1974 Fiji 1/2 oz fine Gold Rare Coin + Trial Strike near MELT VALUE

  

This is a pair of very rare coins with a unique history. Paramount International Coin Corporation supported Fiji with the design and manufacture, and collector sales of this coin. I was the worldwide managing director overseeing the development and offering of this coin. It was expensive at the time and only 2,321 were minted for worldwide sales. International sales began in 1974 but US Sales did not begin until 1975 following legalization of gold ownership in December, 1974. In fact, it was one of the first legal tender collector coins offered in the US. The coin offered here is minted coin #1. It was the gold trial strike for approval. Its striking preceded the production of the other 2,320 by a few months to accommodate development of packaging, photography for promotional materials, and the like. The coin is housed in a sample leather top acrylic case. This was a sample case and, if my mind serves me correctly, is not the case design selected for housing the coin. This strike followed the bronze trial strike that was produced months before the gold blanks were produced for actual coin production. ONLY THREE BRONZE TRIAL SAMPLES WERE EVER STRUCK. I was responsible for the bronze blanks, was present at the mint, and know with certainty that only three were struck.