SteemBay • Six Gold-on-Silver Mini Coins... smallest coins ever made?

The Franklin Mint produced more medals at more sizes that we’ll ever know.

Sometime during either the 70s or early 80s, they produced these very small proof pieces.. apparently a set of type coins and at least some commemoratives. I’ve had stash of some for a while.. and now I’d like to offer them up for anyone who might like ’em!

I attached a macro lens to my iphone and began a close-up study. They range in size from 6 to 8mm in diameter. Each coin is Sterling silver layered with 24k gold. The detail is remarkable no matter how one looks at it. Below is about 1000% magnification.

A pair of juicy gold dollars, an 1849 type I and an 1854 type II..

Here’s an 1854 3-dollar gold piece

A 1795 15-star Eagle ($10) (with small eagle reverse) on the right.. and a blurry 1796 No Stars (with heraldic eagle reverse) Quarter Eagle ($2.5) on the left..

1850 Double Eagle..

Some pics of the reverse sides...

3-dollar gold on the Left and the heraldic eagle reverse of the 1796 Quarter Eagle on the right..

Here’s the small eagle reverse of the 1795 Eagle..

.. and the Double Eagle:

So all ya get are these itty-bitty golden disks in a plastic bag which include miniature clones of:

1849 $1 gold piece
1854 $1 gold piece
1854 $3 gold piece
1796 $2.5 gold piece
1795 $10 gold piece
1850 $20 gold piece

You can get an idea of their actual size with the image below:

I think that it goes without saying that these are really tricky to.. well ya don't really “handle” them per se.

you have to scoop ’em with a small piece of acetate.. something thin but firm. Ya don't really want to pick these up with ur fingers unless you really need to.. they’re just so small that the physics at that scale are something we’re not so used to.

(Link to Steembay Intro)
_{The auction is manageable through comments.
To place a bid, just comment with “bid #”.. example: “Bid 3” for a 3 SBD bid. Biding starts at 1 SBD.
• A bid can be revoked with a “revoke bid” comment.
• The auction will end 7 days from the start which will be next Wednesday, June 11th @ approximately 6:00 PM EST.
• The winning bidder will be notified by a congratulation comment from the SteemBay bot.
• The winner can message me their mailing address after the auction closes via SteemitChat @orionsbeltbuckle or via encrypted Steemit memo (put "#" just before your memo text to auto encrypt).}

---

• USA residents please add 2 SBD for First Class Shipping with tracking.
• I can offer free First Class Letter shipping but this would be without tracking and at the buyer’s own risk.
• For international shipping please add 6 SBD to winning your bid for total due.

• SBD transfer requested within 2 days of auction close. Package will ship immediately upon receipt of transfer.

All content 100% original by John Deecken • orionsbeltbuckle