Cook Islands: Grab that Chick and rub it

[chrisild]

(Oh how I love attention grabbing headers ...)

Easter is coming - and what could be more appropriate than "hunting" Easter eggs? Buying a Thermo Chick of course.
http://www.coin-invest.li/Coins.aspx#!Country=Cook+Islands&ProductID=391

Officially this gadget is a Cook islands $5 coin. On one side of the oval piece you see Elizabeth II and the face value; the other side is red, apart from the words "Easter Surprise". Touch that side, and you will see a little chicken that just got out of its egg.

http://www.coin-invest.li/images/fotos/large/23609_Little_Thermo_Chicken_o.jpg
http://www.coin-invest.li/images/fotos/large/23609_Little_Thermo_Chicken_r1.jpg
http://www.coin-invest.li/images/fotos/large/23609_Little_Thermo_Chicken_r2.jpg

Not interested? What about an .. ummm ... coin (Palau, $5) with coconut scent then?
http://www.coin-invest.li/Coins.aspx#!Country=Palau&ProductID=395

Note that in both cases the effect only works a limited number of times. To avoid that problem, buy actual coins instead. 

Christian

[BC Numismatics]

Christian,
  This is definitely a first - an egg-shaped medal-coin.It kind of reminds me of those Zambian oval-shaped medal-coins that came out back in 2000 to commemorate the Queen Mother's 100th. Birthday.

Aidan.

[Figleaf]

Not that it matters, but a newborn chick is not fluffy at all, but becomes so after hours of rest and warmth only. Yes, I realize that saccharine pictures are more important than reality.

But maybe this opens endless opportunity for novelty and tourist souvenir producers. Hey, I got this collection of old phones nobody wants. What if I'd put a big sticker with a number and a date on them (these coins will work as phones!). Do you think I could sell them as coins? Or do you think I should have them gilded or just silvered?

Peter

[BC Numismatics]

Peter,
  That medal-coin is the sort of thing that the guy who owns http://www.muntplaats.nl is interested in.

Aidan.

[chrisild]

Hey, I got this collection of old phones nobody wants. What if I'd put a big sticker with a number and a date on them (these coins will work as phones!). Do you think I could sell them as coins? Or do you think I should have them gilded or just silvered?

Uh-oh. A perfect candidate for the "Heavy Coins" topic. As for the material, well, gold plated bakelite would be just fine.   And who knows, maybe we will actually see coins (well, pieces of the Cook Islands/Palau type) that are mobile phones. Crown sized should be fine for that purpose ...

By the way, that dealer (not a retailer though) does have a few pieces that I actually find interesting. This one for example:

http://www.coin-invest.li/Coins.aspx#!Country=Palau&ProductID=320

Sure, Don Quixote (Quijote), you say. But look more closely:
http://www.coin-invest.li/images/fotos/large/23011_Don_Quichote_Oval_45x30_mm_r.jpg

Right, Palau again ... and yet that is appealing, design wise, I think.

Christian