In commemoration of the Royal Hawaiian Mint 40th anniversary, a special six piece copper Piedfort Collection was struck from the original 1976 Kamehameha die, 1977 Madame Pele die, 1978 Captain James Cook die and their respective reverse dies.

The original designs were inspired by the two century old legend that when Kamehameha was unifying the Hawaii Islands, Madame Pele, the volcano Goddess, sent a lava flow to help Kamehameha win an important battle and Captain James Cook, the enlightened British discoverer of the Hawaiian Island, discussed military tactics with Kamehameha when he stayed overnight on board his ship, the Resolution.

The Piedfort Collection is unique because piedforts are extra thick planchets and the original dies were hand cut at the actual 21mm die size with interchangeable inner dies. Like the classic engravers from the Greek and Roman tradition, the original dies show a wonderful handmanship by master engraver, Nick Lenches. The six piece Piedfort Collection consists of three gold coin weights: 1) Kamehameha obverse with Ahualoa Land Bank and AU1GR inner die reverse, 2) Madame Pele obverse with Volcano Island Bank and AU2-1/2GR inner die reverse and 3) Captain Cook obverse with Kona Coast Bank with AU5GR inner die reverse. And three gold token weights: 4) EARTH design with Ahualoa Land Bank and 1/4 inner die reverse, 5) EDEN design with Volcano Island Bank and 1/10 inner die reverse and 6) ATLANTIS design with Kona Coast Bank with 1/100 inner die reverse.

Only 40 Piedfort Sets will be minted for the Mint’s 40th anniversary.