A new series, Amber Mirage is an extremely pretty two-ounce silver coin, that is fully gilded, then antiqued and subtly coloured. Antiquing on gold is relatively uncommon, which is baffling given the finished effect is superb. The subject here is the juxtaposition of a living wildflower meadow, and the amber-encased body of a fossilised dragonfly.

Everything works really well together, with depth of field handled perfectly by some perfectly realised high-relief. The obverse features the shield of Samoa, and is cleanly gilded. An exceptional design, and one that bodes well for this new series.

Bliss Snake seems to be the flagship of Mint XXI’s Winter Launch, and also the debut release in a new series called The Bliss Collection. We don’t believe this will be a series that is tightly themed, but rather a showcase for numismatic art for its own sake. The launch coin is an impressive example. There are a variety of techniques employed here, with the contrast created using a mix of dark ruthenium plating, and gilding. The former gives the background an almost liquid look.

Embedded in the coils of the snake are three peridot gemstones, and the creature’s eyes are enhanced with a pair of black diamonds. The end result is a sumptuous creation, exhibiting fine symmetry and detailing. A five-ounce coin, it reaches an impressive 65 mm in diameter, and is numbered on the edge.

We’re pleased to see the humble one-ounce coin represented in this release, and there are few finer ways to do so than with one of the big cats. Born to be Wild is a look at animal behaviour, and here we see the focused gaze of a hunter as it stares down its prey, ready to strike. It’s an impressive, richly coloured portrayal of an exceptional animal.

The leopard peers from the undergrowth, beautifully layered, and framing the cat’s face. It’s a simple, clean design, free of inscriptions, and all the better for it. The obverse depicts the shield of Samoa, and the whole is antiqued. We’re suckers for cat coins here, and this is a fine one, that even in these times of ridiculous metal prices, shouldn’t break the bank.

Patterns of the World is a returning series, following a really unusual, and very successful American Bison design last year. The animal portraits here are created from a pattern of ‘beads’, which ebb and flow around the contours of the animal’s head to create depth through light and shadow.

This time we have an appropriate subject, often employed on specials released at the World Money Fair, the Berlin Bear, a symbol of the German city. Again, it’s a clever design, and it does a good job of bringing the colourful animal to life.

I think it’s fair to say that Mint XXI consider this their flagship series, and this is the fifteenth design to grace it since it debuted in 2020. Apart from a little colour on the ‘Eternal Love’ issue, the range is devoid of gimmickry, and concentrates on bringing some of the finest works of art to numismatic life, especially from the Renaissance period. The series is one of two-ounce coins, although to date, four of them have also been reissued in one-kilo form.

It was a work of the French artist, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, that has inspired the latest coin, ‘Flora & Zephyr’. The classicist has appeared in the series before, with ‘The Oreads’, ‘Nymphs and Satyr’, and ‘The Birth of Venus’. Here, the work is said to capture the union between Zephyr, the gentle West Wind, and Flora, the goddess of flowers.

Celestial Beauty has always been a stunning series, and this new addition is another exquisite example, with well implemented high-relief, and a fine transformation from canvas to metal. If classic design is your thing, there’s no finer example in production today.