May, 2020
DINOSAURS: TRICERATOPS (2020 NZ Mint)
Mik Woodgate2020-05-27T17:15:56+01:00May 18th, 2020|
2020 DINOSAURS: TRICERATOPS (NZ MINT)
We love a good dinosaur coin as much as any coin collector, so it was great news to discover the New Zealand Mint was adding their own effort to the mix. The Tyrannosaurus Rex debuted a couple of months ago, and now it’s the turn of the behemoth traditionally portrayed in life or death combat with it – the Triceratops.
The big triple-horned herbivore is an icon of the palaeontological world, maybe reaching 9m in length and a huge 12 tons in weight. An obvious choice for a dinosaur series. The style is one the NZ Mint has used successfully in the past, especially on its military history ranges – a 1oz antique finished silver coin with selective colour. Packaging is very nicely themed and of a great quality (we’ve seen the T-Rex issue in hand).
Selling for around $80.00 USD and with a mintage of 2,000 pieces, it’s available to order from later today. A good looking issue in an under-represented genre.
LINKS: TYRANNOSAURUS REX COIN
2020 TITANS: PROMETHEUS (NUMISCOLLECT)
Mik Woodgate2020-05-17T23:35:34+01:00May 17th, 2020|
TITANS: PROMETHEUS (NUMISCOLLECT)
The second of Numiscollect’s brilliant ‘Titans’ series of 3oz silver coins is now available to preorder, so we’ve decided to put together a guide to not just that series, but the three other ranges emanating from this Dutch producer. Some of our favourite coins issued today, there’s sure to be something that impresses everyone in amongst them.
2020 ANIMAL CHAMPIONS: RHINOCEROS BEETLE (CZECH MINT)
Mik Woodgate2020-05-16T22:27:06+01:00May 16th, 2020|
ANIMAL CHAMPIONS: RHINOCEROS BEETLE
A series we haven’t covered before I don’t believe, Animal Champions is a 1oz antique silver coin series from the Czech Mint that showcases record breaking animal species. Those that can fly, run or swim the fastest, grow to be giants, or carry great power, are all valid subjects.
The latest is the fascinating Rhinoceros Beetle, an insect so strong it would need a human to pick up 65 tons to be a proportional match. A very pretty design, this is one of four due this year, and joins four more issued through 2019. To bring us up to date, there’s an all new Coin Series Profile that features all of the six issues to date, which will be updated with the last pair as they’re issued. Available to order now with a mintage of 800, you can see more about them in the profile.
2020 GUARDS OF THE EMPIRE: DEATHTROOPER (NZ MINT)
Mik Woodgate2020-05-14T13:21:55+01:00May 14th, 2020|
GUARDS OF THE EMPIRE: DEATH TROOPER (NZ MINT)
Easily our favourite of the New Zealand Mint’s Star Wars coins being released in 2020, ‘Guards of the Empire’ offers a look at the cannon fodder warriors that fight on a daily basis to maintain the Galactic Empire. We’ve already seen the iconic Stormtrooper and the earlier Clone Trooper, but now its the turn of the black clad Death Trooper, the sneaky Special Forces of the Star Wars Universe.
A 1oz antique-finished fine silver coin, it carries on the style of having a single coloured image of the subject, with a scene of the troopers in action filling the background field. Packaging is superb and the mintage of 2,000 is nice and tight for this genre. A fine looking issue in a top quality series. Available to order from today for around $85.00 USD.
2020 THE MOSCOW METRO (CENTRAL BANK OF RUSSIA)
Mik Woodgate2020-05-14T03:33:55+01:00May 14th, 2020|
MOSCOW METRO (CENTRAL BANK OF RUSSIA)
It seems a bit weird to say, but the underground train network in Moscow is a big attraction. Home to some quite outstanding architecture, the stations are amongst the finest in the world, combining a modern metro system with palatial design. The first section opened in 1935, and today it is one of the busiest in the world, carrying 9m passengers on a weekday, riding on 12,000 trains between 275 stations.
