Australian Coin Books

With the beautiful coins coming out of the Perth Mint and the Royal Australian Mint there arose a need for coin books for Australian coins.  While there was one quality book available, it had to be ordered from the Perth Mint.  Amazon carried onl older copies of the book.  Now, Amazon carries some resources for Australian coin collecting.







If you need a specialty coinbook please check our website

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We have gathered coin book links from Amazon and organized them into several categories.  There are many coin books that are country or area specific, and even some that are coin series specific.

Gold Flora and Fauna Venetian Glass Coins

An unbelievable set of 0.9999 pure gold coins from the royal Canadian Mint offered as a subscription set/  These colorful coins are embellished by Venetian glass.  While the mint clearly calls this a five coin set,, and the box has five positions, only four coins are initially being identifies.

Tulip and Ladybug
Aster and Bumble Bee
Purple Cornflower and Eastern Tailed Blue Butterfly
Water Lily and Leopard Frog

These coins weigh 60.8 grams, and carry a face value of $250 CAD.

Coins have a proof finish.

Mintage is limited to 100.

Face Value Canadian Coins

Affordable Coins for 2015

The Royal Canadian Mint has some face value coins in denominations of $20, $25, $59, and $100.  One can either buy these individually of have a subscription.  They are fine silver coins.

Already, a few of these coins are out.

2015 Platinum Coins

New 2015 Platinum coin from Canada.

 Platinum coins are not that plentiful, and this one is a very low mintage of just 200. It is also ne of the large platinum coins. Many coins of platinum are fractional coins, being minted in less than one ounce.

French Coin Series From Clovis to the Republic

The amazing coin series, available in both silver and gold, chronicles significant leaders of the French people.  The series is titled “From Clovis to the Republic.”

The twelve coins from the Monnaie de Paris or Paris Mint, are French coins with Euro denominations.  In 2015 the mint is selling empty boxes, one for the gold pieces and the other for the silver pieces, so these treasures of French history can be preserved.  This series is highly recommended.

2011

Charlemagne

Clovis

Charles the Bald

2012

Hugues Capet

Saint Louis IX

Philippe II Auguste

2013

Francois I

Henri IV

Louis XI

2014

Napoleon III

Napoleon I

Louis XIV

Disney Silver and Gold Coins

The Perth Mint in Australia is now making Disney silver coins that are legal tender in Niue, a small Pacific island nation, available.  The Perth banner will take you to the Perth Mint site where you can further explore these and many other beautiful coins.

The videos are from the Perth Mint, and show the coins in their splendor.

Black Spaniel Gallery Coins

2015 Coins from France

The first 2015 coins released bu the Monnaie de Paris, or Paris Mint, or France are the lunar ear of the goat coins in silver and in gold, and several mini-sets/  The mini-set for the birth of a girl, and the mini-set fr the birth of a boy are available.  More important to coin collectors is the mini-set for 2015 proof coins.

In addition to the sets the empty boxes to hold the collection of "From Clovis to the Republic" coins for gold and for silver coins is available to house your collection. This is an excellent set and well worth your consideration.

This blog is presented by Black Spaniel Gallery Coins

New Silver Bullion Coins

New Bullion Coins

The Republic of Burundi lion coins are among the new silver coin to make an appearance.  Many smaller nations are currently having bullion coins minted, and thus can sell the coins for a profit.  Burundi is a very poor nation, and certainly can benefit from any income, so having coins minted and sold for a premium, no matter how small, can certainly benefit the small nation.  The 2015 fine silver one ounce coin depicts the African lion, and makes a nice addition to the available bullion coins on the market.

Coin Specifics

The coin is 0.999 fine silver.  Some mints have gone to 0.9999 fine silver, and while that last digit does not represent that much silver, some people tend to favor the 0.9999 fineness in their silver coins.

Unlike many coins, there is no head of state on the obverse.  Instead, one side of the coin shows the head of a male lion, and the other side shows a mountainous jungle setting with a male lion and female lioness walking through the jungle.  Since the lion head appears on other Burundi coins it is apparent that it is the obverse, and incidental to the appearance of the two lions on the reverse.

The denomination of the coin is five thousand francs, a large number with little value.  At the time of writing this the five thousand francs converts to between three and four dollars, far less than the value of an ounce of silver.

