Not one of the most high profile series from the Mint of Poland, these coins are sports-themed. Unlike most sets from this mint, this one is quite loosely put together, carrying a similar basic design but differing in weight and release date. It also seems focused more on sporting events than on the sports themselves.
First to launch back in 2014 was a troy ounce silver coin celebrating the FIFA World Cup in 2014. A clever design saw a circle of flags around the outside edge of the reverse face, one for each of the participating countries. The inside and cleanly struck artwork showed a ball with a rapturous crowd across it in silhouette, formed from frosted and proof finish elements. A nice piece, it doesn’t appear to have been an officially licenced coin, carrying no FIFA logo and alluding to, rather than outright depicting the tournament. The standard Niue/QEII obverse is common to the whole series.
After an empty 2015, the mint has decided to resurrect the design style and continue it in their more traditional 17.5g silver coin format for 2016. First out was a coin for the 2016 European Handball Championship, held in Poland ironically. Carrying over the flag pattern around the outside and the silhouette over the ball on the inside, it’s quite a decent, dynamic design. Apart from the format, and even though weight dropped from 31.1 grams down to 17.5, the diameter remained the same at 38.61 mm, the only other real change was a slash in the mintage from 2,222 down to just 500.
The latest coin depicts the just completed European Football Championship, known as Euro 2016. We like this one a lot. The silhouetted players over the ball and the Eiffel Tower, leave no doubt about which tournament is being marked. Again, this doesn’t appear to be an official coin, the Monnaie de Paris doing the honours there with a nice range. Its format matches the handball coin, as does the mintage.
A nice set of designs for the sporting collector. There’s no news yet on an Olympic coin, or of any more in the series, but we’d be suprised if no more appeared. Packaging is well done as you can see. All are available now.
EURO 2016 AND HANDBALL COINS
MINTS DESCRIPTION
A coin dedicated to one of the most popular sports disciplines in the World – football. The theme of the coin refers to this year’s most important football feast – World Cup in Brazil 2014
This silver coin was made with the use of diverse technologies. Multi-coloured flags on its reverse have been mapped with the precise digital printing. Additionally, the realistic look of a ball has been emphasized by a relief and different kinds of frosting.
This exceptional coin is a mandatory item in each football fan’s collection!
REVERSE: In the central part of the coin – a relief image of a ball. Below – a group of football fans against a mirror-like surface. Around – flags symbolizing countries which participate in this year’s competition.
OBVERSE: In the central part of the coin – effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Below it – mint mark: m/w, hallmark: Ag 999. Along the rim – inscriptions separated by decorative dots: ELIZABETH II, NIUE ISLAND (issuer), 1 DOLLAR (face value), 2014 (year of issue).
“Handball 2016” is the next coin in the series of one and only coins manufactured at the Mint which are devoted to the most popular sports activities.The roots of handball date back to ancient Rome and Greece, where athletes competed in the struggle for the top titles. Today, this spectacular team game is experiencing its renaissance, and handball players’ matches are continuously winning the hearts of increasing number of fans around the world.
2016 is the year of the consecutive XII European Handball Championship in this sports discipline played in the men’s category. The organizer of this year’s championship is Poland, and the tournament hosts are 4 cities:
REVERSE: In the central part of the coin – image of a handball player throwing a ball. In the background – stylized decorative surface: ball. Along the rim – colorful flags of the countries participating in the championship (digital printing).
OBVERSE: In the central part of the coin – effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Below it – mint mark: m/w, hallmark: Ag 999. Along the rim – inscriptions separated by decorative dots: ELIZABETH II, NIUE ISLAND (issuer), 1 DOLLAR (face value), 2016 (year of issue).
Do you love sport? This is a real treat for sports fans all over the world! Designed with the lovers of football in mind, this one-of-a-kind collector coin commemorates the XV European football championship. Incredible atmosphere, ultra-modern sports venues, the biggest stars of world’s sports – football matches always attract huge numbers of spectators across the world, both at the stadiums and in front of the TV sets. The football coin, struck in fine silver and decorated with high-end digital printing, will make you feel these unforgettable positive emotions once again – every time you hold it in your hand or just look at it.
Football is one of the most popular sport disciplines in the world, particularly in Europe. Every four years, the competition for supremacy in the Old Continent gathers the most successful European national teams. Exciting struggle for the title of the best European football team 2016 is going to take place in France, including its state-of-the-art arena Stade de France in Saint-Denis.
REVERSE: In the central part of the coin – two of the players on the background of the Eiffel Tower. In the background – a stylized decorative surface: football. Along the rim – multi-colored flags of countries participating in the European Championships in football.
OBVERSE: As Handball coin.
THE 2014 WORLD CUP COIN
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SPECIFICATION
| COIN | DENOMINATION | COMPOSITION | WEIGHT | DIAMETER | FINISH | MINTAGE | BOX / COA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WORLD CUP 2014 | $2 NEW ZEALAND | 0.999 SILVER | 31.10 g | 38.61 mm | PROOF | 2222 | YES / YES |
| HANDBALL 2016 | $1 NEW ZEALAND | 0.999 SILVER | 17.50 g | 38.61 mm | PROOF | 500 | YES / YES |
| EURO CHAMP 2016 | $1 NEW ZEALAND | 0.999 SILVER | 17.50 g | 38.61 mm | PROOF | 500 | YES / YES |
COIN IMAGES
Are any of these domed?
No mate. We have a new domed coin going up in a couple of weeks you might like, however.