May, 2021
STAR WARS: GALACTIC EMPIRE BULLION COIN (2021 NZ Mint)
Mik Woodgate2021-05-05T21:03:53+01:00May 5th, 2021|
STAR WARS: GALACTIC EMPIRE BULLION COIN (2021 NZ Mint)
The New Zealand Mint’s Star Wars bullion range gets its second issue of 2021 and its tenth overall since its launch in 2017. The range seems to be comprised of a Darth Vader sub-series (four coins to date), a miscellaneous series (four coins), and one called Symbols of Star Wars. This latter series is the most recent, and debuted last year with the Mandalorian Mythosaur, the famed logo of the warrior caste.
That coin, and this one, have a lower mintage than the others, although come in the same choice of 0.999 silver and 0.9999 gold formats, both an ounce in weight. The silver tops out at 25k and the gold at just 260 pieces, significantly less than the other two sub-series. This coin is pretty simple, just featuring the logo of the Galactic Empire. No doubt the Rebel Alliance and the First Order will follow in due time. Both have an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II surrounded by the inscribed issue details on the obverse.
Available to order now, it should ship later this month. It comes encapsulated.
LINKS: AgAuNEWS BULLION COIN PROFILE
AUSTRALIAN NUGGET: GOLDEN EAGLE 1931 BULLION (2021 Perth Mint)
Mik Woodgate2021-05-05T12:43:15+01:00May 5th, 2021|
AUSTRALIAN NUGGET: GOLDEN EAGLE 1931 BULLION (2021 Perth Mint)
The coin is available in two formats. A one ounce 0.9999 gold and a one ounce 0.9999 silver. The former has a mintage of 30,000 pieces, while the latter is capped at 7,500 pieces, so these sit a bit above the tiny mintage market numbers (especially in gold). We’re not fans of this series, to be honest. They will be produced and struck to the same high standard you’d expect from the Perth Mint, and while the subject couldn’t possibly be more appropriate for a bullion series, it’s just such an aesthetically bland thing to showcase. I bet the artist chosen to do the design each year isn’t overjoyed at the prospect. There just isn’t much you can do with an amorphous blob of metal to make it look stylish, and with the market filled with some brilliant designs of late, it’s a tough sell. However, it’s Perth Mint bullion and available now.
LINKS: FIRST COIN IN THE SERIES
TOKELAU SEALIFE PORCUPINE FISH BULLION (2021 HIGHLAND MINT)
Mik Woodgate2021-05-04T06:59:04+01:00May 4th, 2021|
TOKELAU SEALIFE PORCUPINE FISH BULLION (2021 HIGHLAND MINT)
A long running bullion series by todays standards, Tokelau Sealife, launched by Treasures of Oz back in 2014, is a twelve coin series released at the rate of one per annum. After overcoming some initial quality issues, it has gone on to be a low-key, but solid member of the limited mintage bullion coin market. The 2021 coin is now here and depicts the Porcupine Fish.
As per the refresh in style last year, this one has the fishy subject in the centre, and a geometric pattern in the background field. We find the pattern a little overpowering, to be honest, but this is less intrusive than last years, so hopefully they’ll dial it back a bit more. The fish itself is extremely well done, much like the rest of the series. The minigold of the last few years has gone, and since 2020 the lineup has comprised a pair of one ounce coins, one in 0.999 silver and one in 0.9999 gold. Mintages are 10,000 and 100 respectively, so nice and tight. Check out our full guide to the series at the link below. Available now.
LINKS: AgAuNEWS BULLION SERIES PROFILE
April, 2021
YEAR OF THE CHARMING TIGER RANGE (2021 CIT)
Mik Woodgate2021-04-29T22:20:42+01:00April 29th, 2021|
YEAR OF THE CHARMING TIGER RANGE (2021 CIT)
A new selection of CIT coins is coming and the first we’re looking at is the latest in the mints dabble with the Lunar Calendar. Instead of an annual selection of simple coin designs that rely solely on the depiction of the relevant animal, CIT bring to market some pretty cool fully dimensional pieces. The latest of these is 2022’s Tiger, which they’ve dubbed the Charming Tiger. You have to love this as they’re so different, and actually issued for an Asian nation – Mongolia.
