MCI-Mint debuts a rare silver coin pair featuring the mysterious Loch Ness Monster

German mint, MCI has launched its latest antiqued silver coin and after having dabbled with monster coins previously, has focused its attention on the most famous of them all, the Loch Ness Monster. The subject of much theory and speculation as to the nature and existence of the beast, sightings have been piling up for decades and a whole tourist industry has arisen around them. All complete nonsense of course, there’s no denying it brings a huge amount of colour and appeal to what is an incredibly beautiful part of the world. Loch Ness is amazing enough, actually containing more water than every other lake in Great Britain combined.

The coin is an MCI-Mint staple – an ounce of fine silver, antique-finish and issued for the African state of Burkina Faso. The obverse depicts the pretty attractive national emblem of that country, along with most of the required numismatic inscriptions. Just the coin title, date and composition are inscribed on the reverse face. The reverse depicts Nessie breaking through the water and showing the traditionally depicted coils. She has a head a little like a theropod (Allosaurus-type), which seems a little unusual, but we’re not ones to comment too heavily on what is after all, a fantasy creature. In the background sits a castle, perhaps suggesting that the coin art is set in the past as the castle currently sitting beside Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, is in ruins.

Packaged in a decent wooden box and supplied with a serialised certificate of authenticity, just 350 of the coin will be struck. It seems to be priced around the €99.00 mark, a little higher than normal, but that’s no doubt a result of the small mintage. In addition to this there is a limited two-coin set that you can see further below. This includes an extra 1 oz coin available nowhere else and is limited to a scant 99 pieces. Price is €189.00. Available now.

2017 LOCH NESS MONSTER ANTIQUED SILVER COIN

The Loch Ness Monster, or Nessie, is an aquatic being which reputedly inhabits Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is similar to other supposed lake monsters in Scotland and elsewhere, and is often described as being large in size, with a long neck and one or more humps protruding from the water. Popular interest and belief in the creature has varied since it was brought to worldwide attention in 1933. Evidence of its existence is anecdotal, with a few disputed photographs and sonar readings.

The creature commonly appears in Western media where it manifests in a variety of ways. The scientific community regards the Loch Ness Monster as a being from folklore without biological basis, explaining sightings as hoaxes, wishful thinking, and the misidentification of mundane objects. The creature has been affectionately called Nessie (Scottish Gaelic: Niseag) since the 1940s.

2017 NESSIE COIN PACKAGING AND TWO-COIN SET

As well as the single coin detailed above, MCI have made available a two-coin set through their online auction site 123TV. They’ve done this several times before, I actually have a nice wildlife set here and there have been a few dinosaur sets. Instead of just collecting different prior releases, these sets often include a coin available nowhere else and that’s indeed the case here.

Of an identical format to the first coin, the special in this set has a different design. Depicting a close-up ‘look’ at Nessie, it’s an obvious match for the main issue. Not a great design if we’re honest, it nevertheless makes the set quite attractive given the mintage of just 99 pieces. Packaged in a wooden box with a combined certificate, it remains a quirky rarity.

SPECIFICATION

NAME 2017  LOCH NESS MONSTER 2017  NESSIE
DENOMINATION 1,000 Francs CFA 1,000 Francs CFA
COMPOSITION 0.999 silver 0.999 silver
WEIGHT 31.1 grams 31.1 grams
DIAMETER 38.61 mm 38.61 mm
FINISH Antique Antique
MODIFICATIONS None None
MINTAGE 350 9
BOX / COA Yes / Yes Set / Yes