The Central Bank of Russia is issuing a new proof ¼oz sterling silver coin to celebrate the Metro. A smaller coin than usual from the CBR, its 25 mm diameter is still more than sufficient the hold the very simple design. The logo of the metro is a stylised letter ‘M’, and outside of the surrounding inscription ‘МОСКОВСКИЙ МЕТРОПОЛИТЕН’ (THE MOSCOW METRO),that’s all there is. Some of the stations on this metro are quite astounding. It’s a pity the coin doesn’t do more to highlight that. Available now with a mintage of 3,000 pieces.
LINKS:
2020 UNA & THE LION 1KG SILVER (ALLCOLLECT)
Mik Woodgate2020-05-13T13:40:25+01:00May 13th, 2020|
UNA & THE LION 1KG SILVER (ALLCOLLECT)
Una and the Lion is one of those classic British coin designs, that comfortably sits alongside such numismatic icons as Britannia, and Pistrucci’s George and the Dragon. Famed sculpture William Wyon did the original art for this way back in 1839, and it was the first time a reigning monarch had been depicted as a fictional character on a coin.
AllCollect haven’t messed around with the design – why would you? – and with the Royal Mint reissue in silver limited to just a 2oz proof, despite the gold range heading up to 5kg, this new issue has filled a niche for those wanting a kilo version that sells for less than the price of a sports car… At 100mm in diameter it’s a chunky item, and the matte proof will look different, for sure. The packaging looks decent, and this Alderney issue has a mintage capped at just 99 pieces. It should ship in a few weeks time with a price circa €2.5k.
LINKS: THE ROYAL MINT REIMAGINING
2020 BIBLICAL SERIES #31 JESUS ON THE SEA (SCOTTSDALE MINT)
Mik Woodgate2020-05-11T15:38:11+01:00May 11th, 2020|
BIBLICAL SERIES: JESUS WALKING ON THE SEA (SCOTTSDALE MINT)
This is an epic series is terms of scope, with an inspired choice of source material and a first-class realisation of it. The packaging remains the same as always (this is the 31st coin in the 60-coin series), as does the mintage of 1,499 pieces. Also, keep an eye on early price of this one.
2020 END OF WWII 1/10TH BU CARDED (PERTH MINT)
Mik Woodgate2020-05-11T16:05:16+01:00May 10th, 2020|
END OF WWII 75TH ANNIVERSARY 1/10TH SILVER (PERTH MINT)
Along with a range of silver and gold proof and antiqued coins issued last month for the 75th anniversary of VE Day, the Perth Minmt has also released a bullion coin as part of its reduced May schedule. It’s a simplified version of the artwork used on the bigger of the first wave of coins and the mint has done a good job of keeping the essence of that Lucas Bowers design, even on the reduced size.
The coin has a brilliant uncirculated finish like the mints bullion coins, but you’d have to stretch the definition of bullion quite a bit to encompass a silver coin of just 3.11 grams in weight. What this does is make picking up a memorial coin, perhaps for a veteran, extremely affordable. At just $14.95 AUD, it’s about as cheap as a precious metal coin is ever going to get, and it manages to keep a respectable diameter of 20.6 mm. Mounted encapsulated in a themed card, something the Perth Mint does quite regularly, we find it hard to criticise what’s on offer here. Available now with a 15,000 mintage.
2020 BATMAN HUSH #3 THE CAPED CRUSADER (NZ MINT)
Mik Woodgate2020-05-11T15:51:47+01:00May 10th, 2020|
BATMAN HUSH: THE CAPED CRUSADER (NZ MINT)
The third in a series featuring the art of comics legend Jim Lee, produced for the acclaimed series, Batman: Hush. Antique finished with selective colour, these 31.1g (1oz) 0.999 silver coins are easily amongst our favourites of the genre. This one benefits from a particularly expansive amount of uncoloured background art, with the depiction of Poison Ivy looking reminiscent of the Helvetic Mints pretty ‘Dark Beauties’ series.
Available now, these are very well presented in a solid acrylic frame which makes display a doddle. The mintage of 2,000 isn’t high given the subject matter. A fourth coin, The Kiss, should be along in the next couple of months to round out a super series for the comic book fan.
LINKS: PREVIOUS COINS IN THE SERIES