Denmark: Coil Stamps: Combination-Coil Pairs And Strips
Starting in 1919 and continuing into the early 1930s, special vending machine coils were printed. They were made from special plates containing two alternating stamps of different denomination. These sheets were manually glued together using the sheet margin of one of each two sheets, and then divided into continuous strips, to make coil rolls of 500 or 1000 stamps. The 3+7 øre combination was issued in horizontal strips (AFA #25-28) as well as vertical strips (AFA #1-4), while all the others were only issued in vertical strips.
The AFA Catalog contains the primary listing of these combination coils. Each combination is listed (and often collected) in each of the two possible pair and 3-strip formats, such as: 7+3, 3+7, 7+3+7, and 3+7+3. Most collectors collect either all four formats or at least both formats of pairs or 3-strips. The stamps can include most of the same plate varieties found in the regularly printed stamps (see AFA Specialized Catalog).
The 3+7 vertical four formats are the only source of the well-known 3 øre Pearl Gray stamps. The Pearl Gray stamps are costly and avidly sought-after because are spaces for them (single stamps) in many (most) albums. However, the color of single stamps often "misidentified", when not still part of a vertical combination coil item. Oddly, most of the printing of the 3+7 vertical items was with the Pearl Gray -- the normal, Dark Gray is actually much, much scarcer [per Lasse Nielsen]. But, since the coil items are the only source of the Pearl Gray stamps, the high price of the Pearl Gray stamps causes the price of the Pearl Gray coil items to be much higher than the scarcer (in coil form) Dark Gray items.
The perforations of these stamps is often rough, and if the item was actually vended from a machine, the pair or strip is cut at top and/or bottom -- these are not defects. Centering of these pairs and strips can vary greatly and sometimes requires a slight relaxing of usual standards. The presence of sheet margin, from a sheet join, on the backside of an item, does not reduce the value or cause it to be priced as hinged instead of never hinged (if it is otherwise never hinged). A pair or strip with a sheet join between the stamps has a premium value. Nice used examples are especially difficult to find.
These coil issues are popular. My stock is constantly changing; if you do not see what you need listed here, please send your want list that you can be put on the waiting list. All such items are available for viewing on approval. I am always interested in buying these items.
AFA Coil #1a [1919 7+3 øre VERTICAL] Used combination coil vertical pair, with VF-XF centering and neat July 1924 cancellation, with the scarce, distinctive PEARL GRAY 3 øre (Facit #88b, AFA #79a). The 3 øre PEARL GRAY ONLY comes from one printing of the combination coil stamps. The single PEARL GRAY stamp is valued by Facit 2024 at SEK 1600 (9/2024 US$160) and AFA 2023 at DKK 1300 (9/2024 US$195). This intact combination coil pair is listed by AFA 2023 at DKK 2200 (9/2024 US$330). An unusually fresh and attractive example of this scarce coil issue; such nice centering is seldom encountered. Even though there is a space for the 3 øre Pearl Gray in many European-made Denmark albums, singles of the 3 øre Pearl Gray are seldom offered. Missing from most collections, either as the Pearl Gray single or the AFA #1a pair.
ACTUAL item.
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259.00
239780
AFA Coil #1a [1919 7+3 øre VERTICAL] Used Average pair with the scarce PEARL GRAY 3 øre. Neatly canceled. The 3 øre Pearl Gray stamp alone would sell for about $100 with this centering; it is rare to see an example of either the single stamp or the pair with such a low price.
ACTUAL item.
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100.00
236259
AFA Coil #13 [1921 20 øre Christian X + 5 øre Wavy-Line, both Brown] Mint VF pair. Attractive.
ACTUAL item.
12.50
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243043
AFA Coil #13 [1921 20 øre Christian X + 5 øre Wavy-Line, both Brown] Mint Fine pair, bottom stamp NH. Very fresh.
ACTUAL item.
12.00
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243044
AFA Coil #14 [1921 5 øre Wavy-Line + 20 øre Christian X, both Brown] Mint VF pair, top stamp very lightly hinged, bottom stamp NH. Very nice!
ACTUAL item.
16.00
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236272
AFA Coil #17 [1927 10 øre Green + 5 øre Brown Wavy-Line] Mint F-VF pair.
ACTUAL item.
24.00
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236274
AFA Coil #17 [1927 10 øre Green + 5 øre Brown Wavy-Line] Mint F-VF pair.
ACTUAL item.
24.00
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236275
AFA Coil #17 [1927 10 øre Green + 5 øre Brown Wavy-Line] Mint F-VF pair.
ACTUAL item.
24.00
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243047
AFA Coil #17 [1927 10 øre Green + 5 øre Brown Wavy-Line] Mint F-VF pair. Top stamp was part of a paste-up where sheets were joined to make the coil.
ACTUAL item.
26.00
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236276
AFA Coil #17 [1927 10 øre Green + 5 øre Brown Wavy-Line] Mint slightly damaged.
ACTUAL item.