Breaking into the numismatic market  back in 2008, Treasures of Oz have managed to make a great name for themself in the seven short years since. Noted first and foremost for their range of semi-numismatic silver Lunar coins with their many variants, they’re also quite adept at trying new things such as filigree, ying-yang and unusual shapes. A particular favourite of ours are the any tiny 0.5g gold coins they produce that seem to incorporate a level of detail you wouldn’t expect in an 11mm diameter.

This new shark-themed coin isn’t related to their recent 2015 silver bullion coin, the Mokoha, although it does depict the same species, everbody’s favourite “You’re going to need a bigger boat” antagonist, the Great White Shark.

It’s a very clean design with the shark depicted in isolation and with no attempt to place it in an environment. This makes sense because the space available for the artwork has been reduced due to this coins big selling point; a windowed capsule into which is set an actual fossil sharks tooth. With the coin being an ounce in weight and an actual Great White weighing up to $1m worth of silver today (1,950kg), it’s patently obvious the tooth isn’t going to be from this species, even allowing for the healthy diameter of 48.61mm (we’re hoping that’s not a typo as 38.61mm is a standard 1oz coin diameter). UPDATE: It was a type. It’s 38.61mm.

We’ve encountered some confusion over the actual tooth in the coin. Treasures of Oz have it as a Otodontcsous microdus, an Eocene era shark (34-56 mya) but it’s not a species I’m familiar with and even allowing for the misspelling of the first name, not one I can reference elsewhere. There are many sub-species and different naming of fossils, so it’s not to doubt them, but I’d be curious to know more about the shark, it being a passion of mine.

Whatever the case, it’s a cool insert, definitely a bit different to the usual, and a coin I’d like to see in the hand. Selling for $130 AUD and looking like it’s going to ship from the end of March, the coin is currently up for pre-order direct from Treasures of Oz brand-new e-store (click blue button at article end). We believe it will ship in a box with a COA like the Snowflake Polar Bear coin, but that’s unconfirmed at present.

The video below shows Deep Blue, one of the biggest Great White sharks ever filmed. We all harbour thoughts of being able to take on a shark if the need ever arose, but seriously, just look at this thing….!

MINTS DESCRIPTION

This extraordinary coin from Tokelau weighs 1oz fine silver and portrays a Great White Sharp in the design.  It features a tip of an actual fosillised shark’s tooth in a capsule embedded in the coin! It also has a beautifully customised obverse side to complement the reverse design.

Great White Shark are found in the surface costal waters of all the world’s oceans and are well known around the pacific islands of Tokelau.  They can grow to over 6 metres long and have no natural predators except for orca.

The shark tooth included in the capsule is from the species Otodontcsous microdus, and dates back to the Eocene era – 50 to 44 million years ago.

This unusual coin is a must have for collectors of unusual coins and collectors of Shark coins generally.

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION $5 NEW ZEALAND
COMPOSITION 0.999 SILVER
WEIGHT 31.10 g
SIZE 48.61 mm
FINISH PROOF-LIKE
INSERT FOSSIL SHARK TOOTH
MINTAGE 1,000
BOX / COA YES / YES