It’s March, and time for one of our Film and Television themed coin round-ups

We had a few weeks away from our film and television coin round-ups, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t just keep coming! The genre remains a hugely popular one, and it shows no signs of easing off anytime soon. To be fair, it has its fair share of excellent releases, and it is a healthy source of new interest in the hobby from the massive memorabilia market, so who are we to complain.

Saying that, the highlight for me this time is a simple one-ounce proof coin from the Czech Mint. A terrific rendering of the Rudyard Kipling classic, ‘The Jungle Book’, it bodes well for the other three coins in the set die to release between now and September. Much of the rest are additions to ongoing series, with the usual New Zealand Mint, and MDM offering up the bulk of them. There were more, but you have to draw a line somewhere, given how time-consuming collating them all is. A varied selection regardless. Until next month…

2022 THE JUNGLE BOOK: MOWGLI AND KAA (Czech Mint)

We’re starting off with a coin that is perhaps stretching the definition of what these posts are about, but The Jungle Book is heavily associated with the Disney movie, so here we are. It certainly helped that the design, by Czech Mint regular, and AgAuNEWS favourite, Asamat Baltaev, is so beautifully done. Seriously, how much more attractive is this compared to a simple coloured coin? A terrific scene that manages to capture the essence of the movie so well.

Best of all, this is the first in a four-coin series to be released throughout the year with Baloo & Bagheera due shortly, Shere Khan in July, and Akele & the wolf pack in September. All look great in the early artwork. As they’ve done with several other small series, a nice tin collector’s box is available to hold all four for a relatively cheap €12. We’ve said it before, but we wish more mints would do this. Available now, it’s capped at 1,500 pieces. We love this one.

DENOMINATION COMPOSITION WEIGHT DIMENSIONS FINISH MINTAGE BOX / COA
$1 NZD (Niue) 0.999 silver 31.1 g 37.0 mm Proof 1,500 YES / YES

2022 STAR WARS: AT-AT WALKER (New Zealand Mint)

The New Zealand Mint’s Star Wars range continues to diversify so much that we’re often unsure where to put new issues. In some ways, this latest coin is a natural fit for their Star Wars Classic series, but they’ve added a coloured five-ounce silver coin to the mix that is certainly not part of that, so we’ll just treat it as a separate issue for now.

It’s quite a nice coin, to be honest, with the iconic At-At displayed in combat with rebel forces on the planet of Hoth. The popular one-ounce silver and quarter-ounce gold formats return, but the aforementioned big silver coin is an uncharacteristic addition, of which we suspect we’ll see more of. We’re not sure the colour adds much, but it’s an interesting option, and with a mintage of only 300 pieces, an uncommon one. Early certificate numbers are available from German dealer EMK, but prices are hefty for them.

DENOMINATION COMPOSITION WEIGHT DIMENSIONS FINISH MINTAGE BOX / COA
$2 NZD (Niue) 0.999 silver 31.1 g 40.0 mm Proof 2,000 YES / YES
$10 NZD (Niue) 0.999 silver 155.5 g 65.0 mm Proof, colour 300 YES / YES
$25 NZD (Niue) 0.9999 gold 7.78 g 22.0 mm Proof 150 YES / YES

2022 PAC MAN ROUNDS (APMEX)

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After Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, and Galaga, APMEX have cycled back to Pac-Man with its latest range of videogame-inspired bullion rounds. There are three, one-ounce offerings this time, all coloured on both faces, and all presented in their slab-like, TEP capsules. You’ll either love these or hate them. They’re certainly right on point for the subject, with some great artwork from the early days of the arcades.

APMEX have also issued an Assassin’s Creed range, and a newer Yu-Gi-Oh! range as well. Clearly, the gaming market is proving to be a rich mine of inspiration for them, and why not? Videogame culture is huge these days, and the early period is a fantastic source of imagery.

DENOMINATION COMPOSITION WEIGHT DIAMETER FINISH MINTAGE BOX / COA
None (round) 0.999 silver 31.1 g 39.0 mm B/uncirculated, colour Unltd TEP SLAB
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2022 FACES OF THE EMPIRE: SCARIF TROOPER (New Zealand Mint)

The seventh Faces of the Empire coin, is one that perhaps marks the point where we are getting into less well known territory. The Scarif Stormtrooper, also known as the Shoretrooper, were tropical troops used in the movie Rogue One, stationed on the planet Scarif, where the Empire did weapons research and stored information.

As before, a helmet-shaped, one-ounce silver coin, with colour on one face, and some attractive presentation. It carries on a decent series, and releases like this one, covering subjects in the Star Was universe that get otherwise little attention, will always be welcomed by fans.

