Czech Lion bullion coin returns with a new design and a full selection of sizes in gold and silver

A relatively recent addition to the bullion coin world, having its first debut in 2017, the Czech Lion, issued for Niue but struck by the Czech Mint, has quickly established itself as one of the more attractive offerings on the market. Unlike the Perth Mints iconic bullion coin series, the Czech Lion doesn’t have an annually changing design – something we particularly like to see here, but that doesn’t preclude changes ever happening.

Now in its fourth year the coin has a new design by Asamat Baltaev, the artist responsible for the superb Leonardo set that this same mint produced last year. The semi-realistic representation of the twin-tailed Lion that has adorned the coin to date has given way to a more stylised and heraldic look – like those used by the Royal Mint, or even depictions carved into stone reliefs back in Babylonian times. Whatever the inspiration, it looks superb, especially with the silhouette-style burning eagle and shield that fills the background. Filled with Czech imagery, it’s almost a surprise to see the Niue name and effigy of QE-II on the obverse.

Plenty of choice when it comes to budget. Silver coins are available in five sizes from 1oz to 1kg, all with very tight mintages. The popular 1oz format is capped below 25,000 pieces. Just 1,000 pieces of the 1oz and the 2oz coin will be sold mounted to blistercards, much like the Perth Mint does sometimes. A set of all five sizes is available, but there will only be 50 available, making this quite the collectable.

Gold dominates with seven sizes ranging from the same 1kg at the top end, but continuing down to 1/25oz at the small end, eschewing the 2oz size on the way. Similarly, a set containing all seven, even the 1kg!, is also on sale and capped at 25 units. No, it won’t be cheap! Blistercarded versions of the 1oz (100 units) and 1/25oz (400) round out the selection.

All the coins are available to pre-order now, with shipping ranging from imminent to May, depending on the format. Lovely coin.

MINTS DESCRIPTION

“Czech Lion” is the very first bullion coin to come from the Czech Republic. It is produced to globally respected bullion specifications in a variety of weights. The coin features a strong symbolism of the Czech nation – two-tailed lion (coat of arms of the Czech Republic), burning eagle on a shield (attribute of Saint Wenceslas, patron saint of the Czech state), Crown of Saint Wenceslas (part of the Bohemian Crown Jewels) and linden branch (national tree).