August, 2024
Double Silver Giant Megalodon hybrid silver/copper coin (2025 MDM Wholesale)
Mik Woodgate2024-08-01T13:51:29+01:00August 1st, 2024|
Double Silver Giant Megalodon hybrid silver/copper coin (2025 MDM Wholesale)
One of our favourite prehistoric life coin series is German producer, MDM Wholesale’s, super-sized Double Silver Giant series, of which there have been four issues to date. These coins are unusual, in that the bulk of their makeup is copper, which can be clearly seen on the edge. However, the front and back are formed in silver, each side from five grams of it. These are antique finished.
We’re obviously hoping that the dinosaur series keeps going, considering its awesomeness (is that a word…?), but we’re glad to see that MDM have decided to add a companion series, we believe, focusing on the underwater world, one often as brutal and wild as the terrestrial one. The first release is a perennial favourite – Megalodon – a shark of epic proportions, with teeth so large it could be the lead singer of the Bee Gees.
There have been lots of shark coins released over the last decade, and while some have been good, it’s always seemed to be an animal that is difficult to depict on a high-relief coin. The addition of copper has given MDM a healthy amount of metal to work with, and high-relief is very much in evidence. It’s one of the better depictions, although the mouth is a little too busy, and the teeth are completely wrong for a Megalodon. Minor niggles, the overall result is excellent.
The obverse will likely be a common one moving forward, and is first-class. Dominated by fossil ammonites and trilobites, still in the rock matrix, it’s an apt design for the series theme. Boxed with a C.O.A., the coin has a sub-2k mintage. A great debut.
| DENOMINATION | COMPOSITION | DIMENSIONS | FINISH | MINTAGE |
| 10 Vatu (Vanuatu) | 10.0 g of 0.999 silver / 145 g copper | 60.0 mm | Antique | 1,999 |
July, 2024
Fender Stratocaster 70th Anniversary silver guitar pick (2024 MTB/PAMP)
Mik Woodgate2024-07-31T21:08:55+01:00July 31st, 2024|
Fender Stratocaster 70th Anniversary silver guitar pick (2024 MTB/PAMP)
MTB/PAMP have done a great job celebrating one of the music industries most iconic names – Fender. Manufacturers of the ultra-iconic Stratocaster, Telecaster, and more, their guitars have been used by countless numbers of musicians over the last seven decades, to produce some of the finest songs of the modern era. They continue to do so to this day.
Aside from the very cool mini guitars, their most popular release has been a range of silver guitar picks, some of them usable. It’s said that legendary Queen guitarist, Brian May, used a metal pick. This new release is the fourth of them, the third to be undenominated. Here, the focus is on marking the 70th anniversary of the Stratocaster guitar, and the design uses iconography to showcase it. There’s an engraved serial number on the back (the mintage is 4,000 units).
This one tips the scales at ten grams, and dimensionally, is about the size of a standard pick. Packaging is as neat as ever, with MTB/PAMP always doing a fine job in this regard. It should be available to order from today. We’ve added this to our comprehensive Thematic Guide to Modern Music coins, so go check that out.
| DENOMINATION | COMPOSITION | DIMENSIONS | FINISH | MINTAGE |
| Undenominated | 10.0 g of 0.925 silver | 27.4 x 31.5 mm | Reverse proof | 4,000 |
Big Five 02: Elephant 2oz cast silver bar (2024 Royal Krakow Mint)
Mik Woodgate2024-07-22T13:03:27+01:00July 22nd, 2024|
Big Five 02: Elephant 2oz cast silver bar (2024 Royal Krakow Mint)
Germania Mint’s two-ounce coloured cast bar program has been a hit, there’s little doubt of that, but the popularity is built on the back of quality imagery, and the range of producers now taking part has meant that remains at a high standard. However, like in some coin formats, there’s a heavy leaning on the world of myths and legends for inspiration.
That’s quite a popular theme, of course, and one replete with potent imagery, but variety is the spice of life, as the old saying goes, and we’re glad that nature is getting its turn in the spotlight with the Royal Kraków Mint’s Big Five Africa range. The first bar depicted the Lion, a magnificent apex predator that needs no introduction, and this second bar features the herbivorous, but no less dangerous, African Elephant.
As we’ve repeatedly said, these bars live or die on their artwork, and we think this one has no issues on that front. The elephant image is first class, depicting what we’d imagine is a bull. The savanna is represented by the iconic Baobob tree in the background. The bar’s title, picked out in a single colour, and filled with a tribal-style pattern, strikes a perfect contrast to the monochrome animal.
