Coin Curiosity

Researching the history coins of the British Commonwealth

Home > Solomon Islands Franklin Mint Matte Sets

Solomon Islands Franklin Mint Matte Sets

Posted on

A number of coin catalogues report Franklin Mint-struck matte sets for the Solomon Islands for the years 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1983 with a mintage of 6,000 for each year. The source for these mintages is unstated but it seems very unlikely that any Solomon Islands matte sets were ever struck.

Besides the lack of any sightings of any Solomon Islands matte sets, the mintage of 6,000 in each year is incredibly high, especially for 1983 when no more than a few hundred special uncirculated and proof sets were struck. Also, as the popularity of Franklin Mint products declined, so did the popularity of the matte sets - for example, no matte sets were struck at all by the Franklin Mint for Malta in 1982: only special uncirculated and proof sets.

Unfortunately the Franklin Mint's records seem to be least, so the reported mintages may remain a mystery, but it possible that a Solomon Islands matte set may appear.