Smallest gold coin from the Canadian Mint

The third gold coin in the series of the smallest gold coins the Royal Canadian Mint has ever issued is now available.

According to the Royal Canadian Mint, "this smallest pure gold coin packs all the grandeur of the untamed frontier. Its diminutive proportions alone are a numismatic delight as the 2006 1/25 Ounce Gold Coin celebrates a character that’s larger-than-life - the cowboy. This adventurous soul was the backbone of the cattle ranches that settled the West during the last two centuries. And, despite modern technology, many of his tasks remain unchanged."

This coin is struck in 99.99% pure gold and is expertly crafted in proof finish. And, as one of the smallest pure gold coins issued to date, it’s expected to be popular with collectors. The previous two issues quickly sold out and with its mintage of just 25,000 coins worldwide, 'the cowboy' will probably sell out also.

Mintage: 25,000
Composition: 99.99% pure gold
Finish: proof
Weight (g): 1.27
Diameter (mm): 13.92
Edge: serrated
Certificate: serialized
Face value: 50¢
Artist: Michelle Grant

The smallest gold coin from the Canadian Mint is sure to attract much interest and is within the reach of most people these days.

Rare Queen Birthday Maundy Coins

A Complete Set of United Kingdom Coins - including the Rare Maundy Coins are now being issued by the British Royal Mint. These are all in Silver Proof Quality – and feature a chance by coin collectors to grab the rarely issued Maundy Coins.

If any coins can be described as personal to the Queen herself, it must be the Maundy coins that she herself distributes on Maundy Thursday.

Maundy Thursday is the Thursday of Holy Week (the Thursday before Easter). It was the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples, sharing a meal with them which we call the Last Supper.

The Maundy Thursday ceremony involves the distribution of Maundy Money to deserving senior citizens (one man and one woman for each year of the sovereign's age), usually chosen for having done service to their community. They receive ceremonial red and white purses which contain coins made especially for the occasion. The white purse contains one coin for each year of the monarch's reign. The red purse contains money in place of other gifts that used to be given to the poor.

The British Royal Mint asked that a small number - struck in silver Proof quality - be made available for their collectors especially to celebrate the Queen’s eightieth birthday and the Queen kindly gave her consent.

This set will make a rare celebratory set for a rare occasion. In Proof quality, they take pride of place alongside the Silver Proof Queen’s 80th Birthday Crown, also struck in sterling .925 silver and - for only the second time in the Queen’s long reign - all eight circulating coins of the realm.

• Coins of the Royal Maundy
• The Queen’s Birthday Crown
• The eight coins of the realm
  

All struck in sterling silver to exacting Proof quality, in a plush black leather presentation case and with a very colorful booklet and Certificate of Authenticity.

Only 8,000 Collections have been authorised - 1000 for each decade of the Queen’s life.

This is a chance to get some of those coins so rarely available, the Rare Queen Birthday Maundy Coins!

US Mints 24K Gold Coin

(From the US Mint)

The United States Mint is pleased to introduce its new line of 24-karat gold coins. Production of these highly anticipated coins is authorized by Public Law 109-145, dated December 22, 2005, also known as the Presidential $1 Coin Act.

The new American Buffalo Gold coin’s obverse and reverse designs feature images originally prepared by noted American sculptor James Earle Fraser, once a student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, for America’s 5-cent coin (nickel).

That popular coin, known as the Indian Head, or Buffalo, nickel was introduced in 1913 and showcases the native beauty of the American West.

The Native American depiction on the coin’s obverse is believed to be based on three different Indian chiefs – two of whom were named by the designer as Chief Iron Tail and Chief Two Moons – who modeled for Fraser as he sculpted its design. Conflicting statements exist on the third Indian as being either Chief John Big Tree of the Onondaga tribe, or John Two Guns, son of White Calf. It is widely believed that the bison on the coin’s reverse was modeled after "Black Diamond," a popular attraction at the New York Zoological Gardens.

In the first year of the coin’s issuance, 1913, there were two distinct varieties, the first showing the bison on a mound and the second with the base redesigned to a thinner, straight line. American Buffalo Gold Coins bear the original Fraser Type I design.

American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coins are the first .9999 fine 24-karat gold coins ever struck by the United States Mint and offered for sale through a network of Authorized Purchasers. These $50 gold coins will be available to members of the public seeking a simple and tangible means to own and invest in 24-karat gold in the form of legal tender coins whose content and purity is guaranteed by the United States Government.

American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coins will be available at many coin and precious metals dealers as well as many brokerage houses and participating banks. Pricing for precious metal investment coins typically depends on the market price of the metal.

The 24-karat gold coins is sure to make any coin collector very satisfied to add it to their collection.

2006 FIFA World Cup Germany Gold & Silver Coins

The Perth Mint, Australia has just announced the issue of 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany gold and silver coins.

