Our first look is at a weapon that splits opinions like few others. People have a lot of different opinions on why the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan at the end of the Second World War. The general consensus is that the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima to force Japan’s surrender, and prevent the huge loss of life that would inevitably come from an invasion. There’s some truth to that, of course, just as there is that the Soviet declaration of war also scared Japan into surrender, but the decision to drop the second bomb on Nagasaki, is far more controversial.

Dubbed ‘Fat Man’ because of its shape, the second bomb was a plutonium implosion device, different, and more powerful than, the inefficient hydrogen gun-type design of the first bomb, ‘Little Boy’. It was dropped on 09 August 1945, exploding at the planned altitude of 500 metres with the equivalent force of 21 kilotons of TNT, and instantly killing over 35,000 people. Fortunately, no nuclear bomb has ever been used in anger since, and hopefully never will be. There’s no place on this planet for weapons like these, especially under the control of leaders the world is cursed with.

The coin itself is a close replica of Fat Man, although more inspired by, than a slavish copy, right down to the boxy fins, and system of clamps to hold the two halves of the ‘egg’ together. The replica in the National Museum of the USAF is painted yellow, with black over the seams (a simulation of the use of black asphalt sealer on the original), but the coin is black, as was the original before it was loaded onto the B29 that dropped it, Bockscar (also in that museum).

The heavy weathering on the coin, revealing the silver below, just seems appropriate, given this was an object of destruction, not something to be showcased. The coin issue details are inscribed on one of the fins, and the coin packaging is neat enough, with the nuclear warning on the lid. It’s a two-ounce coin with a 500 mintage. A somewhat poignant release, marking a dark chapter in our history that scared us all into never wanting it repeated. Quite though-provoking, if anything, and not a glorification of the weapon. A fine line that has been walked successfully, perhaps.

In a round-up we did back in June, we showcased a fine design by Silver Pours called ‘Steampunk Eagle’, which gave us a shaped coin jam-packed with mechanical details, applying the cult steampunk aesthetic to something natural. The second coin in that series is now available, and continues along that same mixed path with Steampunk Butterfly.

The wings of a butterfly are particularly suitable for ‘mechanisation’, and the mix of gears, cogs and levers is just sublime, and spread over both the reverse and obverse faces. It’s a stunning achievement, looking very delicate with the slim body and antennae between them. A new addition not present on the eagle, but a popular application with Mint of MK coins, is the employment of a sparkling UV colouring, and as you can see from the images below, it’s very effective.

There are two finishes on offer, with the antiqued variant having a mintage of 200, and being the superior finish, in my view. The other 99 pieces are fully gilded, and that also has the UV application, but the gilding doesn’t do it for me. Both are identically packaged, with a very nice themed capsule. A terrific release in a series we hope continues on.

Finally, and with yet another veering off into a different direction, is this silver foil produced in conjunction with American Silver Stackers. We’re huge fans of silver banknotes and foils here, as they offer a huge canvas for art while keeping the coin very affordable. This five-gram (~1/6 oz) foil is a huge 100 x 150 mm in size, and that allows for imagery just not possible on a 25 mm diameter coin.

This one is simple enough, and called Wanted Dead or Alive. It’s more of a homage, than an actual wanted poster, depicting a classically dressed outlaw on the front, and a very cool collection of various skulls on the obverse. It isn’t historically leaning, and rather more of a nod to the style of the Old West perpetuated by the film industry during the 20th century, for which there must be countless fans. I’d have preferred a real one, but looking into it, most are deadly dull and have no images, so maybe this was the way to go after all.

Whatever the case, a good release for the western fan, and an inexpensive one in these times of a silver price explosion.