PMC WEEK: From palaeontology to mythology, the ‘Egg’ coin series heads to the fantastical for its second issue

Today, we’re going to kick off our week long catch-up of releases from Precious Metal Collectors. This Singapore based producer has exploded into the market with an extremely impressive range of innovative designs. They use two main formats. The first is simple – a coin as we know it, sometimes shaped, but still recognisably what you would expect. The second is very clever, using a relatively small amount of silver on a copper core of much larger size.

Termed ‘Bi-Metal’, it comes in ‘Plus form’, or ‘Max’. The former generally uses 2-5 ozs of fine silver on a copper core of around 11.5 ozs, while the latter uses that same range of silver, but on a core of up to around 32 ozs. The end result are huge coins at relatively affordable prices, with some exceeding 100mm in size, yet remaining under $500 USD. We’ll have examples of these as the week progresses.

Today, however, we’re in ‘normal’ coin territory, but that isn’t to say this is a simple affair. The follow on release to the excellent ‘Velociraptor Egg’ coin, this has a traditional Asian dragon breaking out of its egg in the same way. Fully shaped and awash with beautiful texture on both faces, this is a no-brainer buy for fans of the debut coin. Love the detail on this one, even if the subject isn’t as personally interesting to me in the way a dinosaur is.

This is a two ounce silver coin, nicely packaged with a Certificate of Authenticity, and having a mintage of 500 pieces. A unique twist on the ever-popular Asian dragon that is such a huge part of modern numismatics, and that’s no mean feat on its own. We’re pretty sure the occasional Game of Thrones fan will take a liking to it as well, especially with the House of the Dragons prequel series filming right now. Perhaps PMC can get a licenced coin out for that, complete with some subtle coloring… Available now.

MINTS DESCRIPTION

A mythical creature that embodies power, strength, and fortune, the Chinese dragon is one of the four celestial animals in Feng Shui and is highly regarded for bearing “Sheng Chi”, or “celestial breath.” The breath of the dragon is the most desired energy in Feng Shui as its presence is believed to attract wealth, luck, and success. The formidable creature was also used exclusively by the Emperor in ancient China, reflecting nobility and excellence to the highest degree.

The egg of the Chinese dragon is said to have to incubate over thousands of years on land and sea before it finally hatches and forms fully in a manner of minutes. Seizing this precise moment, this piece depicts the Chinese dragon egg just as it hatches – the dragon emerges with its head rising high, while its tail and body peek out from the shell. It holds onto a crystal ball with both claws, symbolizing a powerful and inherent control of the future. The shell of the egg is finished with scales of varying textures to give a textured and natural feel. Fluid strokes that define the dragon’s mane flow beautifully from its head, finishing the artifact with an artistic flair.