The coin appears on Ebay, and is low in cost compared to some bullion coins, but the low cost also reflects on the demand for the coin.  But, silver is silver, so if you seek bullion this coin might be a nice alternative to other more established coins.  It appears to currently be available at a fair price for a silver bullion coin.

Better Coins Are Available

The proof finish coins of the lion are also available.  The proof coins come with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity, and a very limited mintage given at one thousand coins.  Because of the low mintage the higher cost per coin is attractive.  And, certainly a graded coin, whether it is proof or not, does carry some extra value, with the graded proof coins being the most desirable.   So, numistimists may well favor the proof coin, but the premium may be more than a bullion buyer cares to invest.

Article provided by Black Spaniel Gallery Coins.

Coins of France: Face Value Coins

The Monnaie de Paris, Paris Mint, currently issues face value coins starting at 10 Euros and getting as high as 100 Euros.  The 2014 coin features a rooster.  The 2015 coins are not among those listed at the mint's site yet, and we will monitor the site for their release.

Expect to pay a slight premium on Ebay.  But, the cost might be well worth not paying international shipping.  Silver coins are available.

For higher denominations gold coins are available in 0.999 purity.

Proof silver coins are also available.

The Silver Maple Leaf Coins

The Royal Canadian Mint has released a three coin maple leaf set of silver coins.  Each coin is one ounce of fine silver, and has a denomination of $20 CAD.  One is a silver coin, the second has red and orange leaves, and the third has a jade stone overlaying a leaf.  These are all 2014 coins, so they may not last long.

The image below is the jade coin, and will link to the Royal Canadian Mint's site,

All three coins are proof.

Fantastic Niobium and Silver Coin from Canada - Poinsettia

This beautiful coin is from the Flowers in Canada Series, Poinsettia.  This is the third coin in the series.  The coin consists of an outer ring of silver with a niobium center.  The coin has a denomination of five dollars, but is not intended to circulate.  This is a collector coin.

This coin comes in a box from the Royal Canadian Mint, and is accompanied by a serialized Certificate of Authenticity.

This coin is struck with a proof strike, and has a very low mintage of just six thousand.  This has to be a coin worth considering for any collector.

Silver bars and Rounds "Coins"

This page provides information about silver and gold art bars and rounds. The focus is on Coca-Cola, or Coke, Disney, and Alaska Official Medallions.

Coca-Cola had several quality series, including the 75th Anniversary series. Here you will find information on these, a list of participating bottling plants, and links to some that are on sale.

The sought after Alaska Official State Medallion is covered, along with a list of the depicted wildlife. There are links to these as well. The related Official Iditarod medallions are also covered.

What is more collectible than Disney? Yes, Disney makes silver, and occasionally gold, medallions. Learn about Disney medallions in this lens, and find links to available Disney silver medallions.

Coca-Cola has produced fine silver art bars and rounds. There have been several instances when these were issued.

The most extensive issue was to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Coca-Cola Company. Special art bars, and to a lesser extent silver rounds, were issued for the various bottling plants. Some are quite rare, and command a high price. Some are generic in nature, differing from each other only by the name of the bottling plant, but others are true works of art. The art usually depicts something relative to the location, and may include an old bottling plant. Louisiana issued a round, as did Hawaii. These allow a wider field for engraving, which can accommodate a larger design.

Christmas art rounds are also collectible. While Santa has staying power, the Coca-Cola Polar Bear is becoming quite popular.

Other, older rounds, and bars from conventions have also been minted.

One might expect a duplication of the successful 75th anniversary art bars when the 100th anniversary was celebrated, but this was not to be the case.

Some major bullion distributors produce one ounce fine silver rounds, and release them before Christmas. The purpose is to allow people to have something interesting to hand out to someone forgotten, or someone who unexpectedly comes by. These rounds are usually dated, which is the industry’s tactic to reduce reuse in future years. This tactic does not really work, since the focal point is the image, like Santa, and not the date. These rounds become abundant on sites like Ebay prior to Christmas, and persist a few weeks after. Some people dispose of the excessive quantities bought at bullion price after Christmas.

Another use is to sprinkle several of these on a table for ornamentation. While this might appear to be an expensive practice, reselling after Christmas can recapture most or all of the original cost, and could even bring a profit if the bullion market rises.

