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 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.

The Silver Kookaburra Coin

Technically, the silver kookaburra from the Perth Mint is a bullion coin. However, its great beauty, its new designs released annually, and its almost proof strike make kookaburras coins of numismatic desirability.

The first of the bullion kookaburra series are dated 1990, and many older coins are housed in a heavy plastic capsule provided by the Perth Mint. The 1990 kookaburra seems to command a nice premium over most other years.

Occasionally, special kookaburras have been issued with privy marks. Some honor other money, such as those that honor the state quarters of the United States. Some of these are on special mint cards.

Larger sizes are minted, but not on a regular basis. The 2 Troy ounce silver kookaburra is particularly nice, but does not exist for all years. Yet, the two Troy ounce coins have occasionally been minted with privy marks.

In 2009, the Perth Mint celebrated 20 years of the kookaburra with two special sets, a silver set and a gold set. These were twenty coin sets, with the obverse being the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and dated 2009, and the reverse the image used in the year being honored. So, these coins differ from the original kookaburras on the obverse side, but are identical to the older coins on the reverse sides.

Often the Perth Mint makes special sets for major coin shows. Often, the kookaburra is part of the set. It is mounted on a mint card, often with another coin, and the event is commemorated on the card.

The Perth Mint also used kookaburra coins as part of baby sets, a nice set of coins and a card that can be presented to a newborn.

Gilded silver kookaburra coins and square half ounce proof coins have been issued in some years.  Also, the proof coins are issued, which not only are superb strikes, but also have previewed the image to be used for the bullion coins of the next year.

In 1989, the kookaburra was the subject of the first of six coins in the Birds of Australia Series. These were issues by the Royal Australian Mint, and issued as numismatic coins. They were accompanied by a soft case and informational material. They contain less than one ounce of silver, and are not fine silver, yet they are quite desirable.

The Perth Mint honored a trade meeting in China with a series of silver coins. One of these coins was a special kookaburra. This coin is not part of the main set of kookaburra coins, and should be much more valuable.

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Modern World Coins (Official Red Books)

Silver American Eagle Coins

In 1986, the United States Mint started producing the American Eagle coins, minted in both gold and silver. These were to be the bullion coins of the United States Mint. The obverse of the silver coin, the subject here, is the same design that the mint once used on the Walking Liberty half dollar coins. The reverse is an open winged eagle with a shield.

From 1986 through 1992, the proof issues carried the S mint mark of the San Francisco Mint, while the business strike coins carried no mint mark, indicating the Philadelphia Mint.

From 1993 through 2000, the P mint mark was used on proof coins produced at the Philadelphia Mint.

In 2001, the proof coins began to carry the W mint mark for the West Point Mint. The special "burnished" finish coins also carry the W mint mark.

In 2008, the proof coins stopped carrying a mint mark.

The silver American Eagle is a true coin, since it has a denomination of $1. However, it was issued as bullion, with a purity of 0.9993 fine silver. Each coin contains 0.9993 Troy ounce of silver, although most people simply say one Troy ounce.

American Eagles in the original mint box are generally more valuable than those not in the box. The boxed coins were placed in the boxes in acrylic capsules at the mint, affording them protection from both physical and environmental damage. Those not boxed are shipped in large boxes, taken out and sold. There is exposure to the environment, and a possibility of being improperly handled.

Many eBayers, and some dealers, sell the empty boxes. Obtaining a capsule is easy, and a less desirable coin can be inserted. Buying a boxed coin requires a trust level. Why would the original coin be removed in the first place? Grading serviced place graded coins in slabs, and this leaves the boxes empty. It then becomes a matter of squeezing every penny out of the coin. Unfortunately, a box sold is a box bought, and you can be certain this is for use.

As with every coin issue, the year with the low mintage becomes the year to get. In the case of the silver American Eagle coins that year is 1996. The years 1995 and 2006 also are harder to find than most coins, but cannot compare with the 1996 coins, except for the 1995 special 20th anniversary coins.

1995 coins had a special issue that celebrated the tenth anniversary of the silver American Eagle. These were only issued as proof coins, and command a price in the stratosphere. My reference book showed a price in excess of $3,000!

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American Silver Eagles: A Guide to the U.S. Bullion Coin Program, 2nd Edition

Perth Mint Bullion

The Perth Mint is Australia produces a wide range o bullion coins, with several coins and sizes of both silver and gold from which to choose, and the platinum platypus in a multitude of sizes..  The silver coins include the lunar series, the koala, and the kookaburra.  The gold coins include both the popular kangaroo and the lunar coins.  The lunar coins celebrate the year of the horse for 2014.

If you prefer proof or gilded coins, in the past they existed, and there is no reason we would expect a change.  Go to our home page and click a banner to the Perth Mint's site to see what they have released in the past and to watch in case something new comes out.

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The Kookaburra, Koala, and Kangaroo Silver Bullion Coins

The Australian silver bullion focuses on the Kookaburra, Koala, and Kangaroo. The Kookaburra has been a major product of the Perth Mint since 1990. This Australian bird comes is many sizes, although the 1 ounce coin is the most popular. Back issues can be found on eBay, and with some effort one can hope to find the entire set. The Koala is a more recent addition of the Perth Mint. The silver Koala can also be found in a multitude of sizes, and for a premium one can even get Koala coins mounted on mint cards. The Kangaroo as a bullion coin comes from the Royal Australian Mint, and can also be found on mint cards. All of these coins change annually, and this gives them a desirability factor that the Canadian Maple Leaf, the American Silver Eagle, and the Austrian Philharmonic, among others, are lacking.

BULLION COINS in GOLD and SILVER

BULLION COINS in GOLD and SILVER

Bullion coins are becoming more attractive, and coin collectors often include them in their collections.  Of particular quality and beauty are coins of the Royal Canadian Mint and the Perth Mint of Australia.  However, other coins are also available.  Perhaps looking over some of the nice ones will inspire you to consider the value of bullion.

If gold is out of your range, start with silver.

Please look over the coins we are spotlighting, and choose the best, at least in your opinion.