Modify or add data on this page

1 Puffin - Martin Coles Harman

1 Puffin - Martin Coles Harman - obverse1 Puffin - Martin Coles Harman - reverse

© Joseph Kunnappally

Features

Issuer Lundy
Period British administration (1924-date)
Type Local coins
Year 1929
Value 1 Puffin
Currency Puffin
Composition Bronze
Weight 10 g
Diameter 29.29 mm
Thickness 1.5 mm
Shape Round
Technique Milled
Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑
Demonetized Yes
Number
N#
18005
References X# Tn2
Krause Publications (publisher). Unusual World Coins. Krause Publications, Iola, Wisconsin, United States (5 volumes).
, Sp# 7850
Standard Catalogue of British Coins (37 volumes).
, Schön# 2
Battenberg Gietl Verlag (publisher). Weltmünzkatalog. Battenberg Gietl Verlag, Regenstauf, Bavaria, Germany (4 volumes).

Obverse

Bust facing left

Script: Latin

Lettering:
MARTIN · COLES · HARMAN
1929

Reverse

Puffin

Script: Latin

Lettering: LUNDY · ONE · PUFFIN

Edge

Smooth with inscription

Script: Latin

Lettering: LUNDY LIGHTS AND LEADS

1 Puffin - Martin Coles Harman -  obverse

© Joseph Kunnappally

Comments

Edge inscription is raised and upside down when reverse is up.
Lundy is the largest island in the Bristol Channel, lying 12 miles (19 km) off the coast of Devon, England, approximately one third of the distance across the channel between England and Wales. Lundy gives its name to a British sea area and is one of the islands of England.
As of 2007, there was a resident population of 28 people, including volunteers, most live in and around the village at the south of the island. Most visitors are day-trippers, although there are 23 holiday properties and a camp site for staying visitors, mostly also around the south of the island.
The entire island has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and it was England's first statutory Marine Nature Reserve, and the first Marine Conservation Zone, because of its unique flora and fauna. It is managed by the Landmark Trust on behalf of the National Trust.
The island of Lundy is known for its population of puffins, which may have given the island its name. Puffin population declined in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, and in 2005 the breeding population estimated to be only two or three pairs, as a consequence of depredations by brown and black rats and possibly also as a result of commercial fishing for sand eels, the puffins' principal prey. Since 2005, the breeding numbers have been slowly increasing. Adults were seen taking fish into four burrows in 2007, and six burrows in 2008.
Martin Coles Harman, a British merchant, purchased the island in 1924, proclaimed himself the "king" of the island and in 1929 issued two coins, a bronze 1/2 Puffin and 1 Puffin. In the 1930’ British justice fined Mr. Harman for the unauthorized mintage of the coins, and since then, the coins have been very popular for collectors. A new issue was released in 1965; the coins had the same design but were struck in different metals.

See also

Manage my collection

Please sign in or create an account to manage your collection.

Date Mintage VG F VF XF AU UNC
1929  Photo 50 000 $ 23 $ 34 $ 34 $ 34 $ 37

Values in the table above are expressed in USD. They are based on evaluations by Numista users and sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only; they are not intended to be relied upon for buying, selling or exchanging. Numista does not buy or sell coins or banknotes.

Get this coin

Members from this site want to exchange it: Yurek70, apoorav

Feedback: 5/55/55/55/55/5 (×66)
Country: Poland
Languages: EN, PL
Feedback: 5/55/55/55/55/5 (×4)
Country: India
Languages: EN, HI

» See the details of the coins available for swap

Numista Rarity index: 25 Search tips
This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.

Past sales

Pictures Sale Date Grade Sold price
Picture 1 of a sold 1 Puffin - Martin Coles Harman
Katz
Auction 186
Lot 196
Internet Archive
13 Mar 2026 UNC USD 44.11
(EUR 38.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold 1 Puffin - Martin Coles Harman
Katz
Auction 141
Lot 1792
Internet Archive
25 Oct 2024 UNC USD 59.19
(EUR 51.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold 1 Puffin - Martin Coles Harman
Katz
Auction 120
Lot 2246
Internet Archive
13 Apr 2024 UNC USD 19.73
(EUR 17.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold 1 Puffin - Martin Coles HarmanPicture 1 of a sold 1 Puffin - Martin Coles Harman
The Coinhouse Auctions
Auction 32
Lot 833
Internet Archive
17 Dec 2022 AU USD 29.02
(EUR 25.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
See the sales

Literature

Related forum discussions

Discuss or ask a question

Contribute to the catalogue

Modify or add data on this page
Register a set with this type
Register a past auction sale
Register an example of this type
Duplicate this page
Cite this page: https://numista.com/18005 (copy permalink) Permalink copied
Share: Facebook X (Twitter)