TRAPPED (2019-2023) by CIT Coin Invest We have a particular fondness here for coin designs that do things quite differently from whatever the trend of the time is. In 2019, the ancient mythology theme was the darling of the coin world, and while some stunning designs were released in the genre, there was a basic underlying style to most of them. In the midst of that came CIT, with 'Trapped', with a concept and execution utterly unique. The series tells the claustrophobic tale of someone confined behind a fabric sheet, but they're not alone. From [...]

MYTHS AND LEGENDS SERIES (2017-) by Numiscollect While the sheer prolific nature of the Mint of Poland's numerous ancient world themed coin series is in a league of its own, they have plenty of competition on the quality front. Chief amongst them is Numiscollect who, in conjunction with CIT and BH Mayer, produce some of the best coins ever issued in the genre. There are currently four series in progress, three of them quite close in concept and execution, with a smaller 2oz range showcasing the artifacts used by the various gods. All are struck [...]

PLANETS & GODS (2019-) by Mint XXI What happens when you combine two popular coin themes into one? You get something like Mint XXI's 'Planets & Gods' series of three ounce silver coins. Mixing together the popular ancient mythology and the astronomy genres, they've produced an attractive and clever range of coins linking together the planets of our Solar System, with the ancient gods that gave them their names. Launching in 2019 with Mercury, each coin features a representation of the ancient god, usually in the style of a statue of the period, overlaid on [...]

2021 OLD TOWN SQUARE EXECUTION by the Czech Mint One thing the coin producers in Eastern Europe do very well showcase their history. Much of it is largely unknown in the West, but it's a rich, deep and often tragic one that is filled with themes and events ripe for numismatic attention. One such event happened 400 years ago in the capital of what is now the Czech Republic, Prague.Starting early on a June morning in 1621, 27 Czech Lords, Knights and Burghers were executed after taking part in a failed uprising against the Habsburg [...]

2020-2022 MYTHICAL CREATURES by the Czech Mint Our love for the mythical beasts of ancient lore has never been higher. With modern mega-budget movies like the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter drawing in huge audiences, as well as the new legends that are inherent parts of the various superhero universes, the weird and fantastical remains a popular escape from the day to day life most of us lead today. There’s no substitute for the old legends, however, dreamed up in a time where belief trumped logic in the popular mindset. Tapping into [...]

2014-2022 REVOLUTIONARIES by CIT Coin Invest A fantastic subject for a coin series, the worlds revolutionary figures have, often for the wrong reasons, entered popular culture in ways that are hard to tie in with the historical people. They often have outsized reputations enhanced by tall tales and iconic photographs. Despite their ubiquity worldwide, they've appeared on hardly any modern coins over the last decade. CIT Coin Invest have helped rectify that, and have done so with some style. The new series debuted back in 2014 and was a one-ounce fine silver issue - one of [...]

DINOSAURS (2020-2021) by the New Zealand Mint One of several dinosaur series on the go through 2020, the New Zealand Mint's aptly named 'Dinosaurs' series leverages the mints antiqued and coloured one-ounce silver coin format to do the honours. They've used the style successfully on a few previous issues that we really liked, including the excellent 'Warriors of History; and 'Battles That Changed History' history ranges. The mint doesn't produce as many ranges like this anymore, having moved primarily into big pop-culture and media franchises. These are pretty coins exhibiting some decent, if unspectacular artwork.They [...]

2016-2022 THE SEVEN SUMMITS by CIT Coin Invest Between 2009 and 2016, CIT issued an interesting range of coins called Mountains and Flora. A simple sterling (0.925) silver coin of 20 grams in weight, with some colour highlighting, these were one of CIT's basic ranges, long since fallen by the wayside. Certainly popular enough - there were 61 issues! - their main attraction was the intriguing subject matter. In amongst the selection was a sub-set (sporting a privy mark), called The 7 Summits. The 7 Summits include the highest peak on each of the [...]

UNDERWATER WORLD & COLOURS OF WILDLIFE (2018-2023) by MDM Wholesale Making its debut early in 2018, German producer MDM Wholesale launched its first Underwater World coin. A three ounce silver coin with an antique finish, it featured a heavily dished reverse face inside a border, which was filled with a translucent blue enamel. Struck to an impressive level of ultra-high relief, each coin depicts a sea creature not only under the enamel, but also bursting through the surface of it, just as the animal would in reality. The use of the clear enamel means that the [...]

2015-2020 MAGNIFICENT LIFE by CIT Coin Invest Released back in 2007, alongside the superb Evolution of Life series, Magnificent Life took a wholly different approach to the one-ounce coin. Eschewing the antique finish and rose-gold gilding of its prehistoric-themed sibling, this series went with a deep strike (a concave dish on the reverse face), a proof finish and varying amounts of colouration. Smartminting was in evidence, in this case allowing highly defined levels of subtle high-relief. The key to the look of these isn't just down to the strike, but also to the high quality [...]