The FIFA asked the Perth Mint to participate in the issue of two gold coins and one silver coin to commemorate the 2006 World Cup, which will be staged in Germany between 9 June and 9 July. As a result, the Mint has produced these beautiful Australian legal tender coins in honour of one of the world's greatest sporting events.

The two gold coins are 99.99 percent pure gold. One is one quarter ounce of gold with a mintage of 25,000 and the other being one twenty-fifth ounce of pure gold with a mintage of 50,000.

Each Proof Quality coin is struck from 1/4 ounce of 99.99% pure gold in proof quality. Each coin is issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965.

The coin's reverse side depicts images of soccer players within the cover panels of a modern football. The central panel is occupied by the image of a kangaroo. Surrounding the ball is the inscription 2006 FIFA WORLD CUP GERMANY™.

The obverse depicts the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the monetary denomination.

Each FIFA World Cup Proof Gold Coin is housed in a black presentation case, which comes within a stylish outer sleeve, accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

The silver coin is called a ‘Holey Dollar’ and is composed of two parts. The main coin and the 'dump'.

The Mint's FIFA World Cup Holey Dollar & Dump is based on Australia's first lawful coinage. In 1812, Governor Macquarie arranged for the centers of 40,000 'pieces of eight' to be punched out, thereby creating historic Holey Dollar & Dump coins for the cash-strapped colony.

The new coin set is struck from 1 ounce of 99.9% pure silver in proof quality and both the outer ‘Holey Dollar’ and the inner ‘Dump' are issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965.

The reverse of the Holey Dollar features a border of soccer players with the inscription 2006 FIFA WORLD CUP GERMANY™. The Dump depicts a football.

The obverse of the Holey Dollar depicts the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and its monetary denomination. The obverse of the Dump also depicts Ian Rank-Broadley's effigy of the Queen and its separate monetary denomination.

Each FIFA World Cup Holey Dollar & Dump is housed in a black presentation case, which comes within a stylish outer sleeve, accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity and the mint will release no more than 50,000 sets.

These three coins will be a fantastic reminder of a great game as well as likely improve in value over the years.

One will certainly get a lot of enjoyment and excitement from the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany gold and silver coins!

2006 Queen's 80th Birthday £5 Silver Proof Piedfort

The British Royal Mint has just announced the minting of the 2006 Queen's 80th Birthday £5 Silver Proof Piedfort.

What is a Piedfort coin?

Originating in the royal courts of twelfth-century France, Piedforts were thicker than normal coins and were given as prized gifts by the King to a small number of favoured dignitaries. Today, Piedforts continue this tradition by being struck using blanks that are double the weight of their circulating counterparts – and therefore contain twice the amount of pure silver.

In addition, the original reverse design by artist Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn has been selectively plated with 23 carat gold conveying a sense of celebration through a fanfare of trumpets while the regal portrait of Her Majesty The Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley, FRBS appears on the obverse.

Struck in .925 sterling silver to the Royal Mint’s world-renowned premier Proof standard. Every minute detail of the obverse and reverse designs are brought to life with the delicately frosted relief standing proud against the mirror-like background.

Each of these coins is housed within a protective capsule, presented in a beautiful case and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity signed by the Deputy Master of the Royal Mint.

Each coin is struck in .925 sterling silver and then selectively plated in 23 carat gold. The weight of each coin is 56.56 grams and the diameter is 38.61mm The face value is £5
And the cost is £79.95

The 2006 Queen's 80th Birthday £5 Silver Proof Piedfort coin will make an ideal addition for any coin collector as well as a collector of Royal memorabilia.

2006 Gold Proof Sovereign Four-Coin Collection

The 2006 gold proof sovereign four coin set produced by the British Royal Mint makes an ideal collection for both new coin collectors and experienced.

Collectors will be delighted to note that Pistrucci’s classic depiction of St George makes a welcome return on the gold sovereign family of 2006 and is made all the more beautiful in Proof quality. This makes a fabulous collection that is always one of the favorites in the Royal Mint Showcase.

As well as the numismatic acclaim afforded Pistrucci’s masterpiece, the Gold Proof Sovereign Collection will attract worldwide interest for many other reasons - to name but a few:

• Its gold content - the sovereign family is struck in 22 carat red gold
• Its fabulous Proof quality - the very highest standard of minting
• Its low issue limit - just 1,750 complete sets to satisfy worldwide demand
  

Presented in a luxurious green presentation case complete with its Certificate of Authenticity, uniquely numbered and guaranteeing the provenance and stringent specifications of the four companion coins.

The 2006 gold proof sovereign four coin set is available for £1,195.00 pounds or around 2240 USD.

The 2006 gold proof sovereign four coin set will surely add great value ot any coin collection.