November, 2022
The Jungle Book 04 – The Wolf Pack & Akela silver coin (2022 Czech Mint)
Mik Woodgate2022-11-30T20:12:24+00:00November 30th, 2022|
The Jungle Book 04 - The Wolf Pack & Akela silver coin (2022 Czech Mint)
The fourth and last of the Czech Mint’s ‘Jungle Book’ coins is now available, and features the Wolf Pack and Akela. This has been, stylistically, a very distinctive series by artist, Asamat Baltaev, and is based on the classic Rudyard Kipling book, with not a sign of Disney nonsense anywhere to be seen. All the coins have been released through 2022, and the first three issues depicted Mowgli, Baloo & Bagheera, and the tiger, Shere Khan.
The sharp, exaggerated artistic style returns, looking as good as ever. While our own favourite remains the superb, original issue, the following three maintain a high standard, and none of the designs are weak, in our opinion. The common obverse, complete with some heavy theming, returns. All together, a stylish and sympathetic set of coins paying homage to the original literary work.
It’s a one-ounce, 0.999 fine silver coin, struck to a proof finish, with a mintage of 1,500 pieces. Presentation consists of a neat box, and there’s an optional, themed collector’s tin to hold all four issues, for 12 Euros. While this series has ended, the Czech Mint always seems to have a new Baltaev-designed set every year, and it’s looking like Nikola Tesla is the focus in 2023. We look forward to seeing that, and if it reaches the level of Baltaev’s ‘Leonardo da Vinci’, and ‘Jules Verne’ sets.
LINKS: AgAuNEWS First coin in series
The Simpsons – Mini Marge 1oz silver coin (2022 Perth Mint)
Mik Woodgate2022-11-30T17:34:07+00:00November 30th, 2022|
The Simpsons - Mini Marge 1oz silver coin (2022 Perth Mint)
With the New Zealand Mint having clearly demonstrated that the Japanese ‘Super-deformed’ art style resonates with coin collectors, it didn’t take long for others to join the caravan. One of the latest is the Perth Mint, who kicked off their efforts with an old coin favourite, The Simpsons. While Bart was the first subject, they soon added Homer, and now Marge has joined the line-up.
Neat little coins, weighing in at one-ounce, and coloured on the reverse, it’s clear the characters suit the style well. While not pushing any boundaries these days, we can see The Simpsons fans warming to them, no doubt helped by some terrific presentation, comprised of an acrylic frame in a stand. The mintage is capped at 2,500 pieces per design, and they’re all available to order now.
LINKS: THE PERTH MINT
The Mandalorian – Grogu Dinner silver bullion coin (2022 New Zealand Mint)
Mik Woodgate2022-11-22T18:09:42+00:00November 22nd, 2022|
The Mandalorian - Grogu Dinner silver bullion coin (2022 New Zealand Mint)
Want to guarantee a Star Wars coin sells out? Stick Grogu, Baby Yoda as it’s erroneously known, on the face. The little, supporting CGI creature was the smash-hit of the massively popular The Mandalorian, Star Wars TV series. This time he’s depicted eating a possibly not quite dead, squid-like soup in a comical scene, sure to please fans of the show, and, despite thinking Star Wars one of the most over-rated franchises around, I’m one of them. Check out Andor as well – a fine show.
The mintage is low, very much so when you consider just how popular this character is, coming in at only 25,000 pieces. While it may change, this is also the first in the range to lack a gold version. The coin is an exclusive to US dealer APMEX, and is currently only available through their app on Android, or Apple iOS. Hopefully, that isn’t a trend that continues often. They have it as a second release, and it is the second Grogu coin, but it’s the fourth in The Mandalorian subset, and the 16th Star Wars bullion coin overall. You can see them all at the link below.
