Perth Mint debut Star Trek 50th Anniversary coin with cool packaging

As Star Treks 50th Anniversary draws to a close, the flood of coins that have washed over the market winds down. With no new debuts due from either the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) or likely the Perth Mint (nothing in November at least) it is to this new coin that fan hopes lie for a cool swansong.

Fortunately, it doesn’t look like the Perth Mint has disappointed. Featuring the original crew in a medley of their most classic poses, along with the first USS Enterprise in the background, this is the perfect coin for those that just want to make a single Star Trek purchase. The RCM has featured single crew members and some of the best episodes on their own coins, and Perth did a superb Kirk/Spock coin a short while ago, but this is the first release that encapsulates the whole series in a single design.

While we normally consider quality packaging secondary, although still important, in this case the Perth Mint has surpassed all previous attempts at bespoke coin boxes for popular culture items. After the disappointing transporter boxes that marked out the five Captain:Ship sets launched last year – boxes that were far too bulky and clumsy, especially five-times over – the Starfleet communicator is inspired in comparison. A brilliant looking design, well-sized and nicely detailed, we reckon this will be a big selling point for this coin, especially for the fan not normally a buyer of numismatics.

The coin is struck in two ounces of fine silver, with the Perth Mint making the diameter a very healthy 50.6 mm, bigger than average and giving the artwork plenty of room to breathe. Supplied with a serialised Certificate of Authenticity, it’s all enclosed in a themed shipper box depicting the crew, although we’d imagine George Takei won’t be pleased to have been left off the lid…

Available today for $230 AUD, the mintage is set at 5,000. We’d be surprised if this wasn’t a pretty quick seller, even though the hotly tipped silver Delta coin seemed to take a fair while to pick up steam and yet still remains available in decent numbers even today. This new coloured coin would be our tip if you just want to pick up a single Trek coin for the anniversary.

COIN IMAGES

MINTS DESCRIPTION

The U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 crew was led by commanding officer Kirk, with Spock, the first officer and science officer; Uhura, the chief communications officer; Chekov, the navigator and one of the youngest on board; Bones, the chief medical officer; Scotty, the chief engineer and second officer; and Sulu, the third officer and senior helmsman.

Together, this formidable crew led the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 to seek out new life and new civilisations, and to boldly go where no man has gone before.

REVERSE: portrays a colour image of the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 including Captain Kirk, Spock, Uhura, Chekov,  Dr. McCoy, Scotty, and Sulu as they appeared in Star Trek: The Original Series, against the backdrop of a galaxy. The design includes the inscription THE ORIGINAL SERIES STAR TREK and The Perth Mint’s traditional ‘P’ mintmark. Design by Jennifer McKenna.

OBVERSE: depicts the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the monetary denomination, and the 2016 year-date.

PACKAGING: The coin is housed in a replica of a Star Trek: The Original Series communicator, within a Star Trek themed shipper. Each coin is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

PACKAGING & OBVERSE

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SPECIFICATION

DENOMINATION COMPOSITION WEIGHT DIAMETER FINISH MINTAGE BOX / COA
$2 TUVALU 0.999 SILVER 62.27 g 55.6 mm PROOF 5,000 YES / YES

MINT LINK

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