ANA 2019: CIT launches an eclectic mix of top quality collectable coins
Liechtenstein coin producer CIT have long been the darlings of the coin world, with their ability to design, and then fully realise, some ambitious and stunning numismatics. Since the debut of the Tiffany series back in 2004, they, along with the mint BH Mayer, have repeatedly pushed the envelope on what is possible, and their smartminting process has been everything we hoped it would be.
The ANA show is now in progress in the US, and as the second biggest event on the calendar, has seen it given more prominence by CIT with regard to their release schedule. There are 20 new coins, so we obviously aren’t going to be able to write each one up fully today, but we will revisit most of these in more detail over the next couple of weeks. Meanwhile, enjoy the images below and the few notes we’ve added.
First up is the coin above, which is the latest in CIT’s 7 Summits series. This is a quite beautiful series in our eyes, and one of the biggest they do, at five ounces of silver. This is the fourth in the series looking at the highest peaks on each continent and has a mintage of 777 pieces.
2019 EDELWEISS DIMENSIONAL
Now dimensional coins have been produced by CIT for a couple of years now, and even others have had a go at the difficult format, but Edelweiss is proof positive that the crown isn’t going anywhere else. There’s a quite phenomenal amount of detail present in this and it’s hard to believe it isn’t cast, but it isn’t. This Alpine flower is the perfect showcase for the technology. Dimensional coin fans will love it, we’re sure. Amazingly, this 33mm wide piece is only an ounce in weight, and has a mintage of 2,500 pieces.
2019 BIKER SKULL DIMENSIONAL
CIT’s hit dimensional Skulls series has had some quite unusual entrants, but this one stretches that even further.’Bearded’ and ‘Tattooed’, this skull is the definition of ‘off the wall’. These are beautifully struck coins, not cast, and a perfect example of just what can be done with smartminting. (1oz Ag, 1750m)
2019 EVOLUTION OF LIFE: DINOSAURIA JURASSIC
One of our favourite series being released today from anywhere, Evolution of Life has hit the dinosaur world big time with this outstanding Sinraptor fossil. Antique finished with rose-gold gilding on the fossil part, this 1oz silver coin has a 999 mintage.
2019 MAGNIFICENT LIFE: PHILIPPINE EAGLE
Now this one looks beautiful. We can’t wait to see this one in hand where the smartminted relief and rich colour will make the eagles head ‘pop’. This has always been an attractive and under-appreciated series. (1oz Ag, 999m)
2019 ESTACADO METEORITE
Long the gold standard in meteorite coins, CIT seem to have raised the bar even higher this year with this fantastic design. Embedded the meteorite fragment like it has, and while heading to Earth is both topical and appealing. A highlight piece. this half-ounce, titanium silver coin has a mintage of 2,500 pieces. We want one…
2019 GUARDIAN ANGEL DIMENSIONAL & MINIGOLD
One of CIT’s ‘cutesy’ dimensional coins, these are aimed at the gift market we’d guess, for which they’d be an excellent choice. The Guardian Angel design is also available as a minigold (0.5g Au, 15000m).
2019 HIDDEN TIGER
A neat little design done in a bas-relief style like the NZ Mint’s Star Wars bullion coins. Mounted to a card, this Mongolian issue is half an ounce of silver in weight and has a mintage of 2,500 units.
2019 AC/DC RANGE
A big hit for both CIT and the Royal Australian Mint, AC/DC is back at the former with four new issues. The black proof Razor’s Edge coin is the headliner (2oz Ag, 999m), but the guitar pick is very cool (¼oz Ag, 2007m) and the cheapest coin will be For Those About to Rock (½oz Ag, 5000m). The gold banknote is a very unusual addition after last years 7″ vinyl style foil and is called the Angus Buck (0.3g 5000m).
2019 GHOST & AMMONITE MINIGOLD
CIT loves a minigold coin, so that means collectors do too, given how many are released these days. Nobody does them better though, as these two will attest. Both have a 15,000 mintage and the ammonite is actually struck in rose gold for a change.
2020 LUCKY COIN RANGE
Perennial favourites, these seem to sell well every year, so are back again. The minigold Four Leaf Clover (1g Au, 2000m) is a clever strike, and the Ounce of Luck is rose-gold plated this year (31.1g Ag, 2020m).
Another nice selection from CIT.
I really like the Kilimanjaro & the 1oz silver 4 leaf clover issues.
Thought the mintage on CIT’s Ounce of Luck Clover coins were always the same as the year issued ?
You’re right Bob, it’s a typo. That’s what I get for trying to stay awake at 5am with a crap Netflix show called Wu Assassins trying to keep me concious. It failed…
I also gave Wu Assassins a chance, after 3 episodes I quit.
Nice pieces of jewellery – yes, especially edelweiss, but it’s always difficult to me call these pieces ‘coins’.
For me coin must be round.
Coins haven’t always been round throughout history. Far from it. There’s plenty of room for issues like this in the modern market, especially as techniques developed making this stuff often find there way to more mundane issues over time. Bit like NASA or Formula 1 cars. Develop for the high end and migrate down.
It’s only my own ‘taste’. I like it round or close to round. This is a reason I will not buy (as for now) edelweiss or MANANNAN, despite of the fact I like them both.
I’m sure there are enough people who will buy, and it’s OK.
Superjeka
I once held a similar position with coins when it came to “color” on a coin.
Many years ago I felt that color on a coin was way over the top and was almost disgraceful.
If I remember correctly when I first saw a coin with color it was a 1oz US Silver Eagle covered with bright colors, I winced in anguish at the sight of it.
Of course those early (3rd party) coloring attempts were more like adding paint on a coin and in my opinion were gaudy in appearance.
Years later a recognized mint was offering a colorized issue along side their “regular” proof issue of the same coin and it caught my eye.
The color on that particular coin used the “pad printing” technique so I bought it. After that, I never looked down on a coin with color again.
And now, the technique using computers to “digital print” the color has even reinforced that feeling.
It’s funny, sometimes I look at a new “uncolored” release and think ….wouldn’t that coin look fantastic with a bit of added color here or there.
All I’m saying is that I’m glad I moved on from that color stigma I held on to in the past.
Maybe you too are missing out on some excellent designs.
I’m just guessing, but I believe if you held the Manannan coin in hand….. you may reconsider that “round” thing you prefer.