The latest and ninth entrant in the popular Rwandan African Ounce series of silver bullion coins has appeared for 2016 right on cue and stays with the design layout that has been the series signature since 2008. Mostly identical every year except for the lower left-hand portion of the reverse face, the coins are nevertheless always attractive and keenly sought after. Available only in a fine silver one-ounce format, although they do release a proof version every year, it’s one of the most popular of the second tier of bullion coins that also incudes the Somali Elephant, and one of a growing number issued for African states.

The 2016 coin doesn’t stray from the subject matter and depicts the incredibly popular Meerkat in the pose that this lovable creature is most known for. Struck in Germany by BH Mayer’s mint Kunstprageanstalt GmbH, we’re big admirers of this series and this is a fine entrant. Available in around 4-5 weeks, prices will depend on the silver spot, but this generally carries a premium a little more than the big guns, but not excessively so. The proof usually sells around the €70 mark and has a mintage limited to 1,000 pieces.

THE SERIES

First issued in 2008, the Rwandan ‘African Ounce’ has become one of the more sought after bullion series. This is because they fulfill the two most important criteria for bullion collectors, a great design and a limited mintage. Early releases, especially the gorilla, are easily making 5-8 times spot price and the others are rising as well. Quality, as you would expect from Germany’s Bayer Mint, is excellent. The later coins are likely less inclined to large price increases as the mintages have become larger, going to a more on-demand status, instead of a fixed mintage.

The obverse of this coin features the National Seal of Rwanda. The present National Seal was adopted in 2001, the seal supposedly combines different elements that together should symbolize the unity of the country. Given this tiny countries recent history (only a third the size of Belgium), thats kind of ironic.

The reverse on this coin changes every year but has a standard motif with the outline of Africa textured to show the terrain and the bottom-left third of the coin displaying one of the famous African animals, to date all mammals. In 2008 it depicted the Gorilla, followed by the Elephant in 2009, the Lion in 2010, the Zebra in 2011 and the Rhino in 2012. The last three coins have been the Cheetah in 2013, the Impala in 2014 and the lunatic Cape Buffalo last year. Proof versions have been available in the past.