DENOMINATION COMPOSITION WEIGHT DIMENSIONS FINISH MINTAGE BOX / COA
$2 NZD (Niue) 0.999 silver 31.1 g 36.0 X 27.32 mm Proof, colour 10,000 YES / YES

2022 E.T. THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL (The Coin Company)

The Coin Company has been quietly building up quite a comprehensive range of franchised, shaped silver coins, encompassing such popular themes as Back to the Future, Jurassic Park, and Minions. Most sell out quickly, so it’s of little surprise that its reach is growing. Newest addition is the Steven Spielberg movie, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, with the title character the chosen subject.

Depicting the shrivelled alien in a dressing gown, its release marks the film’s 40th anniversary. An ounce in weight, it has a pretty tight mintage of just 1,000 units, quite low given the subject. We don’t have dimensions (for some inexplicable reason, CCA don’t say on most of these coins), but we’d imagine it is somewhere around the 50 x 30 mm mark. Good quality packaging rounds out the release.

DENOMINATION COMPOSITION WEIGHT DIMENSIONS FINISH MINTAGE BOX / COA
$2 NZD (Niue) 0.999 silver 31.1 g TBC mm Proof, colour 1,000 YES / YES

2022 JAMES BOND 007 COLLECTION 24 & 25 (MDM/Perth Mint)

The last pair of coins in the joint MDM / Perth Mint series of James Bond movie coins has now come to an end with the release of the 24th and 25th issues. The two Daniel Craig movies, including the latest, No Time To Die, round out a comprehensive set for the superfan. Each half-ounce coin has a coloured image on the reverse face, and while a little unadventurous, they do a decent job of charting the history of this hugely popular film franchise

DENOMINATION COMPOSITION WEIGHT DIAMETER FINISH MINTAGE BOX / COA
$0.5 TVD (Tuvalu) 0.9999 silver 15.55 g 32.60 mm Proof / Colour 12,700 YES / YES

GAME OF THRONES SILVER NOTE (MDM)

Joining their Harry Potter and a Lord of the Rings silver coin note is Game of Thrones. This epic television series has a pretty limited exposure to the coin world, sadly, but this three-gram, coloured silver note is some compensation, at least. These are pretty affordable as a gift, and the relative rarity of the format these days makes it a little more desirable.

DENOMINATION COMPOSITION WEIGHT DIAMETER FINISH MINTAGE BOX / COA
$1 Samoa 0.999 silver 3.0 g 150.0 x 70.0 mm Prooflike, Colour 20,000 CARD PACK

2022 MINI HEROES: DOCTOR STRANGE (Crown Mint)

The latest in Crown Mint’s ‘Super-deformed’ Japanese anime-style, Marvel Superheroes series is a neat little Doctor Strange. Continuing a 24-coin run, this is the seventh to date.

Each coin comes in a custom capsule in a themed blisterpack, and there’s an auto shipping subscription where the Crown Mint will ship you the latest coin every month ($99.95 each) and with the third coin (Black Panther) comes a collection box. You can also buy one separately for $29.95, and it holds 12 pieces.

DENOMINATION COMPOSITION WEIGHT DIMENSIONS FINISH MINTAGE BOX / COA
$2 Fiji 0.999 silver 31.1g 40 mm Proof, coloured 2,500 YES / YES

2022 CHIBI STAR WARS: PADME AMIDALA (New Zealand Mint)

The next in the Chibi juggernaut to be launched is the twelfth in the Star Wars subset. Not a huge character, but a distinctive one which suits the series format very well. The mint has recently added Montgomery Scott to its Star Trek subset, and a brilliant little Exorcist coin for its latest horror range. You really should check out our massive round-up of this popular series to see the huge variety on offer.

DENOMINATION COMPOSITION WEIGHT DIMENSIONS FINISH MINTAGE BOX / COA
$2 NZD (Niue) 0.999 silver 31.1g 36 mm x 35.67 mm

Proof, coloured 2,000 YES / YES

2022 FACES OF GOTHAM: ROBIN (New Zealand Mint)

The next in the Faces of Gotham series is the Boy Wonder, Robin. A disappointing attempt to transfer the Faces of the Empire, Star Wars-themed series to the DC Comics universe. I’d personally head over to the Chibi series if this style of coin is what you want. Actually, just a few hours after this article goes live, the mint is adding The Joker to the range.

DENOMINATION COMPOSITION WEIGHT DIAMETER FINISH MINTAGE BOX / COA
$2 NZD (Niue) 0.999 silver 31.1 g 36.0 x 25.04 mm Proof, Colour 5,000 YES / YES