Auragentum moves from the Ice Age to the Viking Age for its new gold bullion coin series

Having just wrapped up its ‘Giants of the Ice Age’ bullion series after a five-year, ten-coin run, we were eager to see what would come next, and we didn’t have to wait very long at all. The Viking Age will also consist of ten issues, spread over five years, but whereas Giants was a three-format range (1 oz gold, 1 oz and 1 kg silver), but for now at least, Viking Age will stick with the 1 oz gold only.

Despite the differences in subject matter, there are familial cues in the coin’s layout. A border surrounds much of the rim, but the Viking warrior passes in front of it on the right-hand side, much like the Giants series did throughout its run. The similarities end there, however, starting on the obverse with a change of issuing nation from Ghana, to Cameroon, bringing with it the effigy, by Jody Clark, of Queen Elizabeth II.

The first coin is called ‘Prosperity’, perhaps indicating this isn’t to be just another series focused on war, or gods, but rather taking at look at their society in a wider context. Contrary to popular belief, the Vikings were not mindless brutes rampaging around Northern Europe, but were a sophisticated society, trading as far afield as the Eastern Mediterranean, and having a highly distinctive culture of their own.

However, the first issue does depict a raiding party, complete with a longship, and does a good job of it. It will be interesting to see where Auragentum goes with it from here. So, just a one-ounce 0.9999 gold version in the range at present, although that may change if it proves popular. Each coin, struck by Leipziger Edelmetall, is encapsulated, and only 250 pieces will be struck. A great debut, it’s available to order from today.