In addition to this one-ounce silver showpiece, there’s a half-gram minigold that carries an image of the coin on it, and a silver banknote/foil of similar design. It’s an eclectic collection and the one we look forward to the most every year. It’s hard to balance unusual with gimmicky, but CIOT stay on the right side of that lione every year.
We’ve not gone into too much detail here as we have a full profile of the whole series up on site in which you can see images of the whole range, every variant of the Tiger, including staged shots, and a video. We highly recommend the lunar fan to check them out. Link below.
LINKS: AGAUNEWS COIN SERIES PROFILE
MYTHICAL BEASTS: UNICORN (2021 Czech Mint)
Mik Woodgate2021-04-28T12:36:26+01:00April 28th, 2021|
MYTHICAL BEASTS: UNICORN (2021 Czech Mint)
The Unicorn, the mystical nag with a skewer on its head, is the star of the second of the Czech Mints ‘Mythical Beasts’ series for 2021, and the sixth overall since it debuted last year. Given how imaginative the Ancient Greeks were when it came to inventing creatures for their tales, the Unicorn is a fairly sedate looking beast, and that’s reflected in the design of the coin. That doesn’t mean it isn’t a good looker, and it’s a fine depiction of a horse.
Same two versions as usual, of course. A one ounce silver and a tenth ounce gold, the former with a mintage of 1,000 pieces, and the latter half that. Both now come in the mints new packaging, which is a step up from the previous small cardboard boxes in quality, although we did like those as well. Further releases through 2021 will be Cerberus (July), and Centaur (October). We have a full profile of the series up at the link below.
LINKS: AgAuNEWS Coin Series Profile
NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS: OOGIE BOOGIE (2021 NZ Mint)
Mik Woodgate2021-04-28T10:58:36+01:00April 28th, 2021|
NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS: OOGIE BOOGIE (2021 NZ Mint)
The third issue in The Nighmare Before Christmas movie series has been released, and after Jack Skellington and Sally, comes one of the more distinctive characters – Oogie Boogie. The 1993 hit Tim Burton movie contains all of the hallmark visual style that so defines the mans work, so it’s a terrific source of cool art for a coin series, and the NZ Mint has done an outstanding job with these.
The coin is an ounce in weight, antique finished and with some beautifully chosen colours to enhance, but not overpower it – just like the movie. It’s presented in the excellent book-style box the mint has used for some years now, but with a clear window on the cover so you can see the coin if displayed. The mintage remains at 3,000 pieces, and it’s available from today.
LINKS: FIRST COIN IN THE SERIES – JACK SKELLINGTON
SUPERGIRL & NEWT SCAMANDER CHIBI (2021 NZ Mint)
Mik Woodgate2021-04-26T23:35:47+01:00April 26th, 2021|
SUPERGIRL & NEWT SCAMANDER CHIBI (2021 NZ Mint)
The second and last pair of April Chibi coins have now debuted, and we get an addition to the most populous sub-series (DC Comics) and a whole new sub-series. We’ve expressed some concern at the pace of release in the past, but it seems the mint is diversifying the selection so that collectors can just collect the sub-series that interests them the most. A wise decision.
The DC Comics addition is Supergirl. The character has a show on TV at the moment, although it’s awful, only beaten to the crap superhero show crown by Batwoman (it’s not even close…). The coin looks a good companion piece to the Superman one. The second coin is the first in the Harry Potter spinoff – Fantastic Beasts. The debut piece is Newt Scamander, of course, played in the movies by the talented Eddie Redmayne. It looks good, and this series has some good potential with regards to distinctive characters.
As you’d expect, there’ll be four more next month, and we understand one may be another new series that looks quite interesting. Available now. Check out our comprehensive Coin Series Profile to the Chibi range, recently completely revised with a new look. Check it out at the link below.