The bar comes boxed with a serialised Certificate of Authenticity enclosed within. That serial number is also engraved on the back of the bar, and just 500 of these will be cast. A terrific addition to this five-bar range, it should be available to order now. The Rhinoceros, Buffalo and Leopard have yet to join the range. Don’t forget to check out our full Bullion Profile to this whole programme.
| DENOMINATION | COMPOSITION | DIMENSIONS | FINISH | MINTAGE |
| Undenominated | 62.2 g of 0.9999 silver | 40.13 x 25.07 x 7.5 mm | Antique, Colour | 500 |
Independence Day & Envy Deadly Sins 2oz cast silver bar (2024 Asturmint)
Mik Woodgate2024-07-05T16:53:47+01:00July 5th, 2024|
Independence Day & Envy Deadly Sins 2oz cast silver bar (2024 Asturmint)
Asturmint continue to expand their already diverse two-ounce silver cast bar range with the sixth of the Seven Deadly Sins in that series, and the debut release in a timely new one marking 4th of July, known in the United States as Independence Day.
The Seven Deadly Sins visualises each sin in female form, and with a colour palette overwhelmingly centred around one colour. This one depicts ‘Envy’, so obviously green is the shade of choice. The mintage is capped at 500 pieces, and the release of Envy just leaves Lust to come. The second release is ‘Independence Day’, celebrating the breaking away of the colonists from the British Crown in 1776. It’s all very patriotic, of course, and will no doubt have strong US appeal. There’s no mention of it being a series, but with the 250th anniversary coming up in 2026, we find it hard to believe this won’t be an annual issue moving forward
The back of the bar has a bull symbol, representing Asturmint. The packaging is attractive. Both should be available to order now. Don’t forget to check out our full Bullion Profile to this whole programme, including issues from several producers through the Germania Mint.
| DENOMINATION | COMPOSITION | DIMENSIONS | FINISH | MINTAGE |
| Undenominated | 62.2 g of 0.9999 silver | 40.13 x 25.07 x 7.5 mm | Antique, Colour | 500 |
Fender Jazzmaster one-ounce silver coin (2024 MTB/PAMP)
Mik Woodgate2024-07-03T18:14:04+01:00July 3rd, 2024|
Fender Jazzmaster one-ounce silver coin (2024 MTB/PAMP)
PAMP subsidiary, Manfra, Tordella & Brookes (MTB), continues its series of shaped silver coins celebrating one of the most iconic brands in music history, Fender Guitars. We’ve covered lots of these because they seem to be very popular, the last of them being the Fender Jaguar back in March, and they feature prominently in our Thematic Guide to Modern Music Coins, which we think you’ll find very interesting if this is your thing.
The latest issue is another guitar that isn’t a Stratocaster or Telecaster – the Jazzmaster. First released in 1958, it was more expensive than the Stratocaster, and marketed towards the jazz musician, although found much favour amongst surf rock guitarists. It was used by such luminaries as Elvis Costello, Nels Cline, David Rhodes, and Alex Turner, and was available, like most Fender guitars, in a wide range of coloured finishes.
For the coin, MTB/PAMP has gone with a wild, metallic yellow-green shade range from 1958 called Unique Sparkle Surfburst. We’ve said it time and again in our coverage of this series, that the producer has done a top job diving into Fender history with the colours of these coins. It’s everything a collector of memorabilia looks for, right down to the heavily themed packaging, and correct detailing. This one-ounce coin should be available to order from today, and has a mintage of 4,000 units. Despite not owning any, we have a huge soft spot for these, and the ones we’ve seen in hand in the past have not disappointed.
| DENOMINATION | COMPOSITION | DIMENSIONS | FINISH | MINTAGE |
| $2 Solomon Islands | 31.1 g of 0.9999 silver | 28.6 x 84.4 mm | Reverse proof, Colour | 4,000 |
Americana: Bald Eagle two ounce cast silver bar (2024 Germania Mint)
Mik Woodgate2024-07-01T20:30:29+01:00July 1st, 2024|
Americana: Bald Eagle two ounce cast silver bar (2024 Germania Mint)
Germania Mint’s extremely popular two-ounce cast bar program continues with another new series launch, and this time it’s a direct collaboration with US-based dealer, GovMint. Called ‘Americana’, it will showcase some of the more patriotic imagery from United States culture, and what better place to start than the iconic Bald Eagle.