LINKS: AgAuNEWS STAR WARS BULLION PROFILE
Scrooge McDuck silver bullion coin (2022 New Zealand Mint)
Mik Woodgate2022-11-22T15:27:20+00:00November 22nd, 2022|
Scrooge McDuck silver bullion coin (2022 New Zealand Mint)
Is there are more appropriate subject for a Disney bullion coin than Scrooge McDuck? We don’t think so, so the appearance of the mean, rich duck on a silver bullion coin is entirely proper. Celebrating his 75th anniversary, Scrooge McDuck is seen in a typical pose, wearing a top hat, carrying a cane, and dripping with wealth. None of the New Zealand Mint’s bullion coins have complex designs – they keep those for their proof ranges – but they all seem to sport well chosen designs, and we think this fits that description well.
As has been the case over the last couple of years, this one has a very low mintage considering the popularity of the franchise, just 15,000 pieces, and this is the second coin in succession devoid of a gold version, or at least one we know about. The coin is an exclusive to US dealer APMEX. This is the 19th Disney bullion coin in this series, and the second to feature Scrooge. You can see them all at the link below.
LINKS: AgAuNEWS DISNEY BULLION PROFILE
DC Comics – Wonder Woman Logo silver coin (2022 MTB-PAMP)
Mik Woodgate2022-11-18T20:37:54+00:00November 18th, 2022|
DC Comics - Wonder Woman Logo silver coin (2022 MTB-PAMP)
It’s hard to keep track of what popular culture franchise is owned by what mint, especially when they began to be fragmented by region, but nevertheless, they continue to diversify. MTB-PAMP has issued several coins for the DC Comics Universe, and the latest is a neat Wonder Woman logo coin, of one-ounce silver in weight.
This isn’t the first time the Amazonian princess has had her logo as a shaped coin, the NZ Mint having done one as part of a logo series, This one looks to be a little more adventurous, having both a more flamboyant look, and being decorated with scenes of the superhero in action, underneath an enamel layer. The scenes in the segments of the logo are a fine touch.
There’s plenty of choice in the superhero genre, which I’m having hammered into me compiling a huge Thematic Guide to the DC/Marvel coin world, but PAMP appear to have done a good job with this one. The coin looks well presented in a windowed box, and the mintage of 3,000 is about right for the genre. Available to order now.
LINKS: MTB-PAMP
Asian Mythical Creatures: Nine-Tailed Fox silver bullion coin (2023 LPM Group)
Mik Woodgate2022-11-18T17:08:26+00:00November 18th, 2022|
Asian Mythical Creatures: Nine-Tailed Fox silver bullion coin (2023 LPM Group)
Hong-Kong based dealer, LPM Group, has a fine reputation for inventive bullion coins series, and the latest to join their repertoire is ‘Asian Mythical Creatures’. The mythology of East and SE Asian cultures has seen quite a surge in popularity over the last few years, so there’s a ready market for it, and it doesn’t seem to have reached saturation point yet. That’s fortunate when designs like this new one-ounce silver bullion coin from LPM continue to appear.
The legend of the Nine-tailed Fox is an old one, and the entity is known across China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, amongst others. A mischievous spirit animal, with the ability to shape-shift, often into a beautiful woman, in some forms they consume the body or spirit of their victims. Those who watched the TV show ‘Lovecraft Country’ will see a depiction that fits this narrative very well.
The coin design, by Wendy Xu, was chosen from entrants in a competition run by LPM, and we have to say, they chose well. It evokes the spirit beautifully for a bullion coin, with a prominent focal point surrounded by convoluted, flowing elements. This is a pretty, distinctive coin, and makes a nice change from the endless number of dragon coins we see these days. It’s issued for Samoa, and carries the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank Broadley on its obverse.
Just a one-ounce 0.999 silver coin makes up the range at present, and the mintage is nice and lean at just 5,000 pieces. This is the first in an ongoing series, and we look forward to seeing what comes next. If LPM continue with the design competition angle, it could be an eclectic, series with many styles, and what’s not to like about that? Available now.
