Powercoin, known for its range of quirky coins, has dipped once again into our technological dark age for the fourth in its unique ‘Techstalgic’ series. This range brings, to modern numismatics, some of the earliest steps in mass-produced consumer electronics that many of us grew up. The first coin reproduced a 3.5″ ‘floppy’ disc, the second one of those cool calculator watches, and the last one, the legendary Nokia-style mobile phone. We’re back now with a classic of my youth, and I’m sure of many of our readers – the Walkman.

The Walkman was originally a Sony brand, but like many things, (Hoover, Google, etc.) came to represent an entire industry. The actual Sony Walkman debuted in 1979, and by the time production ended in 2010, to be replaced by MP3 players, some 220 million had been sold. It revolutionised the consumption of music, allowing good quality music playback wherever you went, and exploding the popularity of the compact cassette. Innovation followed, and they became considerably more capable in the following years. I remember in 1982 getting a WM-7 for Christmas, an epic bit of kit for the time. Obviously, music streaming devices have killed the whole cassette thing.

The coin reverse utilises an effect first used on the obverse of the Databank Watch coin, using perspective to mimic depth, in this case to suggest the door to the player is open. It ‘reveals’ the transport mechanism, and the door is emblazoned with the inscription COYNS SOUNDCOIN, cheekily in similar fonts as those used on the original device. The obverse is more diverse, with the device sitting under a cassette experiencing something we all got used to having to deal with, the tape hanging out. The open battery compartment is a neat touch. It’s a clever homage to one of the true greats in the history of consumer electronics.

It’s a two-ounce silver coin, available in two almost identical variants, with one wearing a blue coloured body, and one cleanly struck. For me, the reverse face of the blue coin just swings it, but I prefer the obverse of the clean one. I’m sure many will think differently. Each comes presented in a latex-skin ‘floating frame’, with a themed insert, and has a mintage of 499. A cool addition to a unique series.