Mint XXI are one of the few producers that have really mastered human faces on coins, something that has reached new levels with the combination of high-relief and digital colour made possible by modern minting techniques. Nature’s Spirits is quite a new series, having launched with a gorgeous Mermaid coin back in April. This new coin, Dryad, is the second issue, and maintains that high standard with ease on this evidence.

The style remains the same, with a coloured face in profile, packed with themed hair, in this case the forests that the Dryads are said to inhabit. A Dryad is an oak tree spirit, originating in Greek mythology. Since then, like so many other myths and legends from the ancient world, the Dryad has come to encompass many different types across many different cultures, so most people will have some level of knowledge about them.

Like the Mermaid coin, where the head was covered by a seashell, here the hair is covered by the leaves and branches of an oak tree. Nestled within it is a bird’s nest, complete with an inset egg formed from what looks like turquoise. In the foreground, and uncoloured, sits the nymph in full body form. The obverse is a common one to the series, and also sports colouring. A very attractive coin indeed, in what looks to be a fine series.

The Nine Muses, birthed in the Ancient Hellenistic religion, were nine goddesses who were said to embody the arts, such as music, writing, and dance. Mint XXI’s series, spread over five coins (we think, unless there’s a ‘completer’ style offering), showcases the nine by depicting them in a classical style, much like the mint’s Celestial Beauty series, set over a brightly coloured ‘mosaic’ pattern. While the first coin in this series depicted just Calliope, subsequent issues have featured two muses each, and that remains the case here.

Clio is the muse associated with history, and is usually depicted, as she is here, holding an open scroll, symbolising the distribution of the knowledge of the past. Joining her is Urania, who, in contrast, is associated with astronomy and the stars (Urania means heavenly). She is one said to personify future knowledge, so the choice to pair them on this coin is a clever one. Urania is seen with a celestial globe by her side, and holding a sextant.

These are terrific designs, and this fourth outing is no different. It’s all very classical in appearance, and the two women are beautifully realised. The obverse, while basically common, has the two appropriate symbols highlighted with gilding. A really impressive series.

We’ve covered this series extensively in the past, and we’ll have a Coin Series Profile up in December, so we’ll get right down to this eighth release in the twelve-coin ‘The Way to Valhalla’ range of Viking coins. The Norse culture had a deep and varied mythology that’s been mined extensively in numismatics, so we’re very pleased to see someone focus on the more historical characters, of which there are many famous ones.

The latest is Rollo of Normandy, a Viking who settled, and ruled the French province of Normandy in the early 900s. Integrating into Frankish society, and becoming Christian, he created a dynasty that went on to rule large swathes of land through Europe, including England, through William the Conqueror in 1066. A formidable figure, and a powerful warrior, his legacy remains, and even King Charles III can trace his lineage back to Rollo, although not in the direct male line.

This has always been a top tier series, mixing antique finishing with some red highlights. Rollo is depicted as a warrior in the foreground, while in the background we see a scene of longships attacking the city of Paris. The common obverse, replete with Norse imagery, and runic-like fonts, returns. An outstanding series, Rollo is a fine addition to it.

The unusual Solar System series concludes with the release of the tenth coin. After featuring the eight planets (sorry Pluto…), and our own moon, the series rounds out with the system’s power source – the Sun. The concept of this series is simple, pairing a common base design, with a unique mineral orb of around 35 mm in diameter. The mineral is chosen to best represent the actual colour of the planet, while the base silver coin features a ring of the nine planets (well, eight and our moon) astronomical symbols, with each specific one highlighted with gilding.

For the sun coin, the chosen mineral is a type of amber. They call it AmberNova, although I can’t find a reference to it, it appears to be a variant of amber, although not one I’m personally familiar with. It does, however, look spectacular, and is the perfect look for a representation of Sol. The base coin, which usually has one of the nine symbols in a ring near the coin edge gilded to match the subject, has the central symbolic sunburst gilded instead. A fine way to cap off a clever series, mixing silver coins with the world of mineralogy. What next in this style?

Celestial Beauty is generally considered to be Mint XXI’s flagship range, and it encompasses a looser collection of coin formats than their other series do. While primarily a two-ounce silver coin series, there have been some kilo variants of those, as well as original five ounce releases, and even some recent one-ounce issues that for the first time eschewed the antique finish, and added a bullion coin. Their latest continues that trend with a one-ounce coin, that is not only antiqued, but also rocking some colour for the first time.

It isn’t only the employment of vibrant colour highlights for the first time, but the style is a little different also, with a move from full figure depictions, to a closer view of the subjects, in this case a pair of cupids. The signature elements of intricate high-relief, a classic style of art, and packed to the rim detail, all remain, as does the patterned border around a unique central element. For this release, that element is a pomegranate, associated in ancient Greek and Roman culture as a symbol of love and fertility.

While colour won’t be welcomed by every collector in this series, when it’s done as well, and appropriately, as this, we’re not going to complain. The one-ounce weight also means it’s considerably more affordable in these days of skyrocketing silver prices, so a win from us.