Tag Archives: bullion coins

Royal Mint Quality Control

Royal Mint Quality Control has No Standards

 

Royal Mint Quality Control has No Standards

Royal Mint Quality Control

In my 8 years of trading silver bullion coins and bars it has been my experience that the Royal Mint Quality Control has the lowest standards or quality control of any of the numerous national or private mints that I’ve had to deal with, Obviously I know that bullion coins are not always perfect: they can and do suffer from dints, scratches, discolouration or milking but in general it tends to be a small percentage of coins that are affected. for example up until 12 months ago if I ordered 1000 coins from any other mint I might in the worst case scenario (if I was very unlucky) find maybe 50 with issues, and normally I would expect about 10 to 20 tops whereas from the royal mint if I only found 300 of the 1000 with issues I thought myself lucky, However in the last 12 months things have got much worse with the Royal Mint when it comes to the 1 oz Silver Bullion coins (2oz and 10oz coins, bars etc still seem to be ok).

It started with the Valiant & Britannia coins and went through the entire Robin hood series where the quality was so bad that I considered myself lucky if I got 200 coins that might be considered decent from a delivery of 1000, so 800 of them with issues, Which brings us to this latest delivery of 1000 Britannias where each and every one of the coins is scuffed on both sides: more visible on the Queen’s face but also across the Britannia icon (which is harder to photograph due to the amount of detail on the coin). Clearly this was a production issue as the marks were in the same places on all of the 1000 coins (please view attached photo’s).

What’s made this more concerning, or enlightening as to the root of the issues, is that after returning the coins to the Royal Mint they have returned the same coins back to me stating that these coins meet Royal Mint quality standards! I will summarise my thoughts on this at the end of this blog but first I thought it best to give you the timeline and course of events below to get you up to speed.

 

Timeline:

  • 15th of March, placed my order for 2 monster boxes or 1000 Britannias
  • 18th of March, my order of Britannia’s was received
  • 18th of March, after inspection of the items I immediately rang the Royal Mint and complained about the obvious production issue on all 1000 of the Britannia coins first with Julie and then with the manager Hayley.
  • 19th of March, as requested I emailed Hayley the pictures of the Britannias in question
  • 21st of March, I spoke to Michael and a pickup / return was arranged for the 24th, through UPS
  • 24th of March, it became clear that no pickup by UPS had been arranged. I rang again & spoke to Michael who apologised as the email requesting the return had been sent to the wrong department.  A new pickup would be attempted for Monday the 28th.
  • 25th of March, I received an email from Michael clearly trying to charge me for the return shipment “Please find attached your returns label for DHL and can you please put these label on the boxes. Plus there is a charge of £33.91 for picking up and will be between 12-2pm.” I immediately rang and spoke to Hayley who immediately agreed that this was clearly a mistake! She also then looked for the first time at the photo’s I had emailed her on the 19th.
  • 28th of March, DHL picked up the 2 parcels and they were delivered back to the Royal Mint on the 29th of March.
  • 1st of April, I spoke to Michael who informed me that it might take up to a week for a reply as the returns department had a massive backlog of inspections to catch up on (I can’t imagine why).
  • 6th of April, I received a phone call from Michael who read an email from the Royal Mint Return Department stating that the Britannia’s in question were up to Royal Mint standards (see pictures to make an opinion) & he gave me two options, which he tried to pressure me into accepting, stating four times that he had to have an answer immediately, These were: Option 1, a refund or Option 2, the same Britannia’s returned to me! I had to refuse this 4 times & demanded to speak to Hayley, the manager. On speaking to Hayley she promised to escalate this to a production manager and get back to me asap.
  • 8th of April, I rang and spoke to Arran who confirmed that on the 7th Hayley had requested a second opinion on the items.
  • 12th of April, after a few attempts at trying to get hold of Hayley and leaving messages I complained by email to the head of customer services at royal mint.com.
  • 13th of April, I received a reply to my email From Emma who was going to get up to speed & look into the situation.
  • 14th of April, I received an email from UPS stating that I had 2 parcels on the way to me from the Royal Mint.
  • 15th of April, Emma replied to me “Thank you for your patience when I have looked into this further. I have spoken with Hayley who was awaiting feedback from the production manager and despite chasing on a number of occasions had not had a response. I have looked into this today and following a review of the product they confirmed it met standard and it would seem the product was shipped back to you via UPS tracking number XXXXX. This shipment is currently showing delayed. I have raised an enquiry to understand where the shipment is. Hayley has now shared the images you originally shared with us and I will discuss this with our production manager in person next week. The team won’t return until Tuesday but I am on holiday until Thursday. This mailbox will be monitored Tuesday and Wednesday by one of my colleagues. I am sorry about your experience Mr Whitehouse. I will update you as soon as I can next week. “
  • 19th of April, the same 2 monster boxes of 1000 sub-standard Britannias were returned to me.
  • 26th of April, I received the last email from Emma “Good Afternoon Martin, I can see that the items have now been returned to you successfully. I am sorry that what was asked did not happen. I understand you were unhappy with the quality of the bullion coin and dispute the production manager’s assessment. I can escalate this for review should you feel this is not the right decision. If you wish for me to do this it would be helpful to me if you could include photographs of the quality issues?”
  • 1st of May, No further correspondence has occurred, and I still have the sub-standard Britannia’s.

