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First of all, this chapter is all about Isle of Man Viking Boat/Longboat heptagon 50p coins in 1979 including 1980. Metals will come across between copper-nickel (i.e., CN) and silver (i.e., AG) at the same time. Secondly, more importantly, it is a way to explore 50p coins struck by the Pobjoy mint (hereafter, the Mint) in 1979 ONLY to celebrate the Viking event and the Royal Visit IOM as well. The Pobjoy Mint is a limited company registered in England and Wales, and their mint mark is the capital letters of PM. They first introduced so-called the batch codes (i.e., AA/AB/…) in 1978. The batch codes are somehow, in a way, consistent of a key information to transiting a complex picture of the viking boat in full-sail 50p coins in 1979 & 1980. However, on the other hands, the codes show off how much effort(s) the Mint used to build up IOM coinage in later 1970s.
In order to understand or have a clear picture of 1979 IOM Viking Boat 50p coins, we start them off from 1979 Viking Long Boat 50p silver proof coin where comes from year silver proof set, because this one is a very good starting point to be mentioned here. Therefore, you are able to see all 1979 50p silver proof coins as follows:
- Viking Long-boat over the island 50p Coin with t privy (x1 PF, year proof set)*,
- Viking Boat voyage 50p coin with D batch code (x2 PFs, individual)*,
- Viking Boat voyage 50p coin with E batch code (x1 PF, individual)*,
- Viking Boat voyage 50p coin with F batch code (x1 PF + x1 BU, individual)*,
- Viking Boat voyage 50p coin with D batch code in 1980 (x1 PF, individual, very special one)*.
(Note*: PF stands for proof, BU= brilliant uncirculated. The year set means the place the coin comes from. Individual means the coin presents in a gift/collector box.)
Bearing in mind that,
- a). if you are very clear above 50p silver coins, you may continue to read information below. Or
- b). if you are very familiar with all 50p coins on CN, we hope it may give you more extra info to amend your own picture on all 50p coins in 1979.
1. Viking Long-boat 50p Coin over the island with the t privy (PF, year proof set)
From 1976 to 1979, all reverses are Viking the Long-boat with Odin’s Raven over the island. Both obverse and reverse sides are noted the Mint mark (PM) from 1977 to 1979. Interestingly, the double mint mark on a coin has changed after the t privy appeared in 1979, instead one-side with the mint mark (i.e., “obverse”, it normally is underneath the bust) and another side with a theme (i.e., “reverse”) plus a two-digit batch code (i.e., a letter for precious metals, two letters for base metals). Also, the batch code was first introduced in 1978. Variation(s) can be seen in 2 & 3 below.
Note:
IOM coinages in transit–a), banknotes 50p stop circulating after 1979. These require enormous 50p coins in place; b), the reverse’s design is no longer over the island, and become a art related design; c), the design transfers to Millennium voyage from Odin’s raven in 1979, and most importantly it is one year reverse only.
1.1 Currency coins (a set of 4 coins exclusive has two designs at the same time with and/or without the privy t)
—01 AA(t) (i.e., the AA production batch codes with the privy t and PM both sides at the same time).
—02 AB(t) (i.e., the AB production batch codes with the privy t and PM both sides at the same time).
In brief, the privy t cancels the PM mint mark on reverse in pictures shown in 1.1.01 and 1.1.02,
and,
The privy t is moving on sail instead Odin’s Raven,
and,
The privy t existence shows the existence of the production codes AA/AB as well.
—03 AA (the AA production batch codes with Manx Millennium Voyage and PM on obverse only, and the privy t has gone).
—04 AB (the AB production batch codes with Manx Millennium Voyage and PM on obverse only, and the privy t has gone).
In brief, the privy t is on sail Manx Millennium Voyage surrounding in pictures shown in 1.1.03 and 1.1.04,
and,
The new design matches replica men shipped down from Norway in July 1979,
and,
The production codes AA/AB are in place,
and,
The new designed Viking 50p coins were used to commemorate Q.E. II Royal visit IOM 1979.
—05 AA (UNC From square box)
—06 AB (UNC From square box)
In brief, pictures shown in 1.1.05 and 1.1.06 indicate that the coins have better quality and details.
To sum up for this part, the production batch codes were AA(t), AA, AB(t) and AB only upon with two different reverse’s designs on 50p CN coins. But one variety only was in file on 50p silver coins (see Category I). First, the batch codes are letters from A to B. But it understands a simple metric used (2×2) based on a coin has two sides. The batch code contains a lot of information but we do not know them without help from the mint. Secondly, the object on the longboat in full-sail was one of the Odin’s Ravens. However, due to the fact of Viking the Millennium, Viking the boat in full-sail was being changed to Millennium Voyage specially designed for Tynwald Millennium in 1979. Also, Viking the boat voyage was one year type only design in Viking boats series. Finally, the t privy is also a signal to tell collectors that the privy has a very important meaning this year. Sadly, there is no a place could confirm it.
In Norse mythology, Huginn (from Old Norse “thought”) and Muninn (Old Norse “desire” or “memory” or “mind”) are a pair of ravens that fly all over the world, Midgard, and bring information to the God, Odin. Apparently, only one raven was found on the reverse design from 1976 to 1979 (with t).
2. Viking Boat 50p Silver Proof Coin associated with D & F batch codes
This type of coin is named as a Tynwald set which echoes silver coin in part 1 above. It has two variants in terms of metal in this part, sterling silver coin (see 2.1 and 2.2) and copper-nickel (CN) coin (see 2.3). A total number of 100k silver coins were minted (i.e., 100k = 30k (from D batch below) + 70k (from F batch below)). This 100k means a lot either to Tynwald or the Mint itself. Note: 1K = Millennium; 70k = 50k (1979 CN edges-inscribed coins in green boxes) + 20K (1980 CN edges-inscribed coins in folder, library finish).