Some of the issues have a large blank field on the reverse, intended for engraving. If there is such a field, personalizing the round can bring about a special touch, but limits the resale value.

A better alternative is to buy seasonal coins. The Royal Canadian Mint’s snowflake coins are a much better, albeit more expensive, alternative. They have historically escalated in value, a nice feature.

Disney has proof silver rounds minted. Currently, the Rarities Mint is minting them. Most of these rounds are one Troy ounce, but smaller and larger rounds have been produced.

These rounds may mark a Disney milestone, such as Mickey Mouse’s 60th birthday, the opening of a theme park, a particular ride, a Disney character, or a Disney movie. There are a multitude of images that have been used.

Care must be taken that the silver round is not merely silver plated. Look for the stamp indicating the round is 0.999 fine silver.

When issued, most Disney rounds come with a numbered certificate of authenticity, and may be on a card or housed in a nice case. If it is on a card, the card may be the only certificate of authenticity.

Disney also produced a small number of gold rounds, and enhanced some select silver rounds by gilding them with gold.
These Disney rounds are of interest to many coin collectors, and to Disney collectors.

On rare occasion, Disney has released beautiful silver bars that are fine silver with Disney art added in enamel. These are fantastic, and should please both numismatists and collectors of Disney items alike. Occasionally, these show up on eBay. If any are pulled up below, just look and see how incredible these art bars are.

Occasionally, Disney releases entire sets of silver coins. One of the most common is the half-ounce silver Snow White set. Much less common is the 5 ounce set. There seems to be two versions, a none coin set and an eleven coin set. Each has the Snow White, Prince Charming, and the seven dwarfs, but some also include the witch and the woodsman. Disney had one in early 2009 with only nine coins.

Other sets exist. The Disney Around the World six coin set is fantastic, then there is a Fantasia set. Mickey at Sixty is another common set. In 2006 Disney was selling five coins depicting the five theme parks, both in silver and in silver selectively gilded in gold. Some of these are available nly infrequently on eBay. And this is just some of the more common ones. There is a very nice set of silver coins featuring Donald Duck.

Disney precious metal generally carry a nice premium, with the notable exception of the one and one-half Troy ounce silver Snow White series. However, Disney makes a number of coins that are not silver, nor are they gold. Those, especially of there is no Disney character involved, may not be worth much.
Star Wars weekend coins are a set of such coins. These are plentiful, and not very collectible. Apparently, many people though they would make a good investment, and the market is flooded.
Disney Decade Coins are nice, but do not carry the level of premium other Disney coins do.
As parts and resorts opened, Disney issued many first day coins. These, such as the ones for the parks abroad, have no sentimental meaning for most collectors.
Pirates of the Caribbean “gold” and “silver” coins are also overproduced. They are too available at the theme parks, so the secondary market never developed, and may never do so.
The set of world coins available at Epcot, except for the packaging, are just inexpensive coins from foreign countries. These should be avoided as an investment.
Indeed, there are adequate valuable Disney silver coins available. Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Winnie the Pooh are always in demand. Some characters are rare on coins, and this makes them more collectible. Collect Disney coins, but collect intelligently.

Disney has gift shops throughout its theme parks, but do not look for silver and gold where the shirts are sold. These are art pieces, so look at the Art of Disney shops. They are less numerous than the generic gift shops.
Art of Disney shops are usually located near the entrance to a theme park. They sell prints, figurines, and when available, silver and gold rounds. Expect these treasures to be kept under glass. Once one is decided upon, a cast member retreats to the stock room and retrieves one. Expect the one you are sold to come in a display case, a box, and have a Certificate of Authenticity. Those things are not normally displayed. Most Disney collectible rounds come with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity because of limited mintage.
Once these silver and gold rounds sell out they are no longer available at Disney. Limited mintage prevents more from being produced.
If a particular Art of Disney shop does not have silver or gold rounds available, continue to search. Perhaps a shop in another theme park has what you seek. And, if in Florida, do not forget to also shop at Downtown Disney. Actually, it does not cost to go through Downtown Disney.

One highly prized silver round is the Alaska Official State Medallion. These are true works of art, since they are produced from the winning images of an art contest.