 

In Summary

If I give the Royal Mint Quality Control the benefit of the doubt, I can only assume that the reason why they returned the same Britannia’s back to me is because they were well aware that all the Britannia’s that they have recently made have the same issue and they could not have sent me anything better, The alternative, which I had rather not have to believe, is that they deliberately put me through this returns procedure for over a month so as to make the returns process so long winded and painful in order to make sure I would never want to go through it again, I do not blame the individual Royal Mint employee’s as all of them who have seen the photo’s have agreed with me, so I suspect they were acting under orders or directions to conclude this returns process in the way that it has ultimately ended.

I’ve spoken to about 15 other dealers and suppliers who all agree with me regarding the terrible quality of the Royal Mint products that have been sent out over the last 12 months, They have also commented that the issues apply not only to the 1oz silver bullion coins but apparently also to gold coins and Proof coins, which are items I personally do not deal in, Two of my suppliers in Europe have told me that they no longer order Royal Mint products from Wales for this reason and that they only order products from the United states Royal Mint facility because, unlike the UK Royal Mint, they apparently still care and take pride in the quality of the items they send out. Because of this information I’ve ordered 1000 American-made Britannia’s through one of those dealers and hope to be able to remove the disclaimer on my Britannia Item listing in the future. I’ll just have to ignore the fact that, as a UK dealer, in order to get decent quality I have to order American-made Britannia’s from a European supplier because the UK Royal Mint has clearly nothing but contempt for its own customers!

The fact is that staff at the royal mint both in the returns department and even a production manager think that this is now the standard for bullion coins, In short it means that scuffed, and scratched Silver Bullion coins with an obvious production issue are now the standard: you cannot expect any better from the UK Royal Mint as this is the best they can do, and should you return the items for being not as described due to the obvious production issues they will, after a month of playing games, return the same coins to you on the basis that the coins meet Royal Mint standards. So as far as the Royal Mint is concerned bullion coins have zero collectability factor and should be judged purely as scrap metal being sold at a premium. This should worry anyone stupid enough to purchase 1 oz silver bullion coins from them in the future.

Be warned!

Coin review video link part 1  

And

Coin review video link part 2

 

Quick update & end to the situation

      • 2nd of May, I posted this blog
      • 3rd & 4th of May, posted links to social media
      • 4th of May, Recieved this email from the Royal Mint at 15.41, “Good Afternoon Martin, Thank you for your e-mail and the attached images. I have escalated this issue internally and there are wider conversations on-going regarding the quality. What I would like to do to put this right for you is arrange collection of the product by our own security team and they can bring replacement product with them which will have had an outward inspection by our bullion team to ensure this meets your expectations. Would you be happy for me to arrange this Martin? Kind Regards, Emma”
      • 6th of May, I replied to the email, “Good morning Emma, Thank you for your kind and generous offer on the evening of the 4th of May but after 47 days of being subjected to Royal Mint customer service procedures and standards I’m no longer in the mood to tolerate any more of your behaviour & I’m chalking this up to lesson learned and moving on, For years I’ve had conversations with royal mint managers about the decline and general lack of concern for quality control which the royal mint is completely aware of due to the continuous complaints it receives from both customers and Dealers & it only seems to get worse as time goes on, So it’s clear to me that even if I was to subject myself to another arranged pickup and resolved this order chances are it would be the same on the next order of 1oz Bullion coins, because the mentality of the decision makers at the royal Mint is still of the opinion that if the bullion coins are too good no one will want to pay for the proofs (not that you don’t have similar problems with proofs from what I understand) for some reason they seem more concerned about competition between the proof and the bullion departments than they should be and less concerned about the fact that your real completion is against the various international mints who offer much better quality items, basically they sell items as described with the understanding that customers expect the coins to look like they do in the pictures, so as described by law and not just fall back on this weak excuse of they are only bullion coins allowing for them to be sold in any condition. I’ve been reliably informed that your facility in America which makes coins for the American market still takes pride in its work so I’ve ordered another 1000 Britannia’s through a supplier who only purchases royal mint products through them and not from you, Hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised when they arrive otherwise I’ll just stop purchasing royal mint 1oz products altogether, If you want to contact me regarding quality and condition of bullion coins made by at least 20 other international mints which I can regularly compare yours against I would be happy to help, As a British citizen I would like nothing more than for my national mint to stop being an embarrassment. Wishing you all the best sincerely martin”
      • End of story

