I have been collecting coins for many years now. It all began with UK coins and in many ways I wish I had stuck with just these. But, the inevitable happened and like many other numismatists I found myself being lured into other areas by beautiful designs. Yup, territory fifty pences will often have far nicer pictures than their UK counterparts. Of course, the downside to this is that they will frequently have a higher price tag attached to them – and with some it can be genuinely eyewatering!
Therefore I have taken it upon myself to create a small series of posts listing some of the rarest coins from each of the most important (collecting-wise) territories. Please remember there are many other rare coins from these places (many of which are mere definitives). I am just choosing a few of my personal favourites from Scarcity-ville.
And I am beginning with the Isle of Man….
‘Tosha’ £2 Coin (2011)
Most collectors will have heard of ‘Tosha’. And most will want one in their collection. He is a cheeky looking chap with his mischievous smile and he currently changes hands for £250-£300. He is also jolly like a needle in a haystack if you are hoping to come across one in circulated coins.
No-one knows about ‘Tosha’s mintage. As with the majority of coins from the Isle of Man, it is all very hush-hush. At one point when they were asked why they were unable to disclose mintage figures like other countries, a statement was issued declaring that sharing this information would pose a ‘security risk’.
I have heard some things in my time…..
‘The Snowman and James’ 50p (2003 and 2008)
Yes, years before The Royal Mint jumped on the bandwagon, the Isle of Man were creating fifty pences with ‘The Snowman’ on them. They are also somewhat nicer than the UK versions.
There were three ‘Snowman’ coins in all. The nicest and most expensive are ‘The Snowman and James’ which were issued in 2003 and 2008. They both feature the same design. The 2003 edition will set you back about £200-£300. And the 2008 version is far more expensive. IF you can even find someone who is selling one!
To soften the blow a little, you are able to pick up the 2014 ‘Snowman and Snowdog’ for £30-£40.
‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ 50p Coins (2005-2010)
These six fifty pences are arguably some of the nicest Isle of Man coins of all. It is just a shame they never issued the other six to complete the festive jingle. No-one is quite sure why they decided to cut it short. As it is, coins that were issued in this series are –
‘Partridge in a Pear Tree’ (2005)
‘Two Turtle Doves’ (2006)
‘Three French Hens’ (2007)
‘Four Calling Birds’ (2008)
‘Five Gold Rings’ (2009)
‘Six Geese a-laying’ (2010)
Whichever you choose to look for, you will be talking a fair amount of money. Prices fluctuate considerably (especially in the lead-up to Christmas) but you will be talking about a minimum of £60 each.
© Article and images (except where stated) copyright Mik Smith 2022
MAIN IMAGE – reblogged from wikipedia.org
