CoinTalk Members Find No Evidence of a 1989 Bahamas $2 Uncirculated Coin in Copper-Nickel

This article summarizes a thread on the CoinTalk collector forum titled "An 'Have You Seen' Post - 1989 Bahamas $2 Unc in Copper Nickel?" The source does not give a posting date. The statements below are the posters' own reports and opinions, not confirmed facts.

The missing 1989 $2

The original poster, 7Jags, wrote of having a nearly complete collection of Bahamas $2 Flamingo coins in uncirculated and proof condition. The only gaps, according to the post, are the 1975-77 "FM" matte pieces and the Royal Mint's 1989 uncirculated copper-nickel $2 Flamingo, which the post says is designated KM# 66b.

According to 7Jags, an uncirculated set in plastic was issued in 1989, but it only went up to the $1 coin. The post says the 1989 $2 therefore seems as elusive as the matte pieces, is not included in any sets, and "may be a bit of an orphan."

7Jags added that a 1996 silver proof is not counted because its flamingo is not the traditional design from 1966, and that the 1989 $2 proof is not counted either. 7Jags also noted that the Royal Mint struck 1991 uncirculated $2 Flamingo coins in a reduced size (34 mm) and weight, not in any sets, and asked why.

"No evidence"

In a later update, 7Jags wrote of seeing no evidence of a 1989 uncirculated copper-nickel Bahamas $2. The update's exact wording is "a copper nickel uncirculated 1989 Bahamas 2 dollar silver piece," naming both copper nickel and silver. The update says 1976 and 1977 FM pieces in matte uncirculated condition had been located and that the 1975 piece may not exist, though 7Jags was not sure.

Another member, TheGame, wrote of finding no evidence of any business strikes for 1989 while researching Bahamas coinage. TheGame also wrote of being able to confirm that the 1981 proof is 34 mm, like the 1991 coins, not 40 mm as Krause states. A third member, panzerman, wrote of having only the gold Flamingo coins and a parrot.

Open questions

7Jags also mentioned finding a 1966 VIP Record proof set, described as not the usual currency coins sold and packaged as "Specimen" or "Proof." 7Jags asked whether anyone had found a way to determine the mintage of the 1996 or 2000 seven-coin Royal Mint specimen sets that included the 50c and dollar coins, and what the Royal Mint's mintage figures were for foreign specimen and proof sets from 1979 through 2014. 7Jags wrote of being unable to find the 1979-2014 mintage figures.

Source: CoinTalk, "An 'Have You Seen' Post - 1989 Bahamas $2 Unc in Copper Nickel?" (forum thread).