Set Description
The Royal Hawaiian Mint utilized the original obverse portrait of Princess Victoria Ka'iulani from the grand prize of Hawaiian numismatics, the Reginald Huth gold pattern issue of the proof 1895 Princess Victoria Ka'iulani 20 dala (dollar) coin of which only two specimens are known. One specimen is owned by the Smithsonian Institution and the other is owned by a coin dealer. The current asking price for this specimen is in excess of $450,000.
The Princess Victoria Ka’iulani portrait on the Reginald Huth pattern is one of the most beautiful designs in Hawaiian numismatics. As such, the Royal Hawaiian Mint created its Princess Victoria Ka’iulani gold crowns to satisfy the demand from both Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian collectors.
The Princess Victoria Ka’iulani commemorative gold crowns were issued in the years 1991 and 1996. Each crown was designed and manufactured by Honolulu-based Royal Hawaiian Mint. There are three versions of these one ounce 0.9999 fine gold crowns.
The first is an uncirculated finish (as stated by the Royal Hawaiian Mint, NGC identifies it as a proof) 1991 dated crown of which only 55 was struck. The reverse has design element of the number 1. A First Day Issue counterstruck variety exists for this uncirculated finish crown. The number of uncirculated crowns receiving the counterstruck is not known, but is estimated to be in the single digits. Based on this estimate, the counterstruck variety is the rarest of the Princess Victoria Ka’iulani commemorative one ounce gold crowns.
The second is a proof finish 1991 dated crown of which only 400 was struck. The reverse has an serial number pad with an incuse serial number stamped on the pad itself. This proof finish crown is part of a five piece gold proof set that consisted of the crown, ½ crown, ¼ crown, 1/10 crown, and 1/20 crown.
The third is a proof finish 1996 dated crown of which only 20 were struck. This crown is 32 mm in diameter (the first and second crown types are 34 mm in diameter). To maintain the one ounce weight, the 1996 crown thickness was increased. The 1996 dated crown is the second rarest of the Princess Victoria Ka’iulani commemorative one ounce gold crowns.
Set Goals
This collection familiarizes the viewer with the beauty and rarity of Hawaiian numismatics by showcasing a series of gold crowns which commemorated the 100th and 105th anniversaries of Princess Victoria Ka’iulani being proclaimed Heir Apparent to the Throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii.