November, 2021
Venetian Mask II (2022 Mint of Poland)
Mik Woodgate2021-11-25T21:33:37+00:00November 25th, 2021|
Venetian Mask (2022 Mint of Poland)
The annual Carnival of Venice was initially a celebration started from a victory of the Venice Republic against the Patriarch of Aquileia, Ulrico di Treven in the year 1162. Taking the form of a dance in San Marco Square, it grew in popularity and became a fixture of the calendar. However, Venice fell under the rule of the Holy Roman Emperor, Francis II, who banned the use of masks in 1797. The carnival was fully restored in 1979 and remains a highlight of the city, especially the contest for the most beautiful mask.
In 2019, the Mint of Poland issued a high-relief, 2 oz silver coin with gilding, that showcased the festival and one of the striking masks. Now, three years later, they’ve released a second one. The concept here is exactly the same. The background is packed with landmarks and cultural elements, as before, and an extravagant mask dominates the foreground. Again, the mask is decorated with both colour and gilding.
A neat coin for the subject, it’s a shame this wasn’t made a regular series rather than having so many ancient history/mythology themed coins. The packaging consists of a latex-skin, floating frame with a custom insert, and the mintage is capped at 500 pieces. The coin is available to order now and should hopefully ship late in December.
LINKS: ANOTHER UNUSUAL VENETIAN MASK COIN
50th Anniversary of E-mail (2021 World Coin Appreciation)
Mik Woodgate2021-11-23T15:58:28+00:00November 23rd, 2021|
50th Anniversary of E-mail (2021 World Coin Appreciation)
It’s such a ubiquitous part of everyday life, that it’s hard to believe Email is only 50 years old. In 1971, Ray Tomlinson developed the first networked Email service, running on ARPANET, and using the now commonplace ‘@’ symbol. Just a few years later, and the system became formalised into what we still use today. Over 300 BILLION emails are sent every day worldwide, with some 85% being classified as spam, so it joins pretty much every other invention by man in being abused by man…
This new coin by World Coin Appreciation is the first we’ve seen to mark the anniversary of this pivotal technology. They’ve done so with a one-ounce 0.999 silver coin, that depicts a portion of a computer keyboard, with what would be the ENTER key replaced by a coloured one that simply says ‘E-mail’, along with its iconic symbol.
It’s struck to a proof standard, and the obverse is a standard Niue affair, featuring the Ian Rank Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. Packaging consists of a latex-skin ‘floating frame’, complete with a custom insert. Just 500 will be struck. A neat idea, and one we’re surprised hasn’t been picked up elsewhere. Available to pre-order now, it will ship from January.
China’s Famous Vintage Coins – Long Whiskered Dragon HR (2022 LPM Group)
Mik Woodgate2021-11-06T17:46:25+00:00November 6th, 2021|
China's Famous Vintage Coins - Long Whiskered Dragon HR (2022 LPM Group)
We’ve always believed that modern coins work superbly well when they draw inspiration from the coins of the past, and there are many examples of that in the bullion market. Old bullion and trading coins are snapshots of the period they were issued in, from way back in ancient times, when the person in charge had their effigy struck into the coins, to the 20th century, when cultural icons became more prevalent. The Asian Trade Dollars of the late 19th/early 20th centuries are a fine example of the latter.
Starting in 2018, Hong-Kong based LPM started to release an eight coin range of Chinese Dragon-themed Trade Dollars that were reproductions of the originals, which were beginning to rise heavily in value at various auctions. These very pretty coins were available in 1 oz gold and 1 oz silver variants, followed soon after by antiqued silver versions (the one here is the eighth and last). Joining the range later came a limited run of one-kilo versions, of which four of the eight are now available.
The interesting coin in this release is the debut of a high-relief version. An ounce of fine silver in weight, with high-relief on both faces, it’s an attractive item, clearly enhanced with the more defined detail present. In other respects it’s the same as the other versions, but it’s different enough to warrant another look. Just 888 of these will be struck, and it’s the first in a new series, so expect to see the other seven get the same treatment over the next couple of years. If you want to see more on this series, check out our full Bullion Profile of the range.
