2019-2022 GIANTS OF THE ICE AGE by Auragentum While there's always a dinosaur coin series (or two) in progress at any one time, it's extremely rare to see coins featuring life that existed after their extinction some 65 million years ago. That's a shame, as there are some incredible animals over the period. An especially fascinating time was the Pleistocene, an era which saw large megafauna related to modern species, that interacted with many of our own forebears, back to the Neanderthals. German dealer Auragentum launched a bullion coin series in 2019 that is [...]

CHINESE MYTHS AND LEGENDS (2017-) by the Perth Mint Similar in theme to their Rectangular Dragon bullion series, one that ironically started around the same time, the Perth Mint's 'Chinese Myths and Legends' series features creatures like the dragon and the phoenix, often paired. Like the rectangular series, this one is also available in both silver and gold. The artists vary considerably over the series, but the style is quite consistent, nevertheless. This is primarily a one-ounce focused series, but also putting in a later appearance was a ten-ounce silver version with a highly restricted mintage [...]

AUSTRALIAN EMU (2018) by the Perth Mint Never let it be said that the Perth Mint doesn't know how to do a bullion coin featuring one of the wild and wonderful creatures that populate their homeland. Building a solid reputation on the backs of their now seminal Koala, Kookaburra and Kangaroo ranges, they've branched out with renewed vigour into the limited mintage bullion market with a range of distributor exclusive series. This one here is handled by Metal Market EU in Europe and is called 'Australian Emu'. Launched in 2018, it takes the Perth Mint [...]

PREDATORS: EXTINCT (2020-2023) by AllCollect An interesting, if pricey addition to the limited mintage silver bullion market, AllCollect’s ‘Predator’ series was an eclectic mix of subjects from the natural world, brought to life with a mix of finishes on the same face. This newer companion series focuses on the prehistoric world, often eschewing the usual subjects for some rarer ones. Sure, there’s a Spinosaurus and a Megalodon, but there’s also the ‘Terror Bird’, the chicken from hell!, and a mix of mammals and reptiles, both terrestrial and marine. The DNA taken from the original series is [...]

CHINA'S FAMOUS VINTAGE: DRAGON DOLLAR RESTRIKES (2018-2021) by LPM Group LPM's delve into Asia's numismatc past with its 'Dragon Dollar' series of eight rounds is a unique opportunity to look at one of the fastest growing areas of classic numismatic collecting - late 19th/early 20th century Chinese Dragon Dollars. Beginning to command some seriously impressive six-figure prices at auction, the type is still settling down as far as definitive values go. Many of the originals, while often produced in big numbers, are exceedingly rare, so the chance of coming across one is fairly unlikely. [...]

AUSTRALIAN SHIPWRECKS (2019-2021) by the Royal Australian Mint Quite the surprise on its debut, the Royal Australian Mint's new Australian Shipwrecks bullion coin featured a couple of design choices not normally associated with this traditionally conservativbe mint. Quite apart from the fact the RAM had only recently jumped into the bullion market with both feet, after years of just dabbling, the choice of a triangular format was a brave one. The first time we've seen a triangular denominated bullion coin from anyone, that alone gives this series some kudos amongst collectors. The theme of [...]

QUEEN'S BEASTS (2016-2021) by The Royal Mint The Royal Mint was never one of the more adventurous producers of bullion coins, relying for a long time on its core Britannia and Sovereign ranges to carry the day. In a rapid turnaround starting in 2014 with the launch of the first Shengxiao Lunar, the mint has greatly expanded its selection with multiple series now making up part of the annual release calendar. The most popular, and impressive of these is Queen's Beasts. The Queen’s Beasts were sculpted by James Woodford RA for the coronation ceremony [...]

MANDALA WILDLIFE (2018-2022) by APMEX Dipping its toes into both the wildlife and the cultural genres, Mandala Wildlife takes a simple depiction of, to date at least, a large African mammal. In place of skin or fur, the animal is covered by the geometric patterns associated with the Asian mandala style of art. Rather than just overlay a flat pattern - the easy way out - the artist has taken the time to contour the lines around the body in a reasonably realistic way. The end result is clever, stylistically different and quite attractive. [...]

PREDATORS (2019-2022) by AllCollect Not a name you would traditionally expect in the bullion coin market, AllCollect released this bullion series in 2019. Predators is a one ounce silver series with a 15,000 mintage, that employs multiple finishes to give the finished article a unique look. The background field of each issue has a prooflike (mirror) finish, and the animal and the ground itself is done in a matte finish. The imprint (paw, stinger etc.) is partly incused and part-finished in reverse-proof. The rest of the coin, including the obverse, is struck to a brilliant uncirculated [...]

CHISELLED EDGE ANCIENTS (2016-2023) by Scottsdale Mint While we often see new and unusual subjects on modern bullion coins, we don't often see something different in the format sense. In 2016, Scottsdale Mint debuted the first of its new Egyptian Relics series. Available initially only in a five-ounce format, they keep a diameter similar to a standard one ounce coin, choosing to employ all the extra weight on increasing the thickness. There's nothing unusual in that, of course, but instead of a standard bound edge, either smooth or reeded, Scottsdale have chosen to replicate the look [...]