Â
Chibi Data & Reva silver coins (2022 New Zealand Mint)
Mik Woodgate2022-11-09T20:22:31+00:00November 9th, 2022|
Chibi Data & Reva silver coins (2022 New Zealand Mint)
It’s been a while since we did a Quicklook at new Chibi coins, as you’re no doubt interested in more variety, and I find it equally difficult to think of new things to say. However, the series remains popular enough to warrant four new releases every month, and so some coverage is certainly justified. This month is off to a good start as we have a new Star Trek: Next Generation coin featuring one of the most popular characters, Data.
Of perhaps more interest is the debut of Star Wars: Obi-Wan to the Chibiverse. A new television series this year, starring Ewan McGregor, it seemed to be popular, so Star Wars coin collectors, of which there are myriads, if the coin selection is any indicator, will appreciate this the most. The mint has kicked the Obi-Wan subset off, not with the title character, but with Reva, a notable antagonist. As always, we’ve added these two to our comprehensive, and newly refreshed Coin Series Profile, which depicts the now 100+ issues to date.
LINKS: AgAuNEWS CHIBI SERIES PROFILE
Fierce Nature – Tiger silver coin (2022 New Zealand Mint)
Mik Woodgate2022-11-09T12:35:33+00:00November 9th, 2022|
Fierce Nature - Tiger silver coin (2022 New Zealand Mint)
One of the New Zealand Mint’s rare detours from their countless pop culture ranges, Fierce Nature debuted in July with the Lion, and continues now, with the Tiger. It’s a series of two-ounce silver coins, that are shaped portraits of some of nature’s most potent beasts, employing high-relief and antique-finishing to fine effect.
We like this one even more than its predecessor, and it’s a terrific visage of what a cat looks like with the volume dial at 12. The high-relief looks to be very optimised for best effect, and the whole thing is quite striking. It’s a shame the mint doesn’t do more like this rather than a seemingly endless list of Star Wars coins, for example, as they’re clearly good at it.
The mintage remains at 2,000 pieces, and this 40 mm diameter coin is as well presented as you’d expect from the New Zealand Mint. Available now with a retail price of $199 USD.
LINKS: NEW ZEALAND MINT
October, 2022
Our World: Desert Ecosystem silver coin (2022 Numiscollect)
Mik Woodgate2022-10-30T21:37:14+00:00October 30th, 2022|
Our World: Desert Ecosystem silver coin (2022 Numiscollect)
The third issue in Dutch producer Numiscollect’s ‘Our Earth Ecosystems’ series is available to order now, and following Polar, and Rainforest issues, we move on to ‘Deserts’, likely something coming to a region near you in the next fifty years… The range features a look at the typical flora and fauna associated with one of the major ecosystem types on Earth, with its signature element being a thick coloured rim.
The rim of ‘Deserts’ is the colour of sand, of course, and the reverse face depicts some of the tough, hardy plants that exist in these environments, along with some iconic animal inhabitants, like the camel, a fox, a snake, and everyone’s favourite thing to find in their sleeping bag, a scorpion. An image of the Earth, overlaid on a coloured desert scene, sits to the right, and the globe is neatly placed to show us a view of the world’s most famous desert, the Sahara, from space.
A good addition to the series, although our personal favourite remains the rainforest coin, and one that continues to bode well for an attractive set on completion. This is a two-ounce, double-thickness 38.61 mm diameter coin, struck to a proof finish, and supplied boxed with a Certificate of Authenticity. The mintage is set at 499 pieces.