Biblical Series coins 39 and 40 (2021 Scottsdale Mint)
Mik Woodgate2021-11-02T00:06:24+00:00November 2nd, 2021|
Biblical Series coins 39 and 40 (2021 Scottsdale Mint)
We’re sure that you’ve seen one of our previous news posts about Scottsdale Mint’s Biblical Series if you’ve ever been here before, given the series has been running for seven years with six releases in every one of them. Always an epic endeavour, the series will eventually encompass sixty coins released over a ten-year period.
Each coin is based on woodcut art from Gustave Dore, and cover a wide range of stories from the various parts of the Bible. Each one is two-ounces of o.999 silver in weight, is rimless, and antique finished. The two coins issued today are the 39th and 40th (3rd and 4th of 2021), and there are still two to come after a release schedule battered by Covid-19. If you’re looking at these, you already know about the series, but if not, check out our Coin Series Profile that shows all the issues to date – an article of biblical scale!
LINKS: AgAuNEWS COIN SERIES PROFILE
Street Fighter Mini – Ken (2021 LPM HK)
Mik Woodgate2021-11-01T20:53:54+00:00November 1st, 2021|
Street Fighter Mini - Ken (2021 LPM HK)
LPM’s neat little Street Fighter Mini shaped coins are back with the third in the expansive pantheon of fighters that make up the cult hit video game. The series debuted back in July with Ryu kicking it off, followed in September by fan-favourite Chun-Li. This third coin to debut is another of the heavy hitters in the game, Ken. To say the choice isn’t expansive, or quite unusual, would be an understatement. If this series proves popular, it has the potential to run for some time.
Each coin is struck in an ounce of fine (0.999) silver and then coloured on the reverse face. They have a unique style which we really like, and we’d imagine any of the legions of Street Fighter fans, and make no mistake, there are literally millions of them, is going to love one. The mintage of just 1,000 pieces is also very low for the genre in light of the franchise popularity. The presentation is neat and the coin is available to order right now.
Shrek – Gingerbread Man shaped coin (2021 The Coin Company)
Mik Woodgate2021-11-01T14:32:16+00:00November 1st, 2021|
Shrek - Gingerbread Man shaped coin (2021 The Coin Company)
Shrek is one of the latest movie franchises to make its mark on the coin world, There are currently two producers issuing coins for it, one of which is APMEX with its bullion range, and the other The Coin Company in Australia. The latter have specialised in shaped coins and the new one here is the fourth such issue in its Shrek range, following the Ogre, Donkey, and Puss-in-Boots.
The Gingerbread Man isn’t one of the best known characters in the movies, but fans will know what it is and it’s a logical choice, as the series chooses to pick the more outlandish characters to showcase. As before, this is a one-ounce silver coin with some neat packaging and a relatively small mintage of 1,000 pieces. Available to order now.
LINKS: THE COIN COMPANY
Christmas Elf PEZ set (2021 MTB/PAMP)
Mik Woodgate2022-10-20T20:58:23+01:00November 1st, 2021|
Christmas Elf PEZ set (2021 MTB/PAMP)
One of the more unusual, and judging by the rapid sell-outs, one of the more popular concepts of the last couple of years has been MTB-PAMP’s range of PEZ homages. For those unfamiliar, the little hard candy treats have been a thing for literally decades, with the unique selling point being the tremendous range of plastic dispensers from which the sweets spew forth.
The mint has aped the dimensions of the actual candy to produce these little bullion bars, which makes them instantly compatible with all the original dispensers. However, these come with their own, and they’re all themed to suit, with a small privy mark on the six, 5 gram pills to match it. This is the sixth such set and celebrates the holiday season with a Christmas Elf. The mintage is set at 5,000 pieces.
Head on over to our comprehensive guide to the series, with lots of background info on the history of PEZ. Available to order from today.
LINKS: AgAuNEWS Coin Series Profile to PEZ
Winnie the Pooh 6/9 – Tigger (2021 Royal Mint)
Mik Woodgate2021-10-31T20:29:51+00:00November 1st, 2021|
Winnie the Pooh 6/9 - Tigger (2021 Royal Mint)
Just a quick heads-up that the Royal Mint will be issuing the last of the second trio of coins in their three-year, nine-coin series of fifty pence proof coins celebrating Winnie the Pooh. We know the gold ones in particular are very quick sellers , hence the reminder.
