PCGS Weekly Update January 16, 2024

January 16, 2024

Recent Price Guide Updates

CoinFacts Narrative Update

In 2017, the U.S. Mint celebrated its 225th anniversary by producing special 2017-S Enhanced Uncirculated coin sets. The Enhanced Uncirculated sets officially went on sale via the U.S. Mint website on August 1, 2017. Each set had an issue price of $29.95. Read more.

PCGS Set Registry Update

The country of Equatorial Guinea has three national languages: Spanish, French, and Portuguese. Almost 90% of this country's inhabitants speak Spanish, and this region was first colonized by Portuguese explorer Fernando Pó, who was searching for India in 1472. Bioko or Fernando Pó was an island that is part of modern Equatorial Guinea that was named after the first European to settle the region. Portugal attempted to set up sugarcane plantations in 1507, but the indigenous Bubi peoples did not welcome the efforts. Spain had taken over the region of Fernando Pó in 1778, which was part of a treaty with Portugal.

The Spaniards tried to further develop the region but failed due to fever and diseases ravaging the explorers. Spain had elected to abolish slavery in 1817. Unwilling to invest any additional resources, Spain leased the city of Malabo on Bioko to Great Britain from 1827 through 1843 in an effort to combat the Transatlantic slave trade. Spain returned to control the territory in 1844 and during the late 19th century, France gained parcels of land within this region. The Bubi peoples, continuing to cultivate their tiny cocoa farms, remained mostly independent, and the remainder of the economy faced great labor shortages. Coffee, timber, and cocoa became a burgeoning industry and migrant workers flocked to this region.

Equatorial Guinea celebrated its first day of independence from Spain at noon on October 12, 1968, in a ceremony held in the capital city of Malabo. PCGS has listed a set titled Equatorial Guinea 2000 Ekuele Wildlife Silver Set Proof (1980), which includes the silver Leopard coin shown above. Additional sets from various countries have been added, so please feel free to browse the PCGS Set Registry when you have a chance and you may find there is a set for almost anyone to build. The PCGS Set Registry offers many different sets from all over the world and specialty sets for advanced collectors. We appreciate your continued patronage, all the best in building your sets, and Happy Collecting, folks!