The proof version is quite expensive and has a numbered certificate of authenticity. Gold and silver gilded with gold rounds are also minted, as are sets. A less expensive proof-like round is also quite beautiful, but can be purchased at a lower price. The less expensive version has a reeded edge.

By law, the image cannot be used beyond the demand for the year.

The Iditarod Official Medallions have enjoyed some popularity. Minted by the Alaska Mint, the same mint that produces the Alaska Official Medallions, these are of excellent quality. Unfortunately, the same mint makes unofficial medallions honoring the Iditarod in the same years, so be careful. Look for the Certificate of Authenticity. While the other medallions are equally attractive, they are less likely to maintain their value.
Even the Great Seal of Alaska is insufficient in making a determination as to whether or not a medallion is the official issue.
Many companies have made silver bars and rounds. We have an entire article on Coca-Cola art bars and rounds. Others include Harley Davidson, Budweiser, and Coors. Harley Davidson collectible silver bars and rounds are desirable because Harley Davidson memorabilia is, as a whole, highly prized by collectors. There is an entire group that collect these items, just like there is an entire group who collect Coca-Cola memorabilia. And, in the case of Harley Davidson, the image is usually a fantastic bike! 

New Coins from Canada

There are some new, exciting releases of coins from Canada.  The Royal Canadian Mint has really come up with some interesting coins.

First Nations Art: Salmon
Fine silver hologram coin
This half ounce fine silver coin has a denomination of $10. It celebrates Aboriginal Art from Canada's West Coast. This is a proof coin with a limited mintage of 10,000.



Insects of Canada coins include three fine silver coins of different sizes.




These can be bought as a set, or separately.

Butterflies of Canada:  Red - Spotted Purple
This is one ounce of fine silver minted as a proof coin.  The denomination s $20.

Green Darner Dragonfly
This is a hologram coin, with a denomination of $10.  It contains one half ounce of fine silver, and has a proof finish.  Mintage is 10,000  The denomination is $10.

Animal Architects:  Caterpillar and Chrysalis
This is one-fourth ounce of fine silver, and comes in a proof finish.  The denomination is $3, and the mintage is 10,000.

A new and exciting series of niobium coins has been released. Tulips



This is a fine proof silver coin with a niobium core. Mintage is just 6,000.
This is the first of three coins using the theme Flowers of Canada. This particular coin commemorates the providing the dutch Royal Family a place to reside during World War II.

Red Titanium with Swarovski Crystal Dew Drop Elements

This is a one ounce fine silver coin, and minted in proof condition. Mintage is limited to 10,000.

New Transformer Coins from the Perth Mint That Actually Transform.

The Perth Mint has just released a set of three transformer coins, using lenticular technology.  This means the transformers can actually change images on the coins.

The mintage of these colorful coins is limited to 5,000 coins of each type.  They are rectangular in shape, and licensed by Hasbro.  These are proof quality, 1 oz fine silver coins.

Optimus Prime transforms into a semi truck

Bumblebees thranform into a yellow Chevrolot Camaro

The Lockdown transforms into a supercar.

Use the Perth Mint banner we display to get to see more.

Silver Coin Royal Winnipeg Ballet

The above beautiful coin celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

If you expand the image you can see the coin is of six balley dancers, each with a different colored tutu.

Mintage of this coin is limited to 7,500.  The coin comes in 99.99 fine silver, has 31.6 grams of mass, about a Troy ounce, and is minted with a proof finish.  This is a high quality coin from the Royal Canadian Mint.  The denomination of this coin is twenty Canadian dollars.

This coin is accompanied by a serialized certificate.

New Coin released in the Deadly and Dangerous Series

The Perth Mint has released the ninth coin in its Deadly and Dangerous coin series.  The coin is brilliantly colored, and features a Spider-Hunting Scorpion.

This is a one ounce fine silver coin, and is struck in proof quality.  It has a mintage of 5,000, and comes with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

River Rapids Features New Technique

The royal Canadian Mint has released River Rapids, featuring Algonquin Provincial Park in autumn.  This is the first time the mint has used what it calls the "Transitional Effect" on a coin.  what this means is that the way the coin is colorized, it appears that the water shimmers, or actually flows.  This technique gives an apparent movement to the image.  Once again the Royal Canadian Mint has produced an innovation that will revolutionize coinage for years to come.