It isn’t particularly original as a piece of art, but that doesn’t prevent it being superb. It’s a well-used style these days, but it’s popular for a reason, and we think this looks great, despite the images we have not being the best. The mintage is set at 999, and the serial number of each bar is engraved on the back. It can be pre-ordered now, and comes boxed with a COA.
| DENOMINATION | COMPOSITION | DIMENSIONS | FINISH | MINTAGE |
| Undenominated | 62.2 g of 0.9999 silver | 40.13 x 25.07 x 7.5 mm | Antique, Colour | 999 |
Growing Up – Brown Bear 5oz edition silver coin (2024 Numiscollect)
Mik Woodgate2024-07-01T11:22:49+01:00July 1st, 2024|
Growing Up - Brown Bear 5oz edition silver coin (2024 Numiscollect)
Numiscollect’s ‘Growing Up’ series has seen three designs so far, the lion, the stallion, and the Brown Bear. These are smartminted high-relief coins, with a black proof finish, and they feature an adult animal dominant on the reverse face, with the obverse focusing more on the young animal in its natural habitat, as well as depicting it with its parent.
We have already covered this design before, as it came out last March, but as with previous releases, that original two-ounce issue is joined by a five-ounce variant with a mintage of just 149 pieces. There’s a bit of variety on who these are issued for, and for the second time, Ghana has replaced Mongolia as the issuer of the 5oz. The first coin in the series remained issued for Tanzania in both cases.
The big bonus of this version is the jump in diameter from 45 mm, to 65 mm, giving plenty of extra room for the design to shine. We saw this one in Berlin, and it’s impressive in hand, with the black proof finish looking great. As you’d expect, there’s a good box with a Certificate of Authenticity. Available to order now.
| DENOMINATION | COMPOSITION | DIMENSIONS | FINISH | MINTAGE |
| 50 Cedis (Ghana) | 155.5 g of 0.9999 silver | 65.0 mm | Black Proof | 149 |
While this is a two-ounce coin with a 45 mm diameter, this isn’t the only format this series uses. Along with this coin comes a five-ounce version of the previous Stallion release, again, just as they did with the Lion coin. That one is also available now. The mintage of the two-ounce coin is set at 333 pieces, while the bigger coin is capped at just 149.
June, 2024
Almond Blossom 1890 by Van Gogh Tri-metal coin (2024 Precious Metal Collectors)
Mik Woodgate2024-06-27T17:53:10+01:00June 27th, 2024|
Almond Blossom 1890 by Van Gogh Tri-metal coin (2024 Precious Metal Collectors)
The latest in Precious Metal Collector’s extensive range of bi-metallic art coins has debuted today, and disappointingly, it’s a piece of art that’s already appeared in this range. The 2022 issue was one of the bigger coins, comprised of two ounces of silver over a core of 33.5 ounces of copper. It also had a gilded frame border.
This re-issue is a bit more affordable, consisting of just an ounce of silver over 14 ounces of copper. It’s also the first to move away from the Republic of Chad as the issuing nation, and over to numismatic staple, Niue Island. We’ve added this one to our full Coin Series Profile
| DENOMINATION | COMPOSITION | DIMENSIONS | FINISH | MINTAGE |
| $2 NZD (Niue) | 31.1 g of 0.999 silver, 14 oz of Copper | 90.0 x 70.0 mm | Antique, coloured | 399 |
Eastern Caribbean 8: Antigua Grenada gold and silver bullion coins (2023 Scottsdale Mint)
Mik Woodgate2024-06-27T13:18:09+01:00June 27th, 2024|
Eastern Caribbean 8: Antigua Grenada gold and silver bullion coins (2023 Scottsdale Mint)
Finally, the last pair of designs in Scottsdale Mint’s eight-coin Eastern Caribbean 8 programme for 2023, the sixth annual run through this popular tourist location, has been issued, and there’s one for Antigua & Barbuda, and one for Grenada.
The Antiguan coin is the fourth Rum Runner design, looking at the island’s long history with the rum trade. The Grenadian design is altogether more interesting, depicting La Diablesse, a character from Caribbean folklore. She was an enslaved African woman, who traded her soul to the Devil in return for eternal beauty. For some reason, she has to hide her hideous face under a wide-brimmed hat, and one leg ends with a cow hoof.