Latvian Bank 100th Anniversary silver coin (2022 Latvijas Banka)
Mik Woodgate2022-10-30T19:58:16+00:00October 30th, 2022|
Latvian Bank 100th Anniversary silver coin (2022 Latvijas Banka)
We don’t cover as much of the Eastern European coin world as we used to, and that’s going to change in 2023. Particularly in the Baltic States, there’s a recent trend of using heavily stylised designs to represent traditional ideas, and they’ve had their fair share of awards for their efforts. The latest coin from the Latvian national bank, Latvijas Banka, is called ‘Upward’Â and is issued to celebrate the bank’s own 100th anniversary. They describe it thus –
“The authors of the graphic design of the “Upward” coin are artists Krista and Reinis Dzudzilo. The name of the coin in Latvian bears an association with an upward movement and a river. It also includes an allegory of overcoming gravity. A man also overcomes gravity when climbing upward, or else he would never see the mountain top. The obverse features nine steps with a smooth mirror surface set in relief, providing a glimpse of the eternal present and also the future, which is man himself. A human life is a journey. The upper step is a gold-plated segment of a circle bearing an association with the edge of a rising sun and visually resembling the logotype of Latvijas Banka. The reverse is gold-plated and frosted. It shines in gold like a precious sun fountain or a serene gold surface of a lake ready to quench our thirst.”
Okay, I’m the first to admit the description is a little pretentious, it’s just a bank after all, but the coin is gorgeous in its simplicity, and highly distinctive as a result. The combination of bold lines, stepped relief, and partial gilding, along with the ultra-clean, fully gilded obverse, makes for an attractive piece of numismatic design. The subject might not transition internationally, but who cares, as the coin certainly stands on its own merits. The mintage is set at 5,000 pieces, is struck by the Lithuanian Mint, and it will be available to buy from Tuesday 01 November.
Stained Glass Art: Sunflowers by Van Gogh silver coin (2022 Mint XXI)
Mik Woodgate2022-10-30T19:10:19+00:00October 30th, 2022|
Stained Glass Art: Sunflowers by Van Gogh silver coin (2022 Mint XXI)
Late last year, Mint XXI debuted a really inventive new take on Vincent Van Gogh’s seminal masterpiece, ‘Starry Night’. A popular choice to grace the face of a modern coin, ‘Starry Night’ is usually reproduced in full, or in part, but Mint XXI’s take was altogether more interesting. With the targetted use of high-relief, the work was reinterpreted in the style of stained=glass, an art form best associated with the huge medieval cathedrals that dot European towns and cities to this day.
Sticking with Vincent Van Gogh for the second issue, we now have ‘Sunflowers’, another iconic and much loved work. The treatment is equally effective, and it’s clear that Van Gogh’s unique style does indeed lend itself well to the transformation, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see the mint return to his work for a third outing next year. The ‘stained=glassification’ wouldn’t work for all artistic styles. The common obverse from the first coin returns unchanged.
There’s a nice latex-skin floating frame that makes displaying this expansive 70 mm diameter coin easy, inside a themed slipcase, and the mintage of this two-ounce silver coin is capped at 500 pieces. Available to order now, it’s a fine follow-up to the launch coin.
House of the Dragon silver coin note (2022 MDM Wholesale)
Mik Woodgate2022-10-21T01:37:45+01:00October 21st, 2022|
House of the Dragon silver coin note (2022 MDM Wholesale)
Those of you enjoying the new HBO Game of Thrones prequel series, ‘House of the Dragon’ will no doubt wonder where all the coins are. Well, wonder no more, because talented German producer, MDM, have issued a new three-gram silver coin note for the show. Joining a series that spans most of the big fantasy epics, namely Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Game of Thrones, this is the fourth issue to date.
Coin notes, basically a silver foil in the size and shape of a banknote (150 x 70 mm), are relatively cheap, with high mintages (20,000, in this case), so are quite easy to pick up for the casual collector, attracted by the subject. The foil follows the style of those produced for the older franchises, being replete with gilded highlights and a border, surrounding a central element, in this case, appropriately enough, the head of a dragon. The obverse side is a common one to the series, and continues the aesthetic, but with the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II in place of the theming.