We’ve already covered this series in more detail for both the 2020 coins, and the 2021 issues, so if you want more info, feel free to check them out.
October, 2021
DC Comics Superman bullion coin (2021 NZ Mint)
Mik Woodgate2021-10-28T16:48:08+01:00October 28th, 2021|
DC Comics Superman bullion coin (2021 NZ Mint)
The popular culture invasion of the bullion market continues apace with the launch of the third of the New Zealand Mint’s DC Comics rsnge. After Batman and Wonder Woman, we come to that most iconic of superheroes, Superman. It’s actually a really good design, drawing heavily from the modern comic era rather than the movie world and it’s all the better for it.
The third release this year, it follows the same pattern. There are one-ounce 0.999 silver and 0.9999 gold vesrions, both supplied encapsulated. The silver tops out at 15,000 pieces and the gold a tiny 150, both very tight given the high profile subject matter. This is an EMK exclusive distribution, but plenty of dealers will have the silver in stock at least. Available to order now.
LINKS: PREVIOUS COIN IN THE SERIES
Baby Zodiac – Taurus, Aries, Pisces (2021 Mint XXI)
Mik Woodgate2021-10-25T12:39:10+01:00October 25th, 2021|
Baby Zodiac - Taurus, Aries, Pisces (2021 Mint XXI)
Despite its quite obviously pseudo-scientific nature, astrology continues to have quite a hold on the popular conciousness. The idea that celestial objects affect a persons personality, behaviour and outlook, neatly divided into small groups of birthdates, are patently ridiculous, yet the concept has seen a massive resurgence in popularity over the last half century or so. You can hardly open a newspaper or magazine without an ‘expert’ mapping out your day for you. However, there is a fascinating history to astrology dating back thousands of years, so ripe for the coin world to bring to reality.
The form of astrology most of us in the West know is that of twelve symbols, each covering a single month (although not exactly) and that’s what Mint XXI have used for their own take on the genre. The first release comprises three half-ounce coloured silver coins – Aries, Pisces and Taurus. They have a common background (except for some changes to the star pattern under the title), with a child character representing the star sign inside a soft-edged star-shaped space.
Each coin comes in packaging that is nicely themed and will make giving one of these as a baby gift especially easy. These are clearly aimed at the baby market rather than coin collectors, and the cutesy appeal will no doubt win over many. Selling at under €50 each, they’re also relatively affordable for that market and we can see these being pretty popular. Available to order now, each design has a mintage of 1,000 pieces.
Halo – Master Chief Helmet (2021 NZ Mint)
Mik Woodgate2021-10-22T00:36:33+01:00October 22nd, 2021|
Halo - Master Chief Helmet (2021 NZ Mint)
We’ve already seen ‘Faces of the Empire’ take a look at the helmets of the Star Wars Universe, and it looks like the videogame ‘Halo’ is now getting the treatment. The seminal shooter which almost single-handedly ensured the success of Microsoft’s first console, the original X-Box, is now 20 years old, so this is an anniversary release.
Like the similarly styled Star Wars coins, this ‘Master Chief Helmet’ coin is shaped and struck in an ounce of 0.999 silver, aand coloured on the reverse face. It’s neat enough, and it isn’t like the market is awash with Halo coins, so it will have appeal to that market. The appeal will be heightened by the smart packaging, which is something this mint is particularly adept at. Available from today, the mintage is set at 5,000 pieces.
LINKS: WHERE TO BUY PAGE
Hydropower (2021 Swiss Mint)
Mik Woodgate2021-10-21T18:46:27+01:00October 21st, 2021|
Hydropower (2021 Swiss Mint)
In a rare twist for the normally quite conservative Swiss Mint, they issued a few weeks ago, a coin with a glow-in-the-dark application on its reverse face. Normally the reserve of mythology and media-based coins, the mint has incorporated it into a science themed coin for a change. The science in question is hydro-electric power generation, something coming to increasing prominence as the debate over what to do to mitigate mans impact on climate change intensifies.
Hydropower is an important component in Switzerland’s power generation, comprising over 56% of their power needs, with the bulk of the rest coming from nuclear, which the Swiss have taken the short-sighted decision to phase out by 2034. There is an increasing renewable component (geothermal, solar), but Switzerland does still import hydro power from the EU. While the Swiss are lucky to have a geography that is favourable to this type of power production, they are to be commended for actually making use of it.
