An August 28, 2017 Coin World article by Arthur L. Friedberg alerted me to some other great notes in the upcoming Heritage sale - a group of six rare Hawaiian notes from 1843
to 1844, the oldest Hawaiian paper currency extant. Here's the lot description with close-up images I cropped from the less useful web site images (which were of the PCGS holder, not just the
tiny notes). -Editor
Rare Hawaii Lahainaluna Seminary Notes
(Kingdom of Hawaii)- Lahainaluna Seminary 3 Keneta; Hapaumi $1/16; Hapawalu $1/8; Hapaha $1/4; Hapalua $1/2; Hookahi Dala $1 ND (circa 1843) PCGS Graded
 These are very rare and historical notes. Protestant missionaries came to Hawaii in 1823 and discovered that there was no written form of the Hawaiian language. They formed a committee that
created the written form that is still in use today and also convinced the Hawaiian royalty of the need for an educational system. The missionaries next established the Lahainaluna Seminary in 1831,
which is still in existence today as the Lahainaluna High School. It is the oldest public school west of the Rocky Mountains.
 In 1834, the Hale Pa'i or House of Printing was founded on campus and it was the home of Hawaii's first printing press. Students were able to study intaglio engraving on copper
plates under the tutelage of Reverend Lorrin Andrews. They produced many pictorial items that were needed in quantity. In fact, the first newspaper printed west of the Rocky Mountains was printed at
the school. The quaint pieces in this lot possibly originated on Hawaii's first printing press.
 The notes portray school subjects and virtues such as industry, law, science, geography, education, and a map of the Hawaiian Islands, plus the national flag on the highest denomination.
They are all of the altered plate secret marks variety and each note was also backed at issue. The 3 Keneta and Hapaumi grade Very Choice New 64. The Hapawalu, Hapaha, and Hapalua all grade Choice
New 63. The Hookahi Dala grades Apparent New 60 with damage on the face, which interferes very little with the overall printing. We auctioned a similar PMG graded set in January 2009 for $25,300 and
would not be surprised if that figure was easily eclipsed tonight.
To read the complete lot description, see:
(Kingdom of Hawaii)- Lahainaluna Seminary 3 Keneta; Hapaumi $1/16; Hapawalu $1/8; Hapaha $1/4; Hapalua $1/2; Hookahi ...
(https://currency.ha.com/itm/obsolete-banknotes/-kingdom-of-hawaii-lahainaluna-seminary-3-keneta-hapaumi-1-16-hapawalu-1-8-hapaha-1-4-hapalua-1-2-hookahi-dala-1-total-6-notes-/a/3557-20136.s?ic4=GalleryView-Thumbnail-071515#)
To read the complete Coin World article, see:
Six notes from Lahainaluna Seminary in Hawaii in Heritage auction
(http://www.coinworld.com/news/paper-money/2017/08/hawaiian-seminary-notes-first-for-the-islands-kindgom.html)
Wayne Homren, Editor
The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization
promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.
To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor
at this address: whomren@gmail.com
To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum
Copyright © 1998 - 2020 The Numismatic Bibliomania Society (NBS)
All Rights Reserved.
NBS Home Page
Contact the NBS webmaster
| 