One of the New Zealand Mints new 2016 coin series that started this year and has undergone a fairly rapid release schedule, Kings of the Continents looks at the beasts that rule their environments. The first coin depicted the African Lion back in February, and it was followed by the Grey Wolf and King Cobra. The coins are struck in a troy ounce of fine (0.999) silver and selectively coloured on the reverse face.

Like the previous three entrants in the series, this Grizzly Bear coin depicts a portrait picture of the animal in colour against a clean background showing a typical habitat. The obverse is typical New Zealand Mint and Niue; the Ian Rank Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II surrounded by inscriptions detailing her name, the date, issuer and denomination. Packaging is well realised, a sliding, themed sleeve with a display insert. It’s not up to the excellent acrylic frames that they use on some series, but a good effort.

So not the most ambitious series around, but well produced and with a subject of wide appeal. We’d assume from the rapid release schedule that the series may well be complete this year, the mint usually running these to five or six coins at most, and with this being the fourth in under five months we’d be surprised to see it run into 2017. Coming in at $80.00 USD per coin, each has a mintage of 5,000 units and will be available on 4 July.

The Grizzly Bear is the fourth animal to feature in our Kings of the Continents collection, which portrays some of the most dominant and revered animals from around the globe. This impressive 1 oz coin shows a coloured image of a roaring Grizzly Bear, against an engraved backdrop of wilderness.

The fourth coin in our Kings of the Continents coin collection, featuring the Grizzly Bear.

Stunning contemporary style silver coin design, combining colour with engraving.

This impressive 1 oz coin shows a coloured image of a Grizzly Bear roaring against an engraved backdrop of wilderness

Limited mintage of only 5,000 coins.

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