LINKS: AgAuNEWS PROFILE OF THE CHIBI SERIES
CAYMAN ISLANDS MARLIN BULLION COIN (2021 Scottsdale Mint)
Mik Woodgate2021-04-26T17:17:25+01:00April 26th, 2021|
CAYMAN ISLANDS MARLIN BULLION COIN (2021 Scottsdale Mint)
Along with the Barbados Trident, the Cayman Islands Marlin is a bullion coin with a fixed annual design, that’s become a staple of the stackers market. It was always a pretty design, the leaping marlin and the wavy concentric border working together well, and that’s no less true today, even with the extraordinary amount of competing products.
The same pair of one ounce offerings as before. A 0.999 silver with a 50,000 mintage and a 0.9999 gold that tops out at 10,000 units. Regular buyers will know what to expect and these generally have a competitive premium. The gold should be available to order shortly, although we’ve yet to have the silver debut date confirmed.
LINKS: FIRST COIN IN THE SERIES
THE MANDALORIAN: IG-11 (2021 NZ Mint)
Mik Woodgate2021-04-17T14:42:05+01:00April 17th, 2021|
THE MANDALORIAN: IG-11 (2021 NZ Mint)
The third in the New Zealand Mints hit ‘The Mandalorian’ is now available, and the subject is a fan favourite. The assassin droid IG-11, voiced in the show by the super talented Taika Waititi, went from villain to hero over the space of a few episodes, and as a result, gained entry into the Star Wars Hall of Fandom. The droids have always been a key part of the whole Star Wars Saga, so it’s hardly surprising that such a well realised creation would stand out.
As with the previous two coins, Din Djarin and Cara Dune, these are part-coloured proof-finish, one-ounce silver coins, depicting the character in the style of an animation cell, rather than as a real photo image. Packaging is first class and the mintage of 2,000 keeps demand extremely strong. This one has been available for a couple of days, so may take some hunting down.
LINKS: NZ MINT WEBSTORE
VOYAGERS THIRST FOR DISCOVERY: TIME FLIES BLACK PROOF (2021 Numiscollect)
Mik Woodgate2021-04-17T14:19:06+01:00April 17th, 2021|
VOYAGERS THIRST FOR DISCOVERY: TIME FLIES BLACK PROOF (2021 Numiscollect)
Last November, Numiscollect debuted a new series called ‘Thirst for Discovery’ that contrasts the early explorers with what will ultimately come from their discoveries. It was a really nice design, depicting Christopher Columbus making landfall in the New World back in the 15th century on the reverse face, with the obverse showcasing what a future Martian colony might look like, complete with rocket and an astronaut.
It’s a clever comparison, brought to life with splendid smartminted high relief on both faces. The original coin was a two ounce fine silver piece with a proof finish and a 333 mintage. What we have here is identical in every respect, except it has a black proof finish, quite similar in appearance to ruthenium or rhodium plating, but is a proprietary CIT/BH Mayer technique. In addition, the mintage is a tiny 99 pieces. It’s available to order now
HAN SOLO & MICKEY MOUSE CHIBI COINS (2021 NZ Mint)
Mik Woodgate2021-04-13T14:24:02+01:00April 13th, 2021|
HAN SOLO & MICKEY MOUSE CHIBI COINS (2021 NZ Mint)
The next big release of the Chibi series is upon us, and Han Solo will no doubt join his fellow Star Wars alumni in being bought up in very short order. This franchise has turned out to be easily the most popular of the various Chibi offerings and they all regularly sell out quickly.
A whole new series has joined the Chibi fold. Micjey and Friends is the first showing of classic Disney characters, although they have appeared in several other coin issues over the last few years, in gold and silver. The ‘friends’ in the title would suggest we will at least see Minnie Mouse, Donald & Daisy Duck, and Pluto and Goofy, although the near century old pantheon has countless other possibilities. Chibi suits them well on this evidence, although it is less effective given the nature of the subject matter.
These have been added to our newly revised Coin Series Profile to the Chibi range, so its easier to see each sub-series in isolation, and the teasers for the next upcoming releases as well. Check it out at the link below.
LINKS: AgAuNEWS PROFILE OF THE CHIBI SERIES
AUSTRALIAN WOMBAT SILVER BULLION COIN (2021 Perth Mint)
Mik Woodgate2021-04-12T12:19:42+01:00April 12th, 2021|
AUSTRALIAN WOMBAT SILVER BULLION COIN (2021 Perth Mint)
Perennial bullion coin collector favourite, the Perth Mint, has, to put it mildly, a rather large and varied selection of nature themed offering in this market. It helps that their native land, Australia, is awash with an equally varied selection of distinctive animals, many of which exist nowhere else on Earth. The latest to join their limited mintage range features one such creature, the Wombat.
