The first of the four new issues is the Seoul-based producer’s latest entrant in the miniature weapon genre that it did so much to popularise. This one is called The Steampunk Gunblade, and as the name suggests, is the melding of a pistol and a sword. While there are some actual examples of this concept in history, this depiction is obviously a fantasy one.

As a coin, it’s impressive enough, with its near-20cm length finely decorated, including its issue details inscribed along the blade on both sides. The gunblade is a quirky take on the genre, although I do feel it’s a little misnamed, as it doesn’t have a specific steampunk theme, in my understanding of it, although you may think differently. It certainly doesn’t detract from the finished article, however, and the fine detailing is top-notch.

The coin comes boxed, and in a custom capsule, and just 1,000 will be made.

This unusual take on the rodeo rider is the latest release in this South Korean producer’s expansive, and inventive, range of stackable silver bullion designs. The depiction is certainly a different one, with the rider a skeletal one, and the typical horse has been replaced with a bull. The symbolism is the rider is holding on to a bull market, trying to stay in control and ride the way through.

It’s a neat take on the old bull and bear financial market trope, and a decent design in its own right. It’s supplied encapsulated, and has a mintage limit of 3,000 pieces, the most numerous of the four new releases here.

Also called the ‘Irworobongdo’, The King’s Horizon was a folding screen that was placed behind the royal throne during the Joseon Dynasty that ran from 1392 to 1910. It depicted the five peaks (representing the universe and royal dominion), and the sun and the moon, which symbolised the King and Queen. Also incorporated were a waterfall (for life and cleansing), and pine trees, (for loyalty and longevity). The screens were required to be in place when the King conducted any official business. It’s currently depicted on the 10,000 Won banknote.

This one is not a denominated coin, and carries the same image of the Irworobongdo on both sides, with the obverse also having the inscribed composition detailed. The end result is a culturally significant piece, well detailed, and with a hologram-effect application to enhance it. It comes boxed, and the mintage is capped at 1,000. Coins Today continues to showcase Korean history, and given how this Asian culture has become so popular of late, that can only be a good thing.

The Korean producer’s ‘Low-poly Lunar’ range returns with the Year of the Horse, and for the first time, they carry a denomination, having previously been undenominated bullion. That also comes with a much-reduced mintage, now capped at just 1,000 units, so it’s fair to say that the series desirability has risen somewhat, even though they’re still supplied encapsulated only.

The concept behind this series is simple enough, taking the current animal from the lunar cycle, and depicting it using polygons, which are basically facets that form a shape. Fine detail can be imparted using more and more polygons, but here, Today have deliberately kept the polygon count low, and the resulting effect is really first-class, in my opinion. These two-ounce coins are also fully stackable, with the obverse an inverse that fits neatly inside another of the coins. It’s a less important feature now that the series is not an unlimited mintage bullion range, but still neat, and technically accomplished. A commendable addition to the range, and an attractive, unusual coin.