2.1 D batch code without edge inscription silver (PF, individual)
Note:
PF in grade @ an issue limit of 30,000 coins.
Edges NO inscription.
This is for non-inscription proof.
2.2 F batch code without edge inscription silver (BU, individual)
Note:
BU in grade @ an issue limit of 70,000 coins.
Frosted mirrored-field on rev. & obv..
But edges WITHOUT inscription.
This cert is for F non-inscription BU.
2.3 Fifty pence coin in copper-nickel
-
I. Day of Tynwald
- —01a Edge with lettering, AA, specially for Tynwald Millennium Voyage in 1979, from a green box (limited @ 50k, COA says)
- —01b Edge with lettering, AA, specially for Tynwald Millennium Voyage in 1979, from a green box (limited @ 50k, COA says)
-
II. Day of Tynwald
- —02a Edge no inscription, AB, specially for Tynwald Millennium Voyage in 1979, from a green box (limited @ 100k, COA says)
- —02b Edge no inscription, AB, a Prooflike finish, specially for Tynwald Millennium Voyage in 1979, from a green box (limited @ 100k, COA says)
-
III. Day of Tynwald
- —03a Edge no inscription, AC, a plain Satin finish, specially for Tynwald Millennium Voyage in 1979, from a green box (limited @ 100k, COA says)
- —03b Edge with lettering, AC, a special one in 1980, specially for attending the NY Viking show in 1980, from a grey folder (limited @ 20k, COA says)
-
IV. Day of Tynwald
- —04a Edge with lettering, AD, specially for Tynwald Millennium Voyage in 1979, from a green box (limited @ 50k, COA says)
- —04b Edge with lettering, AD, specially for Tynwald Millennium Voyage in 1979, from a green box (limited @ 50k, COA says)
Fifty pence coins in copper-nickel above, (mainly come from square boxes and/or green (or black) presentation boxes mean that the coins), have very much different quality in grade. Two combinations we have talked here between part I and part II. One, the privy t with AA (from circulation) + the privy t with AB (from circulation) + AA (from circulation) + AB (from circulation) = 4 as a set. Two, AA (from I 01a & 01b above) + AB (from I 02a & 02b above) + AC (from III 03a & 03b above) + AD (from IV 04a & 04b above) = 8 as a set. Note the number 8 is equal to 7 PLUS 1. The 1 is a very special one, but everything in die letters, it means two arrays 7 and 8 (=4×2). The numbers 4 and 7 are very interesting if you know IOM history.
To sum up, we have talked about 2x 50p silver coins and 4x 50p coins in CN with different finishes. This class which contains 2 silver coins and 4 CN coins was named as a Tynwald set. Also, the reverse design made by the Pobjoy Mint was one year only in 1979.
3. Viking Boat 50p Silver Proof Coins associated with D & E & F batch codes
This type of coins is named as a Royal Visit IOM set with a issue limit of 30k. This 30k means lots (i.e., 30k = 5k (from D below) + 5k (from E below) + 10k (from F below) + 10k (from Part 1 silver coin)).
3.1 D batch code with edge inscription silver coin (PF, individual)
Note:
PF grade @ 5,000 coins,
Inscribed on edges “ROYAL VISIT I. O. M JULY 1979 H. M Q. E – II” –(clockwise, from 9 position). Note proper reading it should be H.M__Q.E-II__ROYAL__VISIT__I.O.M.__JULY__1979
This is for PF inscribed.
3.2 E batch code with edge inscription silver coin (PF, individual)
Note:
PF grade @ 5,000 coins,
Edges inscribed.
Only PF (E die) silver coin noted from this variety
Proper reading it should be H.M__Q.E-II__ROYAL__VISIT__I.O.M.__JULY__1979
This cert is for PF inscribed.
3.3 F batch code with edge inscription silver coin (BU, individual)
Note:
BU grade @ 10,000 coins,
Matte finish on both sides.
BUT, inscribed on edges “ROYAL VISIT I. O. M JULY 1979 H. M Q. E – II” –(clockwise, from 9 position). Proper reading it should be H.M__Q.E-II__ROYAL__VISIT__I.O.M.__JULY__1979
This cert is for BU inscribed.
3.4 CN 50p coins
to be continued…, but it is hard to be updated over time. This is because the sample required is extremely huge.
3.5 Extra info
| Day of Tynwald, 5th July 1979 (=Topic) | |
|---|---|
| H.M__Q.E-II__ROYAL__VISIT__I.O.M.__JULY__1979 (=7) | |
| Element 5 (xM =5K) | Element 5 (xM =5K) |
| Element break-down 3 (+2 =5) | Element break-down 2 (+3 =5) |
|
& |
& |
| Element edge lettering break-down 7 based on 1979 | |
| Note: Each info contained within this table can be found from Part I/II/III, and M see Xmas 50p coins. | |
To sum up, 3x 50p silver proof coins have been talked. A table was created to let you interpret more in your own way. In terms of all different variants 1979 50p coins inscribed, it was hard to be true that we could summarise them all here, due to lack of sample.
4. 1980 Viking boat 50p silver proof coin with D batch code
This class is named as the Viking Show New York Exhibition set. The 5k mintage means a lot. Also, these numbers like 30k(=20k+10k)
#The End