January, 2023
Sweethearts III silver bullion set (2023 MTB/PAMP)
Mik Woodgate2023-01-04T12:21:51+00:00January 4th, 2023|
Sweethearts III silver bullion set (2023 MTB/PAMP)
Back with a third issue, MTB-PAMP’s ‘Sweethearts’ range returns with three new messages of love. The Swiss producer has made the candy/sweet world an almost personal fiefdom, with their eclectic range of PEZ dispenser sets, Sweethearts, and even Bazooka Joe Bubblegum, and they’re primarily undenominated silver bullion items, produced in limited sets. That’s the case with Sweethearts III.
Just 2,500 sets of the three 10 gram silver replicas will be struck, all presented in a custom capsule, and heavily themed packaging. The basic design of the box remains the same, but the theming is more vintage-orientated this time around. Each of the individual silver units is the same size (15.0 x 14.4 mm) as a Sweetheart, called Love Hearts in the UK, and each of the three carries a different message. They also differ in text from the earlier two issues, so if you have all three sets, you now have nine different ‘sweets’.
Unlike PEZ, there are no loose bullion silver ‘pills’ to supplement the sets, but that’s understandable given the different natures of the two inspiring candy products. The set was launched today, so expect dealers to get them up on their sites soon, and they should retail, at least initially, for around the $100 USD mark. They should hopefully be available right in time for Valentines Day. We’ve always thought this an interesting and unique concept, and a Thematic Guide to them all is in progress. More soon. Be sure to check out the video on our video page, or on YouTube.
December, 2022
Panathenaic Prize Amphora silver coin (2022 Mint XXI)
Mik Woodgate2022-12-14T22:52:29+00:00December 14th, 2022|
Panathenaic Prize Amphora silver coin (2022 Mint XXI)
Decorated in 530 BCE by the Euphiletos Painter, the Panathenaic Amphora is a terracotta amphora painted as a victory prize for that year’s Panathenaic Games in Athens. The 622 mm tall vase has on one side a depiction of Athena Promachos, a common image on this type of pottery, and on the other side is a stadion (foot race), with five nude runners. It’s a gorgeous example of late Archaic Greek art, with an amazing history, and it’s currently held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Mint XXI’s interpretation of the coin uses a ceramic insert to bring it into sharp relief, and it does a great job reproducing the original. The exquisite fine-line detailing of the original is missing from the coin, but that’s hardly surprising given the disparity in size. This isn’t the first time ceramic inserts have been used in this way, with both the Mint of Poland, and Numiscollect having issued in this style, but this is certainly the most impressive to date. The background is a simple Greek meander pattern, surrounded by the coin title.
This is a two-ounce silver coin, reaching out to an expansive 70 mm in diameter.`It comes presented in a latex-skin ‘floating’ frame, in a themed slipcover, and has a mintage capped at 999 pieces. An interesting historical release, enhanced by the inspired choice of subject. Available now.
Biblical Series 45: Descent of the Spirit (2022 Scottsdale Mint)
Mik Woodgate2022-12-14T20:06:43+00:00December 14th, 2022|
Biblical Series 45: Descent of the Spirit (2022 Scottsdale Mint)
Followers of Scottsdale Mint’s epic, decade-long Biblical Series of Gustave Dore inspired coins will be pleased to know it rumbles on. It was June before we saw the first of the six, rapidly followed by the second in July, but we haven’t seen a new issue until now. This is the 45th of the 60 coins in the set, and while it’s clear they won’t get all six of the 2022 coins out before the end of the year, we suspect they will catch up next year. This one is titled ‘Descent of the Spirit’. If you want to know more about the whole range to date, check out our full Coin Series Profile. This one should be available to order now.
LINKS: AgAuNEWS COIN SERIES PROFILE
The Rolling Stones gold and silver bullion coins (2022 Royal Mint)
Mik Woodgate2022-12-14T01:46:40+00:00December 14th, 2022|
The Rolling Stones gold and silver bullion coins (2022 Royal Mint)
Just a quick heads-up that, as we suggested, the Rolling Stones bullion versions of the latest in the Royal Mint’s ‘Music Legends’ series is now available to order. These are exclusively distributed by US dealer, MTB (Manfra, Tordella & Brookes), so availability might vary a little from a direct Royal Mint issue, but they should be fairly easy to pick up in the short term.