Not only is this 20 CHF coin (20g, 0.835 silver) unusual for having the fluorescent element to its design, it’s actually a very nice coin as well. Swissmint engraver Benjamin Löbbert has combined elements of the turbines used to transform water movement into electricity, along with scenes of a rivers pattern of water flow, and data on water consumption in Switzerland. It’s a clever melding of ideas that’s actually enhanced by the colour. The fluorescent element gives a little added dynamism to the water flow part, but the base design stands perfectly well on its own. Struck to a proof finish, it has a mintage of 10,000 pieces, and is the first of the mints ‘Energy of the Future’ trilogy, with Solar and Wind coming over the next two years. We’ll try to be a bit quicker reporting on those than we were on this one…
LINKS: SWISS MINT SHOP
CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND (2021 Perth Mint)
Mik Woodgate2021-10-20T17:46:58+01:00October 20th, 2021|
CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND (2021 Perth Mint)
One of the Perth Mint’s wackier ranges, the loose mix of antiqued coins with unusual centres has been in production since they released a very pretty Alice in Wonderland coin with a small clock in the middle, back in 2015. Over the years we’ve seen a compass, thermometer, even an abacus inset into coins, which might sound stupid in isolation, but comes with some really attractive designs on the silver parts that compliment them.
We covered the latest ‘Hourglass’ coin a couple of weeks ago, but the mint has decided we’re getting two coins in October, so here’s the second. Christmas Wonderland is the title , so the theme should be obvious, and indeed the reverse face has the silver ring covered in holiday scenes. This isn’t one with a functional centre, rather it has a gilded talisman instead, a snowflake. As usual, the the coin is antique finished and has some themeing on the obverse as well. Packaging is attractive and the mintage remains at 2,500 pieces. Available now. Check out the whole series in our Coin Series Profile at the link below. It’s quite a mix!
LINKS: OUR COIN SERIES PROFILE TO THIS SERIES
HOGWART’S CRESTS – RAVENCLAW (2021 NZ Mint)
Mik Woodgate2021-10-20T16:31:25+01:00October 20th, 2021|
HOGWART'S CRESTS - RAVENCLAW (2021 NZ Mint)
After the writing and publication of our huge Thematic Guide to Harry Potter coins earlier this week, I was quite hoping not to have to look at another new one for a while, but that hope was in vain. The NZ Mint is adding the third of its six Hogwart’s House crests one-ounce silver coins to the mix, and this time Ravenclaw is the subject.
These are shaped proof coins with colour highlighting, are well packaged, and have a mintage of 5,000 pieces. Available to order now. If you’re into Potter, we highly recommend checking out our new guide at the link below.
LINKS: OUR SUPERGUIDE TO HARRY POTTER ON COINS
Giants of the Galapagos: Giant Tortoise (2021 MTB/PAMP)
Mik Woodgate2021-10-04T13:38:43+01:00October 4th, 2021|
Giants of the Galapagos: Giant Tortoise (2021 MTB/PAMP)
Popular MTB/PAMP nature series, ‘Giants of the Galapagos’, finally debuts its last coin in the series and it’s that sports car of the animal world, the Giant Tortoise. This has been a three coin series and are semi-shaped in that they are fundamentally geometric, in this case round, but have elements that extend beyond that. They’re nice looking coins and have already spawned a sequel of sorts called ‘Ocean Predators’, although in that case they come without colouration.
Following the Seahorse and the Whale Shark, this carries a well done image of the Giant Tortoise highlighted with a good quality colour application, set against a cleanly struck proof finish background showing the animals natural habitat. The same foliage adorned obverse, featuring the effigy of QEII, that has been used on the previous two coins is again used here. Packaging is a blistercard, fully themed and packed with information, rather than the traditional box.
The mintage is capped at 2,500 pieces and it’s available from today. We’ll try to get a profile of the multiple shaped nature series from MTB-PAMP together before the end of the year. The next coin should be the Orca (Killer Whale), which is the last of the three Ocean Predators coins.
LINKS: FIRST COIN IN THE SERIES