Released today is the latest in Precious Metal Collector’s range of hybrid silver/copper coins, and in a step away from fine art or Asian mythology, they’re taking steps into the final frontier with our solar system. As one of PMC’s bi-metal coins, it’s a size far greater than the two ounces of silver would suggest, aided by the use of 11.5 ounces of copper as a core. The coin is thick, 80 mm in diameter, and has plenty of high-relief, yet remains relatively affordable compared to an all silver strike.

The design is simple enough. The Earth is the primary focus, with the Sun behind it, and the other seven planets laid out to one side. It’s an artistic depiction, bearing no relation to the size or position of these bodies in reality, but they are coloured sympathetically. There’s a rocket, looking a little like Space X’s ‘Starship’, in orbit around Earth.

The obverse features a simplified pattern of orbits, with the Public Seal of Niue sitting in a space the Sun would occupy. This side is fully antiqued, and sans colouration. All together, a decent, if unadventurous design. It’s a very difficult subject to capture well on a coin face, and we feel PMC have done well to pull it all in as well as they have. Boxed with a C.O.A., it’s available to order now.