We’ve added these eight coins to our very comprehensive Bullion Profile of the EC8 range, so be sure to check out
| DENOMINATION | COMPOSITION | DIMENSIONS | FINISH | MINTAGE |
| $2 East Caribbean | 31.1 g of 0.999 silver | 38.6 mm | BU (Proof-like) | 25,000 |
| $2 East Caribbean | 31.1 g of 0.999 silver | 38.6 mm | Proof, colour | 500 |
| $2 East Caribbean | 31.1 g of 0.9999 gold | 32.0 mm | BU (Proof-like) | 2,500 |
| $2 East Caribbean | 31.1 g of 0.9999 gold | 32.0 mm | BU (Proof-like) | 100 |
Coca-Cola shaped 1930s Vintage Sign 1oz silver medallion (2024 MTB / PAMP)
Mik Woodgate2024-06-24T23:31:24+01:00June 24th, 2024|
Coca-Cola shaped 1930s Vintage Sign 1oz silver medallion (2024 MTB / PAMP)
Coca-Cola memorabilia, in all its many forms, remains a popular collector market, and the numismatic world has added its fair share to the choices on offer. Of most note is a range of bottle cap coins from the now defunct Crown Mint, featuring Coca-Cola logos from around the world, but MTB-PAMP have also issued a wide range of interesting designs, including bullion, and most recently, a bottle-shaped coin.
Their latest is this one-ounce silver medallion, and it draws from the 1930s, a particularly iconic period for the brands style, to reproduce one of those brilliant tin advertisements that adorned places like US service stations, and wherever else the drink was sold, like vending machines. This is one of those inverted shield-style designs that were popular at the time, and they’re very collectible today, often selling for well over $1,000. We’ve seen a wooden version of this Kay Displays Inc. sign from the early 1940s, made in wood because metal was diverted to the war effort.
As always, MTB-PAMP have done a fine job with the presentation, fully themed all over, and with a custom capsule. The mintage is capped at 2,500 pieces, and it should be available to order now, with shipping around the beginning of August.
| DENOMINATION | COMPOSITION | DIMENSIONS | FINISH | MINTAGE |
| Undenominated | 31.1 g of 0.999 silver | ?? mm | Reverse-proof, Colour | 2,500 |
King of Diamonds: Poker Cards 2oz cast silver bar (2024 Asturmint)
Mik Woodgate2024-06-19T12:51:35+01:00June 19th, 2024|
King of Diamonds: Poker Cards 2oz cast silver bar (2024 Asturmint)
Asturmint have shown the second release in their Poker Cards range of cast silver bars, produced under Germania Mint’s program, that seems to have stirred real interest in the collector community. The bar follows the standard format of these, cast with two ounces of 0.999 silver to a specific size, and antique-finished.
The selling point of these has been the quality of the coloured artwork, which across all the participants, has maintained a high standard, none more so than this excellent range of playing card designs. This is only the second in this range, but like the earlier King of Spades, the King of Diamonds is a very appealing work. We can see these being very popular.
The back of the bar has a bull symbol, representing Asturmint. The packaging is neat enough, and the whole thing makes an attractive diversion from coins for those who like a bit of diversity. Check out the other design, and the many other bars in this program in our comprehensive Bullion Profile. The King of Diamonds should be available to order soon.
| DENOMINATION | COMPOSITION | DIMENSIONS | FINISH | MINTAGE |
| Undenominated | 62.2 g of 0.999 silver | 40.13 x 25.07 x 7.5 mm | Antique, Colour | 2,000 |
Star Trek Vehicles: 02 USS Enterprise NCC 1701 1oz silver coin (2024 New Zealand Mint)
Mik Woodgate2024-06-18T21:43:01+01:00June 18th, 2024|
Star Trek Vehicles: 02 USS Enterprise NCC 1701 1oz silver coin (2024 New Zealand Mint)
Launching today is the second in the New Zealand Mint’s ‘Star Trek Vehicles’ range of one-ounce silver coins. The obvious stand-out here is the coin’s unusual shape, almost like a sci-fi datachip, for example. The rest of the spec is quite standard, however, being a proof strike with colour on the reverse face.
The first coin featured Deep Space 9, but for the second issue we get the true OG of the Star Trek universe, the USS Enterprise NCC 1701, straight from the series that started it all. It’s a nice image, enhanced with some imagery straight from the consoles on the Enterprise-D from the Next Generation series. That iconography is also present in struck form, although mirrored.
