Color Enhanced Coins

Coins are often colorized with enamel by the issuing mint, and this can add to the coin's value.  Another enhancement is the use of gold to selectively gild a coin, which also can enhance the coin's value.  Still a third process is the addition of a hologram.  But, regardless of a coin's appearance, collectors often insist on the coin being as it left the mint, or as it has worn through handling in circulation.  Unfortunately, colorized and gilded, and probably holographic, coins are appearing on Ebay, and these often bear a Certificate of Authenticity from an entity other than the issuing mint.  Many sellers show the COA, and make it clear the coin was altered, albeit claimed to be done professionally, by an outside company.  Just be aware of these coins existence if you are insistent that your coins be as issued.  Failure to check the entire auction can lead you into purchases you would not otherwise make.  It is, of course, a good idea for any collector to know what coins are being officially issued, and in what varieties.  Keep current.

Black Spaniel Gallery Coins

Fine Silver Fractional Set - Maple Leaf - Mintage: 9999 (2014)

Fine Silver Fractional Set - Maple Leaf - Mintage: 9999 (2014)

The silver fractional set for the 2014 Maple Leaf has been released.  The coins in this set are 0.9999 fine silver with selective gold plating.  These sets have a mintage of 9,999, and are minted in reverse proof.

The sets are limited by the Royal Canadian Mint to three per household, and are available for shipping to locations in Canada and the United States only.

The coins come in 1 ounce, 1/2 ounce, 1/4 ounce. 1/10 ounce, and 1/20 ounce sizes, with respective denominations of $5, $4, $3, $2, and $1 respectively.

Please click the link or image to be brought directly to the mint's website.

At the time of writing this set is 96% sold out!

Gilded Lunar Coins from the Perth Mint

The Perth Mint has been making fine silver lunar coins for some time. The first fine silver Lunar Series I coins were the 1999 Rabbit. Series 1 has now completed, and Series 2 is well along. Since the first issue these coins had a gilded version. The 2008, 2009, and 2010 coins were released in 2008, and the Series II coins began with the 2008 Mouse or Rat. One strange thing is that gilded coins were available in a box, or not in a box. Having bought some of the slightly lower priced coins with no box I can say resale was difficult. It is strongly recommended that you have a box. In 2004 a gilded and colorized monkey 5 ounce coin was minted, and a 5 ounce rooster was minted in 2005. These do not indicate an entire series of larger size gilded coins. Series I and Series II use different images, and are different physically. While both have a 0.999 fine silver gilded coin, the Series II coins have larger surfaces. This is because they are also thinner. So, if you buy a box, and the mint did sell them, make certain you get the box for your series, or they will not fit.