Hong-Kong based dealer, LPM Group, has a fine reputation for inventive bullion coins series, and the latest to join their repertoire is ‘Asian Mythical Creatures’. The mythology of East and SE Asian cultures has seen quite a surge in popularity over the last few years, so there’s a ready market for it, and it doesn’t seem to have reached saturation point yet. That’s fortunate when designs like this new one-ounce silver bullion coin from LPM continue to appear.

The legend of the Nine-tailed Fox is an old one, and the entity is known across China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, amongst others. A mischievous spirit animal, with the ability to shape-shift, often into a beautiful woman, in some forms they consume the body or spirit of their victims. Those who watched the TV show ‘Lovecraft Country’ will see a depiction that fits this narrative very well.

The coin design, by Wendy Xu, was chosen from entrants in a competition run by LPM, and we have to say, they chose well. It evokes the spirit beautifully for a bullion coin, with a prominent focal point surrounded by convoluted, flowing elements. This is a pretty, distinctive coin, and makes a nice change from the endless number of dragon coins we see these days. It’s issued for Samoa, and carries the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank Broadley on its obverse.

Just a one-ounce 0.999 silver coin makes up the range at present, and the mintage is nice and lean at just 5,000 pieces. This is the first in an ongoing series, and we look forward to seeing what comes next. If LPM continue with the design competition angle, it could be an eclectic, series with many styles, and what’s not to like about that?  Available now.