Wolverine is the ninth to join LPM’s pantheon in Marvel Comics Series of silver bullion coins

Now a staple of the bullion coin calendar, the Perth Mint’s Marvel Comics series of silver bullion coins is now enjoying its ninth issue in four years. Launching in 2017 with Spiderman, the series is gradually working its way through one of the most popular pantheons of heroes in history and the first 2021 coin marks a rare journey away from the Avengers, moving into the realm of the equally famous X-Men.

Wolverine is a hugely popular character, carrying multiple solo movies and enjoying a long and varied comic book history. The coins have always stuck strictly to the comic books for inspiration and that’s the case here, sensibly avoiding any nod to the excellent character portrayal by Hugh Jackman. The figure has the easily identifiable costume, and the signature adamantium claws are fully visible. There’s no confusing who is depicted here.

Issued for Tuvalu, the obverse has the usual effigy of Queen Elizabeth II at its centre. The coin is struck in 0.9999 silver to a brilliant uncirculated finish, and is supplied encapsulated. Of the 50,000 coins minted, 49,000 of them will be sold this way (also in tubes or monster boxes, of course), but as with all previous releases except the debut Spiderman coin, a thousand coins will be presented attached to a colourful blistercard. These tend to carry a premium, but not a huge one. As before, this release is exclusively distributed around the world by LPM in Hong Kong, who have a long history with the Perth Mint when it comes to exclusives. Available from today. Check out our Bullion Coin Profile to the series.

WOLVERINE

Wolverine (alias: Logan and Weapon X) is a mutant who possesses animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, a powerful regenerative ability known as a healing factor, and three retractable claws in each hand. Wolverine has been depicted variously as a member of the X-Men, Alpha Flight, and the Avengers.

The character appeared in the last panel of The Incredible Hulk #180 before having a larger role in #181 (cover-dated Nov. 1974). He was created by Marvel editor-in-chief Roy Thomas, writer Len Wein, and Marvel art director John Romita Sr. Romita designed the character, although it was first drawn for publication by Herb Trimpe. Wolverine then joined a revamped version of the superhero team the X-Men, where eventually writer Chris Claremont and artist-writer John Byrne would play significant roles in the character’s development. Artist Frank Miller collaborated with Claremont and helped revise the character with a four-part eponymous limited series from September to December 1982, which debuted Wolverine’s catchphrase, “I’m the best there is at what I do, but what I do best isn’t very nice.”

Wolverine is typical of the many tough antiheroes that emerged in American popular culture after the Vietnam War; his willingness to use deadly force and his brooding nature became standard characteristics for comic book antiheroes by the end of the 1980s. As a result, the character became a fan favorite of the increasingly popular X-Men franchise, and has been featured in his own solo comic book series since 1988.

He has appeared in most X-Men adaptations, including animated television series, video games, and the live-action 20th Century Fox X-Men film series, in which he is played by Hugh Jackman. Troye Sivan portrayed a younger version in the 2009 film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The character is highly rated in many comics best-of lists, ranked #1 in Wizard magazine’s 2008 Top 200 Comic Book Characters; 4th in Empire’s 2008 Greatest Comic Characters; and 4th on IGN’s 2011 Top 100 Comic Book Heroes. (Source: Wikipedia)

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION $1 TVD (Tuvalu)
COMPOSITION 0.9999 silver
WEIGHT 31.1grams
DIMENSIONS 40.60 mm
FINISH Brilliant uncirculated
MODIFICATIONS None
MINTAGE 50,000 (incl. 1,000 carded)
BOX / C.O.A. Yes / Yes