They say that simple ideas are almost always the most effective, and this bullion offering from Germania Mint is a perfect example. Take a lump of silver, stamp it with a character, and if done right, you have something packed with symbolism, and just a little different. What Germania Mint has done is exactly that, and the characters they’ve chosen for the task fit into their themed historical world perfectly – Germanic runes.

Germanic runes are an ancient system of writing that predates the Latin alphabet. These angular, enigmatic characters hold a rich history, primarily associated with the peoples of Northern Europe, including the Vikings and early Germanic tribes. The runic alphabet, known as the “Elder Futhark,” consists of 24 symbols, each with its own phonetic value and symbolic meaning. These runes were initially used for inscriptions on stone, wood, or metal, often carrying magical or religious significance. They were a means of communication but also had a mystical dimension, believed to hold power for divination and protection. Runes persisted well into the Middle Ages, serving as an integral part of Germanic culture.

Germania Mint launched six of these runes to debut the new range, each formed in an ounce of 0.9999 silver, and in a different organically angular shape. Emblazoned on the front is a runic character, which is coloured with a UV sensitive ink that will glow when a UV-torch is pointed at it, and the rest is antique-finished. The first six issues had an orange UV colour, while the next batch, we assume of six, have lime green. It’s all a bit mystical, and with the popularity of Norse culture in particular, we can imagine, very popular.

Each piece comes in a small black bag, marked with the specific rune inside it, and that all goes in a neat cardboard box. Germania Mint does packaging well, and this is all claimed to be minimalist, and eco-friendly. It also seems appropriate, somehow. This is undenominated silver, so no certificate, but a serial number is engraved on the obverse, along with the composition – more than enough. As always, we’ll keep this guide updated as new releases debut.

Very simple, these have inscribed on them the Germania Mint logo, the composition, and a serial number. Obviously, the shape apes that of the front.

Despite being a bullion bar, Germania Mint has made a real effort to package the runes up like a numismatic, and they’ve done a great job. Each rune comes in a small black bag, upon which, in a silver font, is a copy of the specific rune enclosed within. In addition, there’s a Certificate of Authenticity, and everything comes in a black cardboard box.