A neat design, which takes some DNA from the relatively recent Quokka coin and the long-running Koala range, the front on view is clean, employing the Perth Mint’s classic reverse-proof type finish. Just a single format makes up the release, but it’s the ultra popular one-ounce fine silver one, so no complaints there. The mintage of 25,000 pieces is also pretty typical. This is the first in a new series, and available from today at dealers around the world, particularly from LPM that holds exclusive distribution rights for Asia and North America.
PI DAY SILVER BULLION (2021 APMEX)
Mik Woodgate2021-04-08T23:50:56+01:00April 8th, 2021|
PI DAY SILVER BULLION (2021 APMEX)
March 14th was Pi Day. If you’re like me and a little disappointed it didn’t involve beef and a huge portion of chips, you will at least be consoled that a coin for the actual mathematical Pi day is better looking than a minced cow themed one would be. Following last years coin which featured a trio of famous faces in the Pi world (is that an oxymoron…?), the 2021 coin concentrates on Archimedes, who would definitely struggle to eat a pie with that beard..
The design follows the style set out last year and is also reminiscent of the Icons of Innovation coin starring Galileo, of Bohemian Rhapsody fame. We like it, as, joking aside, it is a subject that should be given the proper respect and the coin, with its numbers in the background field, is on point for that. We particularly like the denomination, which is set at an appropriate, but very unusual, $3.14 of the Solomon Islands kind.
It’s a one-ounce silver coin, struck to a bullion finish and with a very small mintage of just 5,000 pieces. Available now from the distributor APMEX and a few select others.
JURASSIC PARK 5oz SILVER & 1oz GOLD (2021 LPM)
Mik Woodgate2021-04-07T18:47:00+01:00April 7th, 2021|
JURASSIC PARK 5oz SILVER & 1oz GOLD (2021 LPM)
LPM are expanding their range of Jurassic Park coins with some new formats employing the T-Rex design that appeared last year in one ounce silver bullion form. This time the coins are struck to a ‘Premium Uncirculated’ finish for that extra bit of quality, and the new pair up the ante with regards to precious metal content.
The five ounce silver coin should be a great looking piece, showing off the official Jurassic Park logo, a skeletal Tyrannosaurus Rex, to fine effect. The mintage of the coin is capped at 500 pieces. Also limited, but in this case to just 100 pieces, is the one ounce gold version. Both versions have lost the Jurassic Park text, to be replaced by one denoting the coins composition. A neat coin with a tight mintage, this is one fans will like, we’re sure. Available to order shortly from LPM.
March, 2021
ZORRO (2021 Mint of Poland)
Mik Woodgate2021-03-30T13:12:22+01:00March 30th, 2021|
ZORRO (2021 Mint of Poland)
The last of our four-coin roundup of new Mint of Poland releases is a strange one. Zorro was created by an American pulp author in 1919 and has had a fairly innocuous and varied history in the world of TV and movies since then. At times camp and heroic, the character is well known, but hardly a giant of popular culture, especially over the last twenty years. Anyway, on to the coin.
It’s fair to say the artist has done a great job encapsulating the character. The sombrero hat, cape and rapier sword that are iconic to Zorro are all present and correct, and he’s depicted on Tornado, his horse, rearing up. The legendary ‘Z’, the symbol of Zorro that he marked with his sword, is picked out in the background with gilding, in contrast to the antique finish used elsewhere. Despite the unusual subject matter, it’s actually a fine tribute.
Struck in two ounces of fine silver to a high-relief, it has a mintage of 500 pieces and comes boxed with a Certificate of Authenticity. It’s a Niue issue, so the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II sits on the obverse, sadly not customised for the theme, but a standard job. If you’re a Zorro fan, and we’re sure you’re out there, this looks a great homage to a character now over a century old. Maybe the Lone Ranger is next! Available to order now.
LINKS: MINT OF POLAND