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2 Puffins - Martin Coles Harman

2 Puffins - Martin Coles Harman - obverse2 Puffins - Martin Coles Harman - reverse

© Sujit

Features

Pretended issuer Lundy
Issuing entity Joseph E. Lang
Period British administration (1924-date)
Type Fantasy coins
Year 2011
Value 2 Puffins
Currency Puffin
Composition Brass
Weight 5 g
Diameter 23 mm
Thickness 1.8 mm
Shape Round
Technique Milled
Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑
Number
N#
42687
References X# Tn11
Krause Publications (publisher). Unusual World Coins. Krause Publications, Iola, Wisconsin, United States (5 volumes).

Obverse

Bust of Martin Coles Harman.
Date.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
MARTIN • COLES • HARMAN
2011

Engraver: Joseph E. Lang

Reverse

Two puffins flying.
Value.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
LUNDY
JL
TWO PUFFINS

Engraver: Joseph E. Lang

Edge

Plain with lettering

Script: Latin

Lettering: LUNDY LIGHTS AND LEADS

Mint

Osborne Coinage, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States (1835-date)

Comments

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.
This 5 coins set was released in 2011. As with the original coins Mr. Harman is depicted on the obverse. The 1/2 Puffin and 1 Puffin coins -copper-plated zinc - maintain the same design that the 1929 issues. The brass 2 Puffins pictures two puffins in flight, and the brass 4 Puffins depicts four puffins flying around the Old Light House -built in 1787.

See also

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Date Mintage VG F VF XF AU UNC
2011  10 000 $ 4.40

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.

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