The Perth Mint adds to its esoteric range with a Ferris Wheel coin, and there’s also a superb Honey Bee coin in tow
The Perth Mint has just launched its August range, and some of them caught our eye. The mint outputs a lot of higher-end variants of its bullion designs, with a mix of pop-culture thrown in for good measure, but they also have a fine reputation for original issues, arguably kicking off the whole two-ounce, antiqued, high-relief coin trend with their now iconic Gods of Olympus series back in 2014.
The two we’re reporting on here both fit that ‘Gods’ format and seem instantly recognisable as Perth Mint coins. The mint has an odd range, not a defined series as such, but utilising a consistent format, with wildly different embellishments. It’s hard to describe, so I’d recommend a browse through this Coin Series Profile, to get an idea of what we mean. The second coin, Ferris Wheel, fits into this range snugly, with its particularly odd central area, but we’re starting off with a more traditional issue.
2025 HONEY BEE
The bee seems to be quite a common motif on coins, not just in the modern period, but dating back to ancient times. Indeed, it’s surprising just how high a standard the humble bee has set in modern numismatics, with coin after coin exhibiting new ideas, and a very high standard. Fortunately, the Perth Mint has done nothing to diminish that with this terrific release.
The reverse face, by Jennifer McKenna, depicts a pair of worker bees visiting a Pink Daisy as part of their endless quest for sustenance for the hive. A third bee, also coloured, rummages around a second flower. In the background, spread out, are three honeycombs, covered in these industrious, and utterly captivating creatures, An attractive design, nicely layered, and packed to the rim, it’s another success for the humble Honey Bee.
The obverse of this Australian issue features the Dan Thorne effigy of King Charles III. It comes presented in a black box with a clear acrylic lid, for easy display, and everything, including the certificate of authenticity, comes in a themed shipper. A fine release, it’s already showing out-of-stock on the mint’s own website, but dealers worldwide should have it.
2025 FERRIS WHEEL
The second coin we’re looking at today is part of, what we call, the mint’s esoteric centres range, and it fits right in. This range has a signature design element, and it always sits in an aperture through the centre of an antique finished coin. Earlier issues have bordered on the weird, and we’ve had spinning charms, a compass, a Rubik’s Cube, and even domes filled with gold or silver flake. Check out our profile.
These coins are often issued to commemorate an anniversary of some kind, but this time, it’s just to celebrate an invention. The Ferris Wheel in its modern form, dates back to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and is named after its creator, George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. Smaller wooden ones actually date back to the 1500s, but this was the first time a large (80.4 metres), metal wheel had been constructed.
The coin’s border features a subtly coloured montage of fairground scenes, and in that centre, fully gilded, is a rotatable, Swarovski Crystal adorned, miniature Ferris wheel. It’s all a little ridiculous, of course, but also completely on theme. If you have a penchant for weird coins, this should be right in your wheelhouse. Ferris Wheel is issued for Tuvalu, which means the effigy of King Charles III, this time by Jody Clarke, decorates the obverse. The same packaging as the Honey Bee coin is employed, and it’s of a great quality.
| DENOMINATION | COMPOSITION | DIMENSIONS | FINISH | MINTAGE |
| $2 AUD (Australia) | 62.2 g of 0.999 silver | 40.69 | Antique, Colour | 2,000 |
| $2 TVD (Tuvalu) | 62.2 g of 0.999 silver | 45.60 | Antique, Colour | 2,000 |
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