The specifications on this coin is produced with a PROOF finish, and minted in one ounce of 0.9999 fine silver.  It is spectacularly colorized, and mintage is limited to just 7,500.  The denomination of this coin is $20.  It is housed in a display case, and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, which is serialized.

The above image can be clicked and connects directly to the mint.

Green Darner Dragonfly Hologram Coin

The Green Darner Dragonfly Silver coin is the second coin in the series.  This is a half ounce fine silver coin, with a colorful hologram on the reverse.  The coin has a proof finish of 0.9999 fine silver, and mintage is limited to 10,000.

The image above is a link to the Royal Canadian Mint, and in particular, this coin.  we recommend that you get your coin directly from the Royal Canadian Mint

New from Canada, Lost Ships in Canadian Waters

The Royal Canadian Mint has released two exciting coins initiating the series Lost Ships in Canadian Waters.   The coins commemorating the hundredth anniversary of RMS Empress of Ireland start this series.  There are two versions, each giving a unique image of the ship.

The $20 coin is one ounce of 0.9999 fine silver, proof, colorized coin.  It will ship in early October.  There is a limited distribution of two per household, so pre-order if you will want one or two.  Mintage is limited to 7,000.  The images below link to the mint.  We recommend that these be bought directly from the mint.

  

The fifty cent coin is silver plated copper.  It also will shop in early October, and will be limited to three per household.  It is colorized, and comes in a matte proof finish.  Mintage is 15,000.



The images are so different many will want both in a collection.

Pope John Paul II Silver and Gold Coins

Pope John Paul II has been honored by the Royal Canadian Mint by being made he subject of a fine silver coin, and a gold coin.

The silver coin has a proof finish, and is minted in 99.99% fine silver.  The mintage is limited to 8,500, and the coin is selling fast.  This coin comes with a display case, and can be used to decorate a shelf, and is accompanied by a serialized Certificate of Authenticity.  The denomination for this coin is $10.






The gold coin is 7.8 grams of 99.99% gold, and also comes in a proof finish.  The mintage of this coin is just 1,500 pieces.  It also comes with a display case and a serialized Certificate of Authenticity.

Mickey Mouse Coins released

The New Zealand Mint has just released a 1 ounce silver and a 1/4 ounce gold coin featuring Mickey Mouse.  These coins are being mined for Niue.

The fine silver coin is a 1 ounce proof coin with a mintage of 10,000.  This coin comes in a box and display case, and has a Certificate of Authenticity included.  The denomination of this coin is $2.

The gold coin is 0.9999 pure, and minted in proof.  The denomination is $25.  Mintage of this coin is limited to just 1,000 coins.  It comes in a box and display case, and is accompaned by a Certificate of Authenticity.

Coins from Canada Mean Quality

The Royal Canadian Mint is a leader in coin making, being the best in several categories.  The quality of the mint’s products is undeniable.

First, when 0.999 was the purity standard for silver and gold coins the Royal Canadian Mint began striking 0.9999 pure pieces.  And, the topics used have a wide range, with many popular topics included.  Look for both Canadian images, such as the Maple Leaf and Hockey, as well as widely sought after images, such as Pope John Paul II.  Whether you are Canadian or not there are coins that should please you.

The Royal Canadian Mint masterfully makes colorized coins.  It has become one of the leaders in adding enamel to coins.  And, the topics used lend themselves to spectacular products.

The Royal Canadian Mint was one of the pioneers with making holographic coins.  Adding a hologram to a fine silver coin results in a masterpiece, and the royal Canadian Mint has the experience in adding holograms.

Not all mints can embed a Swarovski crystal in a coin, but the Royal Canadian Mint can embed several Swarovski crystals in a single coin.  And, the crystals used have a wide range of colors.

Silver coins gilded with gold can have a special look, and the Royal Canadian Mint has been gilding coins for years.

 

One rarely found type of coin is the silver and anodized niobium coin, and again the Royal Canadian Mint has pleased the public.

And, let's not overlook incorporating Venetian glass into a coin.

Whether it is circulation coins, numismatic coins, or bullion coins, the Royal Canadian Mint is leading the way.