Korean producer Coins Today debuts ‘To Protect’, a history of military helmets, and ‘World Travel’ a journey around the world by air

A pair of new releases from Coins Today have put in an appearance, and they’re quite different from each other. The first of the two is the more impressive, and will chart the history of war by looking at some of the helmets worn by the warriors of different periods. The series starts in Renaissance Europe, and features a high-relief, and gilded depiction of a Burgonet.

A large, ornate helmet, usually with a peak, a crest, and a back flange, they came into use in the early 16th century, and were mostly worn by cavalry, including the famous Polish Hussars, although they were also popular with Swiss mercenary pikemen. Burgonets were cheaper than the traditional close-faced helmets due to their comparative simplicity, and were lighter and more comfortable to wear, even though they did sacrifice some protection in the process.

The Burgonet depicted on the coin is very ornate, with a large and detailed crest, and exhibits an impressive level of high-relief. The background is filled with a 16th century battle scene, also showing decent levels of relief. Even the obverse, sporting a design replete with detailed iconography, has some excellent relief on show. The coat of arms of Chad sits at the centre in quite a tiny form, and appears to be the only part not antique-finished. The coin comes in a display frame (likely the latex-skinned type), complete with a Certificate of Authenticity, and has a mintage of 525 pieces. A very nice debut for a fascinating subject. We look forward to seeing the series progress. Available to order now.

The second coin, in this case issued for Niue, is an unusual one, themed around the subject of world travel, and the first location is Korea. The reverse face features a cyclist, seemingly travelling around the border of the coin, surrounded by landmarks (Seoul Tower, Heunginji-Gate and Donui-Gate), also emanating from the border in that unusual, circular-fisheye style. We’re told that to show the sunny weather, the clouds incorporate a new technology, but we’re awaiting further details.

The obverse depicts an airliner, overflying a coastal region of, we assume, Korea. The effigy of Queen Elizabeth II is present, along with all the required issue inscriptions. The presentation is very inventive. The coin being attached to a card is nothing new, but it’s all been styled to look like an airline ticket, complete with a Certificate of Authenticity on it. Struck to a proof finish, just 333 will be minted.