While Mint of MK has been one of the most prolific issuers of high-end numismatics over the last twelve months, they haven’t really pushed into more affordable territory – until now. Despite the extraordinary design of this undenominated one ounce silver round, it will have an uncapped mintage, and be wholesaled on a spot+ basis, much like a bullion coin. Each of them will come slabbed as well, meaning these will be a superb way to get that Mint of MK design style at a price much more accessible to the general collector.

The series of four is themed around the theories of Empedocles, who theorised everything was based around the elements of Earth, Air, Water, and the subject of this debut issue, Fire. The anthropomorphic representation of the element is just outstanding, completely unencumbered by inscriptions, and splendidly enhanced with high relief. Can’t way to see the next one.

Numiscollect’s impressive ‘Growing Up’ series of silver coins continues with a fourth release. The gist of the series is to depict the lifecycle of an animal, all mammals to date, with a high-relief image of an adult on the reverse face, and a family image, focused on the young, on the obverse.

The gorilla is the latest subject, with a terrific, powerful portrait of an adult, sporting some impressive levels of smartminted relief. The smaller, signature line drawing of the animal is in the background again, our least favourite element of the designs in this series. Smartminted high-relief extends to the obverse, and the scene of infant gorilla’s is an attractive one. The other signature element of this series, the adult reflected in the water, looks especially well realised here.

The coins are unusual in having a proof finish, but in black proof on the reverse face alone. This two-ounce variant has a mintage of 333 pieces, but at some point in the future, there will be a five-ounce version with a 149 mintage.

This awesome coin is the first in a new series by Spectres, which is called ‘The Five Families’. It will feature each of the five big mafia families vying for control in the United States. The first issue is the most powerful of them all, the Genovese Family, which was founded in its modern form by Lucky Luciano in 1931, becoming the Genovese family in 1957 when Vito Genovese became the boss.

The series will depict the families as high-relief playing cards, in this case, the Ace of Spades. The grouping of a seated Vito Genovese, flanked by a pair of Tommy Gun wielding henchmen, is quite brilliant. I really love this one, with superb posing, and perspective. The obverse, also with some high-relief, carries over the playing card motif, and has five gilded bullet ‘holes’ filled with symbols of the business, like gambling and narcotics.

An outstanding coin for me, it comes boxed with a Certificate of Authenticity, and is capped at 500 pieces.

One of our favourite bullion series, although one we haven’t covered enough in the past, the Czech Lion is produced by the Czech Mint, and has been since 2017. The first three annual issues carried the same design, but since then, it has changed every year, with some of them being quite superb.

The 2024 range, by Czech Mint regular, Asamat Baltaev, depicts a realistic lion portrait, wearing the St. Wenceslas Crown. In the background is a heraldic eagle, a common national motif in the region. Despite the Czech design and production, it’s issued for Niue. A very nice design.

This particular coin is a joint release between the Czech Mint, and Rome-based dealer, Powercoin, and is basically a one-ounce silver variant with colouring on the reverse face. It comes card-mounted, and with a mintage of 1,000 pieces. It’s a nice package for the collector wanting an improved strike, and an officially produced one.

The 12th in Mint XXI’s ‘United Crypto States’ series of cryptocurrency denominated range of one and two ounce coins, the Buffalo is a one ounce example of the type. While there are obvious similarities with the 1913 James Earle Fraser ‘Indian Head Nickel’ coin issued in the United States, this is an all-new design, exhibiting much higher levels of detail due to its proof finish. If you like the Buffalo bullion coin, you’ll love this one, as it’s a stunning depiction.

The series is unusual in not having a country of issue, but instead carries a cryptocurrency denomination via a QR code hidden beneath a hologram on the obverse face. Most of the issues have a Bitcoin denomination, and that’s the case here. Denominated at the impressive sounding 1,000 Satoshi, that’s actually, at the time of writing, about 0.000001 USD…