A bullion coin roundup for mid-October and there’s new gold, silver and platinum coins across multiple genres

It’s worked quite well at rounding up the many popular culture coins showcasing the worlds of TV and movies, so we’re doing the same to catch-up with the bullion coin releases, something also happening with much more regularity than just a few short years ago. There’s a nice selection, including additions to some popular series, and some fine new ones, like the Fiji Cats and the Moorish Castle platinum coin for Gibraltar.

We’ll continue to report on new releases in the usual way, or through Quicklooks for the ones that don’t require so much attention (additions to ongoing series, for example), but you’ll see this type of post come up perhaps once a month to enable us to stay more up to date in a market awash with new issues. Enjoy.

GIBRALTAR CASTLE PLATINUM (MTB/PAMP)

We don’t see many coins from Gibraltar, especially bullion coins, but one made from platinum is a very rare beast indeed. MTB/PAMP have now issued a really nice looking platinum bullion coin with the famous Moorish Castle as the central theme. Perched atop the legendary Rock of Gibraltar, the castle began construction in the eighth century and was an important foothold during the Muslim conquest of Spain.

The reverse face depicts the Tower of Homage, still in existence, but in 14th century rebuilt form after its destruction in the 1330’s. The obverse depicts the coat of arms of Gibraltar, a particularly pretty affair. All in, we like this one a lot, packed with history and with a rare issuer and relatively uncommon metal.

DENOMINATION COMPOSITION WEIGHT DIAMETER FINISH MINTAGE BOX / COA
£5 GIP (Gibraltar) 0.9995 Platinum 31.1 g 38.61 mm Reverse proof TBC NO / NO

SHREK (APMEX)

Shrek the movie is now 20 years old and we’ve seen an uptick in coin issues as a result. It was inevitable the bullion coin market would see the characters of these much loved movies put in an appearance, and that is indeed the case. APMEX have the exclusive on this and it’s available in either one-ounce 0.999 silver form (encapsulated/tubes), or 0.9999 gold (boxed).

It’s actually a really nice design, tapping into the camaraderie between Shrek and Donkey in a way most higher-end numismatics fail to do. Mintages are quite tight, especially on the gold, and the silver is a cheap way to get a collectable for fans of the movie franchise.

DENOMINATION COMPOSITION WEIGHT DIAMETER FINISH MINTAGE BOX / COA
$2 NZD (Niue) 0.999 silver 31.1 g 40.66 mm B / UNC 20.000 NO / NO
$250 NZD (Niue) 0.9999 gold 31.1 g 32.0 mm B / UNC 200 YES / YES

QUEEN’S BEASTS: GREYHOUND OF RICHMOND (Royal Mint)

We’ve spent a considerable amount of time over the last few years covering the superb Queen’s Beasts bullion coin series from the Royal Mint, including this specific entrant, the Greyhound of Richmond, so this is more of a heads-up that the ten ounce silver and one ounce platinum variants are now available.

You can find out more about this popular series in our Bullion Coin Profile of it.

DENOMINATION COMPOSITION WEIGHT DIAMETER FINISH MINTAGE BOX / COA
£10 UKP 0.9999 silver 311.0 g 85.0 mm B / UNC UNLIMITED NO / NO
£100 UKP 0.9995 Platinum 31.1 g 32.68 mm B / UNC UNLIMITED NO / NO

FIJI CATS (Münzen Engel)

Here we have a new one-ounce silver coin series featuring our lovable little masters – cats. We’re a little under-informed on the producer, (It’s issued by Münzen Engel in Germany) but on the evidence here the series is off to a good start. It’s a terrific design, with an excellent grasp of anatomy, managing to avoid the many pitfalls that dog (no pun intended!) cat depictions on coins.

A great looking scene, this is easily one of my favourites of the selection here. Like just about every site out there, we have a mascat. The little jerk can be seen below, hindering work because she thinks it’s movie time…

DENOMINATION COMPOSITION WEIGHT DIAMETER FINISH MINTAGE BOX / COA
$0.5 FJD (Fiji) 0.999 silver 31.1 g 40.0 mm B / UNC 12,000 NO / NO

PREHISTORIC LIFE: QUETZALCOATLUS (Emporium Hamburg)

We have a full Bullion Coin Profile of this excellent series up, so we’ll leave you to head on over there for more info, but basically, this is the third and final issue of 2021, and the sixth overall. We’ve seen artwork for the next six, to be issued three per year, so this is one that’s going to build into a fine set on that evidence.

Quetzalcoatlus is a great subject for a coin, the giant flying reptile remaining possibly the largest flying creature discovered to date. This series has always had special appeal in depicting its subjects getting on with their lives. There’s also a half-gram minigold proof version.

DENOMINATION COMPOSITION WEIGHT DIAMETER FINISH MINTAGE BOX / COA
20 Francs (Congo) 0.9999 silver 31.1 g 38.6 mm B / UNC 10,000 NO / NO
20 Francs (Congo) 0.9999 silver 31.1 g 38.6 mm B / UNC, colour 2,000 NO / NO

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: FLYING DUTCHMAN (NZ Mint/EMK)

This is the second Pirates of the Caribbean bullion coin in the series and is actually quite similar to the first (Black Pearl) design in overall look. There’s a lot of high quality competition in the Pirates genre, even in the bullion market, and while this series is okay, it’s quite an uninspired design, especially in light of its similarity to the first release.

Gold and silver one ounce versions make up the range, the former with a mintage of 250 pieces and the latter with 15,000. Both are supplied encapsulated.

DENOMINATION COMPOSITION WEIGHT DIAMETER FINISH MINTAGE BOX / COA
$2 NZD (Niue) 0.999 silver 31.1 g 40.7 mm B / UNC 15.000 NO / NO
$250 NZD (Niue) 0.9999 gold 31.1 g 32.0 mm B / UNC 250 YES / YES

GIANTS OF THE ICE AGE: AUROCHS (Auragentum)

We also have a full Bullion Coin Profile of this unique range up as well. Giants of the Ice Age is an eight coin range and this is the sixth released to date. There are two bullion coins, one an ounce, and the other a kilo of 0.999 silver. A proof finish one ounce gold is also on offer, with a 1,000 mintage.

Depicting some of the pre and post ice-age megafauna that roamed the planets thousands of years ago, they’re issued for Ghana and carry a common obverse. The kilo coin has a serial number inscribed on the edge.

DENOMINATION COMPOSITION WEIGHT DIAMETER FINISH MINTAGE BOX / COA
5 Cedis (Ghana) 0.999 silver 31.1 g 38.6 mm B / UNC 15,000 NO / NO
1,000 Cedis (Ghana) 0.999 silver 1’000 g 100.0 mm B / UNC 1,000 NO / YES