Gibraltar: COVID-19 50 pence 2020

[mmiguel]

Got mine after a looong shipping and well, looks a bit better than I thought. These coins are starting to appear in eBay at 50 pounds, in other online shops are below 25 euros as of today... The blister says mintage 100,000 which feels to me a lot for a non circulating 50p.

[eurocoin]

Does your piece have the error?

[mmiguel]

No, it doesn't. Seller (from Hong Kong) clearly had no idea about this, as the pictures in the ad showed coins with and without the error.

[eurocoin]

No, it doesn't. Seller (from Hong Kong) clearly had no idea about this, as the pictures in the ad showed coins with and without the error.

I see, that's a pity. Some who order from Hong Kong still receive error coins, while others who ordered there received correct ones.

[Bimat]

According to a contact, Tower Mint outsourced the production of the COVID-19 coins to the Sunshine Mint branch in Shanghai, China. That appears to be where things went wrong.

Are you kidding me? You give contract to strike the Covid-19 themed coin to a company based in...CHINA? This is wrong, ironical and laughable on so many fronts!

Aditya

[eurocoin]

This coin was originally going to be part of a series of 50 pence coins related to COVID-19. It remains unknown whether the other planned coins will still ever be issued.

[gordarpi]

Thanks for answering one of the questions I was about to ask when I studied the GiB laws the other day, however I am still wondering whether there was any mintage of precious metal versions as envisaged in the relevant notice.

According to guys in Hong Kong there is no information about such coins anywhere, although the original intention might have indicated to issue silver and gold variants as well.

[eurocoin]

In Gibraltar and the Isle of Man it is common that the specific legislation for each coin also mentions the possibility to produce several variants, most of which are never actually being produced. Usually the precious metals versions are not actually being minted. That may very well be the case here too.

[gordarpi]

Thanks for the explanation, appreciated. Again learnt something new. I have then paid too much of attention to the wording containing "shall", which I rather interpreted as a mandatory action than something optional. Anyway since Pobjoy has the luxury of minting silver editions - naturally by authorization and on behalf of BOTs, including for GiB - I would have hoped at least for that. Let's hope there will be at least a second issue in the series.

Since I like aviation I could appreciate an A400/C130 delivering a pallet of vaccines and pictured on the military apron with the Rock's north face in the background towering above the airport. Motto could be "Joint logistics action against Covid"

Is there any right contact where I can submit my idea to? Perhaps the office of Mr. Picardo or the straight to the treasury?     

[Figleaf]

Careful, an A400 could take off from Gibraltar airport in mediocre meteorological circumstances, but a C130 would need more runway than Gibraltar has to offer.

Peter

[eurocoin]

I have then paid too much of attention to the wording containing "shall",

Yes.

Is there any right contact where I can submit my idea to? Perhaps the office of Mr. Picardo or the straight to the treasury?     

I do not think so. Mr Picardo will have little to do with coins. The Treasury or people like Joe Bossano will have more responsibilities in regard of coins. However, since it is extremely difficult to get hold of anyone at the government of Gibraltar as, from my personal experience, the Treasury and the office of Mr Bossano virtually never reply to emails, I am really not sure if it would be worth the hassle. But anyway, feel free to give it a try but know that the chances they will bother to read it, let alone do something with your idea, are slim to none. It is a good idea though and I think a coin like that would fit well with the other coin and would prove popular amongst collectors.

Alternatively you can maybe send your idea to mints like Tower Mint or Pobjoy Mint. Of course you are then unlikely to get credit for it would they indeed issue a coin like that but I think the chances of success that a coin like the one you described will be issued is then much higher. In general the mints have better direct contact with the Government.

[gordarpi]

Careful, an A400 could take off from Gibraltar airport in mediocre meteorological circumstances, but a C130 would need more runway than Gibraltar has to offer.

Peter

Although I am not an expert to the point of judging the exact capabilities of the C130, but they seem to be regular visitors to GIB:
https://twitter.com/RAF_Gib/status/1355618288609472514

In addition to that there is an interesting story about a trial once thought to be impossible:
https://www.avgeekery.com/watch-a-kc-130f-hercules-operates-from-an-aircraft-carrier-flight-deck/
and there are still a few captains out there with similar skills. I am just unsure whether letting an Osprey or an F-35C - in light of their poor safety performance - in is safer than the C130 on the deck

Since I am venturing afar from the topic I would suggest another 50p coin in memory of the once GIB "guateguard", the mighty Jaguar GR.1 -> https://www.chronicle.gi/raf-jaguar-set-to-leave-gib-after-11-years/. Unfortunately I heard they scrapped her in the end.
 
I could be a complete GiB 50p aviation series

[gordarpi]

Alternatively you can maybe send your idea to mints like Tower Mint or Pobjoy Mint. Of course you are then unlikely to get credit for it would they indeed issue a coin like that but I think the chances of success that a coin like the one you described will be issued is then much higher. In general the mints have better direct contact with the Government.

Thanks so much for the advice, will try my luck then with Tower Mint or ask for guidance from the treasury. I wouldn't care about the credit in case it would prove to become a design collectors would treasure or be interested in.

[Figleaf]

The Gibraltar airport runway has a length of 1776 meters (5 827 ft). This source says: The runway required for a fully loaded Hercules (155,000 lb) at sea level with zero wind and a temperature of 15°C is 6,300 ft. In other words, the C130 needs either a bit of favourable wind or less than full load to use the Gibraltar runway safely.

I am aware of the carrier test. IIRC, the C130 in question (specially equipped) can use the hooks and grapples, but not the catapult.

Peter

[gordarpi]

The Gibraltar airport runway has a length of 1776 meters (5 827 ft). This source says: The runway required for a fully loaded Hercules (155,000 lb) at sea level with zero wind and a temperature of 15°C is 6,300 ft. In other words, the C130 needs either a bit of favourable wind or less than full load to use the Gibraltar runway safely.

I am aware of the carrier test. IIRC, the C130 in question (specially equipped) can use the hooks and grapples, but not the catapult.

Peter

Hi Peter,

[a bit more off topic]
Indeed in some cases payload restrictions must apply, but I have been taught by friends in military aviation that their operations are very different from what we are used to in the civilian sphere.  I only saw reports on the RAF GiB twitter of C130s transiting in/out of African or other operation theatres, but I have no doubt that they all respect strict safety rules, especially that GiB is a very special airport in term of its location, meteorological conditions as well as it dual use.

I am not into the details of aircraft carrier operations, but I recall Fat Albert's Jet Assisted Takeoffs, which I unfortunately never managed to catch at an airshow.
[/off topic]

Now I will try to rather submit the idea to the mint

Arpad