Packaging is neat and fully themed, but you’d expect nothing less from this producer, who always do a great job on that front. The mintage is set at 2,000 units, and it already seems to be sold out direct from the mints own website, but we’re sure you’ll get one elsewhere if you look. It has a recommended price of $109 USD.
| DENOMINATION | COMPOSITION | DIMENSIONS | FINISH | MINTAGE |
| $2 NZD (Niue) | 31.1 g of 0.999 silver | 33.19 x 53.0 mm | Proof, Colour | 2,000 |
Harry Potter Magical Creatures: Hungarian Horntail 1oz silver coin (2024 New Zealand Mint)
Mik Woodgate2024-06-13T16:52:41+01:00June 13th, 2024|
Harry Potter Magical Creatures: Hungarian Horntail 1oz silver coin (2024 New Zealand Mint)
Despite a lack of new movies in recent years, the Harry Potter juggernaut continues on, with a new HBO Max reboot due in 2026, and new coins appearing regularly. Our giant Thematic Guide to Harry Potter coins is one of our biggest, and continues to grow, with several producers still releasing a wide range of very varied designs.
One of the biggest and most prolific, as well as the producer of the coin we’re looking at here, is pop-culture specialist, the New Zealand Mint. One of their in-progress series is Magical Creatures, which showcase some of the more unusual creations in J. K. Rowling’s literary universe. These are one-ounce rectangular coins, struck to a proof finish, and with coloured highlights.
The Hungarian Horntail, from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, is said to be one of the most powerful dragons in existence, and the most aggressive. It’s depicted under the stone arched window that is common to each coin in this series, of which this is the fifth. The yellow fireball fills the background, and the three stones set into the top of the arch are similarly coloured. Available now, it has a mintage of 2,000 units, and a recommended price of $109 USD.
| DENOMINATION | COMPOSITION | DIMENSIONS | FINISH | MINTAGE |
| $2 NZD (Niue) | 31.1 g of 0.999 silver | 36.0 x 53.0 mm | Proof, Colour | 2,000 |
Achilles Shield proof Version 2oz stackable silver bullion (2024 Coins Today)
Mik Woodgate2024-06-13T12:19:11+01:00June 13th, 2024|
Achilles Shield proof Version 2oz stackable silver bullion (2024 Coins Today)
South Korean producer, Coins Today, is continuing its recent trend of revisiting their early stackable releases by issuing them in limited numbers with a proof finish, instead of the original antique. We recently covered the proof version of the one that started it all, the Doggaebi Shield, and here we have the Achilles Shield undergoing the same transformation.
This isn’t the first variant of the original two-ounce stackable, as we’ve also seen a full kilogram version that was quite spectacular, and a small half-ounce variant, both of which continued with the antique finish. The proof version here looks great in the images, and if you missed out on the originals, or just wanted a different one, here’s your chance. In line with the change in CT’s issue policy, this one has a tight mintage of just 2,000 pieces. Check out the original articles for more backstory on the subject. Available to order now.
| DENOMINATION | COMPOSITION | DIMENSIONS | FINISH | MINTAGE |
| Undenominated | 62.2 g of 0.999 silver | 50.0 mm | Proof | 2,000 |
Pastel Circus: Becoming 2oz silver coin (2024 Lithuanian Mint)
Mik Woodgate2024-06-10T11:19:20+01:00June 10th, 2024|
Pastel Circus: Becoming 2oz silver coin (2024 Lithuanian Mint)
The fourth and final issue in Lithuanian artist, Laimutė Varkalaitė’s, quirky Pastel Circus series is now available to order, and this one is called ‘Becoming’. To say this series has been unusual would be a bit of an understatement, but it’s also a gorgeous work of numismatic art. This artist has a quite unique style, and has already been the subject of the mints superb World of Cryptids range.
Pastel Circus is a four-coin series, following different incarnations of a red-nosed clown, all of them suggesting transformation and whimsy. As you can tell from the series title, they’re realised in pastel colours, which work beautifully in conjunction with the base antique finish. ‘Becoming’ has the clown change again, with new colours and form, with a change to wings, and a serene look on the face. The mint has a full description, but it’s as odd as the design!
All that seems a little irrelevant, as for us, the art is the showcase here, and we think this has been a quite outstanding series. As before, this is a two-ounce fine silver coin, with a mintage of 500 pieces. It comes nicely boxed with a Certificate of Authenticity. Hopefully, we’ll see more of this talented artists striking work on more Lithuanian Mint coins in the future, perhaps a second series of Cryptids in 2025.
| DENOMINATION | COMPOSITION | DIMENSIONS | FINISH | MINTAGE |
| $5 NZD (Niue) | 62.2 g of 0.999 silver | 35.0 x 50.0 mm | Antique, colour | 500 |
