Mister T' pid='65121' dateline='1420855280'Quote from: 'Nevol' pid='65100' dateline='1420844218'At one stage, the Franklin Mint was owned by Downies, but not sure if that's still the case.
Really? Or are you thinking of the Macquarie Mint?
:scratch_one-s_head: Oooh, you've got me thinking now, might have been Macquarie. :dontknow: Probably was. :blush2:
Hello,
Before you all say Shame, I have some more silver Aussie Coins on the way. $1 $2 and a First Fleet $10. 2 are in the box, the other from a set. I did in fact get the FM Bird set, but it was a very good price and they are nice to look at. I also have a NZ Bird Coin on the way. Who else want to come clean with their dirty secret of owning a FM Coin or other product ?
I own heaps of franklin mint stuff. I love the Bahamas proof sets and the silver ingots. I have a complete collection of these
http://www.icollector.com/1988-COOK-ISLANDS-COINS-OF-THE-GREAT-EXPLORERS-SE_i5342526
and love getting cheap silver that is pretty
I dare say that I have some FM coins amongst my Bird themed collection, but I would not have been aware that they were FM when I bought them.
Can't say whether I would still have bought them if I had known. :dontknow: Probably would have if the price had been right, just 'cos I love my birdie coins so much. :winkextra:
Quote from: 'Coiny Chris' pid='65371' dateline='1421352564'Who else want to come clean with their dirty secret of owning a FM Coin or other product ?
I think I have a Solomon Islands and a Cook Islands proof set as they are both countries I collect. I think enough years have passed for them to just be normal coins now.
Quote from: 'Coiny Chris' pid='65371' dateline='1421352564'Who else want to come clean with their dirty secret of owning a FM Coin or other product ?
OK, I'll own up.
I have a 2 1/2 Centesimos from Panama.
It's a 1976 proof coin from Franklin Mint.
Mintage is 24,000. Weight 1.25g
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10113/1976_Panama_2_5_Centesimos_28Panama_Pill29.JPG)
Us too ......
Mrs Uni has the same set as shown tucked away ......
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/11067/uni_fm.jpg)
Quote from: 'Nevol' pid='65134' dateline='1420880676'Quote from: 'Mister T' pid='65121' dateline='1420855280'Quote from: 'Nevol' pid='65100' dateline='1420844218'At one stage, the Franklin Mint was owned by Downies, but not sure if that's still the case.
Really? Or are you thinking of the Macquarie Mint?
:scratch_one-s_head: Oooh, you've got me thinking now, might have been Macquarie. :dontknow: Probably was. :blush2:
Yep. Macquarie. Also purveyors of fine garbage. They copied Franklin in many ways, from the junk they produce to the way they market it. :(
That said, I do have a couple of their products, but not as part of my coin collection. Rather, some of the stuff is pretty to look at, and if its the right price, well...
And its probably still worth what I paid (though not what they were originally asking). More than I can say for almost all my NCLT from PM and RAM. :(
Quote from: 'Unicorn' pid='65447' dateline='1421465143'Us too ......
Mrs Uni has the same set as shown tucked away ......
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/11067/uni_fm.jpg)
wow
I like the look of the bottom row
very pretty
Quote from: 'robbiegal' pid='65484' dateline='1421539971'wow
I like the look of the bottom row
very pretty
Then you'd love the stuff my friend Jenny makes:
https://www.houseofkronemann.com/
Gee there's some lovely items there McDuck!
Pity they're not unicorns and pity I don't have the disposable income that I once enjoyed. (Or a disposable income for that matter). :laugh2:
Quote from: 'Unicorn' pid='65491' dateline='1421544188'Gee there's some lovely items there McDuck!
Pity they're not unicorns and pity I don't have the disposable income that I once enjoyed. (Or a disposable income for that matter). :laugh2:
Her arm could probably be twisted to make some unicorns. Enough orders to justify manufacturing, that could be harder.
Quote from: 'Fulvio' pid='65488' dateline='1421540751'Quote from: 'robbiegal' pid='65484' dateline='1421539971'wow
I like the look of the bottom row
very pretty
Then you'd love the stuff my friend Jenny makes:
https://www.houseofkronemann.com/
very beautiful
thank-you