This was a decent design in proof form, and it’s lost little in the translation to brilliant uncirculated bullion form. The micro-engraved border, containing a repeating composition inscription, is back again, and the coin continues with the Queen Elizabeth II effigy on the obverse. We’d expect any future coin to transition to the new King Charles III effigy.
The fifth in the series, all earlier issues sold out at the mint, and it’s likely this one will join them. Mintages are capped on this one, with the one-ounce gold limited to 4,000 pieces, and the one-ounce silver to 50,000. We’ll add this one to our new Thematic Guide to modern music coins, which should publish next week while we’re on hiatus.
LINKS: THE PROOF RANGE RELEASED LAST WEEK
3-D Pavement Illusions – Kurt Wenner Street Art silver coin (2022 Helvetic Mint)
Mik Woodgate2022-12-13T22:24:36+00:00December 13th, 2022|
3-D Pavement Illusions - Street Art silver coin (2022 Helvetic Mint)
With art becoming ever more popular in the coin world, from Precious Metal Collector’s extensive range, to the Mint of Poland’s offerings, we’re finally seeing a smattering of subjects a little more off the beaten track. The masters, like Klimt, Van Gogh, and Da Vinci, for example, have always been the golden boys, but the Helvetic Mint’s latest offering is far more interesting. Street art.
Michigan artist, Kurt Wenner, learned pavement painting while in Italy, moving there after a stint at NASA. Rather than continue in the traditional style, he began to instil a sense of perspective into his work, creating a three-dimensional style that, from certain angles, looks uncannily like it has depth or height. His most famous work was done as the centrepiece of a monument celebrating a one-million signature petition to get the EU to ban GMO crops (below).
The image is gigantic, at 22 m in diameter, and from looking at it, you would never guess it was done on a completely flat surface. Obviously, the effect only works from certain viewpoints, but it remains an incredible example of 3D-perspective painting. His work is shown all over the world, including numerous commissioned pieces, in places as far afield as Hong Kong Disneyland, Chile, and Dubai. I’d strongly recommend a look at his web gallery, filled with some breathtaking works.
The coin is the first in a series featuring Wenner’s art, and is a cool piece featuring one of his signature designs, ‘Hel’, a pit in which something lurks. Sensibly, the mint has chosen to strike the one-ounce coin in a rectangular format. We only have renders at present, but we’re told the coin will have XXL relief up to 1.2 mm in height. Whether that’s just the frame, or includes the art, we’ve yet to ascertain. It will come encapsulated with a COA, and should be available to order now, with shipping in January. Just 250 of these satin-antiqued coins will be struck.
LINKS: PREVIOUS COIN IN THE SERIES
Fender Stratocaster in Fiesta Red silver coin (2022 MTB/PAMP)
Mik Woodgate2022-12-02T06:45:13+00:00December 2nd, 2022|
Fender Stratocaster in Fiesta Red silver coin (2022 MTB/PAMP)
The second of MTB/PAMP’s very popular Fender Stratocaster guitar-shaped coins is now upon us, and after the joys of Surf Green, we move on to the first optional colour Fender ever made the Stratocaster in, way back in 1957, Fiesta Red. This is basically just a differently coloured version of the green issue, but sympathetically coloured in that classic style. A brand legendary amongst musicians, this was always going to be a terrific subject for a coin series, and PAMP have done a good job with it to date.
While Fiesta Red is the second in this series, there was an earlier two-coin pair, with a Stratocaster and a Telecaster, which were obviously popular enough to inspire this series. There’s also a neat range of functional silver guitar picks, also Fender branded, although you won’t be using them on these dinky numismatics.
This one is an ounce of 0.999 silver, with a 6,000 mintage, and a size of 29.5 x 86.5 mm. The packaging consists of a themed, windowed box. The theming is inspired by a 1960s ad campaign, where musicians were pictured with their Fenders in unusual situations, like surfing, or skydiving. For this coin, it’s motorcycling. Clearly a lot of effort has gone into this series with regard to the little details. Available now, they retail for around $110 USD. We have a Thematic Guide to Modern Music on coins on the go, which I’ll publish over the holiday, assuming it’s finished.
LINKS: PREVIOUS COIN IN THE SERIES
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.
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.
