A classic US military weapon, the M1 Garand saw service throughout the Second World War, where around 5.4 million of them were produced. It continued to see service through the Korean War, and even into Vietnam on a smaller scale, despite being formally superseded by the M14 in 1958. It was a semi-automatic rifle, replacing the bolt-action M1903 Springfield in 1936, utilising an eight-round clip holding .30-06 ammunition. There were scores of variants of this respected weapon.

There are four variants in the blind boxes of this one, making a combined 9,996 mintage overall. The base copper version is the most common, with the antiqued silver-plated version being the rarest, although with 999 of them in the mix, the odds on getting one are still decent. It’s a fine-looking reproduction, replete with some delicate detailing, especially around the trigger. All variants are the same except for the finish, so which you prefer is a purely aesthetic choice.

Without question the most famous assault rifle in history, the Avtomat Kalashnikova 1947, more colloquially known as the AK-47, is also the most common, with estimates of 80-150 million of the various versions having been manufactured. It’s been used by over 100 armed forces worldwide in its various forms, mainly because of its stopping power, ease of construction, and most significantly, its reliability, if not its accuracy. It generally uses a 30-round magazine of 7.62 x 39 mm ammunition. A legend.

Again, there are four variants in the blind boxes of this one, and the breakdown of finishes and mintages are the same as for the M1 Garand coin. The packaging is also identical, save for the artwork on it. It’s another excellent reproduction, with great detailing, and the finishes are a matter of personal taste.

It’s hard to believe that the Colt M1911 was a relatively early example of a semi-automatic pistol, given how brilliant it turned out. Adopted by the US military, and chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge, it had an extraordinary service life, not being replaced until the 9 mm Beretta 92F was chosen in 1985. Even then, it continues to see some service in modernised form to this day. The version on the coin is one refreshed in 1924 as the M1911A1. Almost two million were manufactured in WWII.

This coin differs from the other pair in being silver, instead of copper, and as a result, there is no copper-looking variant, leaving just the antiqued, gilded, and black types. Here, it’s the gilded finish that is the rare one of the three, with obsidian the most popular. The combined mintage of 1,998 is also much smaller, yet the coins remain relatively affordable because of their 8-gram weight. The latex-skin floating frame is a nice display for it.

The design is spot-on, but the best part of this coin, and something that lifts it over the others, is that terrific obverse showing the internals. We’re very impressed with that, giving the collector a choice of looks when displaying it. The antiqued version is particularly good in my opinion, but it’s a choice others may disagree with, perhaps preferring the gilded ‘Gaddafi’ look!