The presentation is simple, but attractive, consisting of a card sleeve. The foil itself is sealed in plastic, as they all are. A neat little offering, although we hope a show as visually exquisite as House of the Dragon will inspire MDM to move in a more ambitious direction for their next release. The coin world criminally under-served Game of Thrones, and we’d not like to see its offspring suffer the same fate.
Santa Claus silver PEZ set (2022 MTB/PAMP)
Mik Woodgate2022-10-20T20:55:04+01:00October 20th, 2022|
Santa Claus silver PEZ set (2022 MTB/PAMP)
Still ticking along, MTB-PAMP’s neat little silver PEZ homage continues with a seventh release, the fourth of them themed for the Christmas holiday. The PEZ candy market remains huge, and collecting the plastic dispensers is a market all of its own, so a bullion product tapping into that was always a good idea, since continued with Bazooka Joe bubblegum, and Sweethearts.
What PAMP have done is run with the concept of a custom dispenser, made their silver pill match the size of the original candy, and customised the latter with a unique privy mark. These aren’t coins, of course, and value-wise they miss the stacker market, but make a terrific collectible in the same way the original product was.
As with every prior set, the dispenser is packed in with six, five-gram silver pills, so just shy of a troy ounce in total. Not a release for everyone, perhaps, but certainly one with enough fans to snap up the 4,000 mintage every time. Check out our Coin Series Profile for a look at the range to date. We may expand that one to cover the other sweet releases, like the aforementioned Sweethearts and Bazooka.
LINKS: AgAuNEWS Coin Series Profile to PEZ
Robert Lewandowski proof gold coins (2022 Mint of Gdansk)
Mik Woodgate2022-10-13T14:38:40+01:00October 13th, 2022|
Robert Lewandowski proof gold coins (2022 Mint of Gdansk)
The Mint of Gdańsk launched its new seven-year, 56-coin programme featuring the Polish football legend Robert Lewandowski, just a few months ago, with a pair of silver coins, and the promise of a more varied selection moving forward. That promise is now bearing results, with a new design adorning a coin available in both one-ounce, and tenth-ounce formats.
The coin depicts Lewandowski in three poses, and at different stages in his career. All the figures are enmeshed in a ‘splintered glass’ pattern meant to signify breaking the walls in his career. It’s a nice mash-up, if a little overly busy. The obverse carries the national coat-of-arms of Niue at its centre, around which are lines suggesting the pattern of panels on a football.
Both versions will come boxed with a Certificate of Authenticity, with the larger coin having a mintage of 200 pieces, and the smaller variant, 1,000 units. A good addition to the new series, and there’s more to come, with the silver coin statues looking particularly interesting. Available now.
Growing Up: Lions 5 oz edition (2022 Numiscollect)
Mik Woodgate2022-10-05T12:49:52+01:00October 5th, 2022|
Growing Up: Lions 5 oz edition (2022 Numiscollect)
A new series that debuted at the 2021 World Money Fair in Berlin, ‘Growing Up’ was a neat concept, displaying an animal as a fully grown adult on the reverse face, and in younger form on the obverse. We’ve always preferred coins that employ both faces to their full potential, and this was one of those. That debut coin featured the lion, showing us an impressive male in portrait form on the reverse. There’s a lioness in line form in the background. The obverse carries a natural scene of a cub drinking from a pond. The reflected adult is beautifully done. Even the coin issue details are reflected.
That coin was a 45 mm diameter, two-ounce piece, and what we have here is a five-ounce variant. Outside the obviously greater denomination, the design is identical in every way. It has the Black Proof finish on the reverse face as before, and the clean proof finish on the obverse, creating a nice contrast. To be honest, this was a fine coin on release, which is now sold out at the mint, so a good opportunity to pick it up in a bigger, more impressive format, although at a higher cost, of course. However, just 149 pieces of this 65 mm diameter coin will be struck, and it already seems to be going fast. Hopefully, we’ll see the 2022 Stallion design return in 2023 at five ounces.
Â
