We’re going to be honest straight from the start, nobody does minigold coins as well as Liechtenstein-based producer, CIT. While many other mints have embraced the half-gram gold coin format, none have issued so many designs, across so wide a range of subjects, or have so comprehensively integrated them into their wider range. The great majority of CIT’s flagship coin ranges have a minigold companion.

Their efforts take two forms, traditional round coins, varying in diameter from 11 mm to almost 14 mm, and shaped coins, taking on the outline of the subject. Most of the latter are not tied to bigger and more prestigious silver coins, but are issued in their own right. This latest pair sits in that group, part of CIT’s ‘Special Shapes Gold’ range. Latterly, these have concentrated on depicting leisure activities, like a guitar, and a game controller, but there have been everything from animals to transportation over the last few years.

Two new coins debuted last week, we believe the 37th and 38th in the collection, all but two of which  issued for Palau (the others were for the Cook Islands). One is in the shape of a basketball, the other an American Football, both hugely popular sports in North America, in particular. They both reach out to 13.92 mm in diameter, big for the format, and both exhibit a lot of the fine detail usually missing at this size. Unusually, none of this series carries a date of issue.

The mintage of each is capped at 15,000 pieces, a nod to their popularity. They only come encapsulated as standard, but a neat little box is available for little money, so ask your dealer to get one when you buy, as they’re worth it. Available now.