     

    If you have any questions you can ring me on Tel: 0191 2099300 or email me at martin@silvertrader.uk
    Sincerely Martin

The New 2017 1 ounce Silver Bullion Coins

The New 2017 1 ounce Silver bullion coins.

Dear Readers,

I have to say Christmas seems to come earlier every Year, with that in mind the various national mints have started releasing the new 2017 1 ounce silver bullion coins already.
So as the new 2017 coins become available I’ll be adding them with links & comments on this blog page

You will be able to link directly to the respective coin listings by clicking on the names or by going to my store page.

 


American Releases:

 

The 2017 American Eagle 1 ounce silver bullion coin

Minted by the U.S. mint these 1 ounce silver bullion coins are among the best known 1 ounce silver bullion coins on the market today.
Starting in 1986 the United States started producing this as its national silver bullion coin with 1 troy ounce pure silver in weight and purity certified by the US Mint.
The obverse design features a rendition of Walking Liberty by Adolph Weinman and the reverse, designed by John Mercanti, features an eagle with shield and thirteen five-pointed stars.

 


Australian Releases:

 

The 2017 Tuvalu Spiderman Marvel series 1 ounce silver bullion coin

The iconic Marvel hero, Spider Man, was created by the writer-artist Steve Ditko and writer-editor Stan Lee. Peter Parker, the original comic-book hero, first appeared in August 1962, in the 15th issue of the anthology comic-book: Amazing Fantasy. Ditko and Lee gave the web-slinging hero super powers by being bitten by a radioactive spider, thanks to which he got the speed, strength, and agility of a spider. Peter gained the ability to shoot spider-webs and cling to most surfaces, received a special spider-sense and a superhuman strength, being over 15 times more agile than a regular human.

With a limited issue of only 50,000 coins, this spectacular silver piece bearing this legendary comic book character is an excellent addition to any portfolio and a treasured gift for any Marvel fan.

 

The 2017 Australian Stock Horse 1 ounce silver bullion coin

The Australian stock horse is widely regarded as the breed for every need. Known for their cat-like agility and speed, endurance, athleticism and reliability, the stock horse is an extremely versatile variety and a popular choice for a wide range of modern-day equestrian activities including polocrosse, show jumping, dressage, hacking, camp drafting and eventing.

The Perth Mint will issue no more than 9,000 of the 2016 Australian Stock Horse 1oz Silver Coin and an extra 1,000 in a presentation blister pack, so only 10.000 in total.

Each coin comes with its own certificate and issue number.

The coin’s reverse portrays an Australian stock horse in a paddock rearing up on its hind legs, with a sheath of hay in the background. The design includes the inscription AUSTRALIAN STOCK HORSE, the 2017 year-date and The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark.
Obverse: Displays the Ian Rank-Broadley likeness of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the monetary denomination.

 

The 2017 Australian Wedge Tailed Eagle 1 ounce silver bullion coin

The 2017 Australian Wedge Tailed Eagle 1 ounce silver bullion coin was designed by the US mints chief Engraver John Mercanti himself on behalf of the Perth mint. Australia’s largest Bird of prey is stunningly captured in this Beautiful designed coin Featuring a Wedge-Tailed Eagle perched on a tree branch. The design also features the inscription “AUSTRALIAN WEDGE-TAILED EAGLE,” “2017 1 OZ 999 SILVER” and The Perth Mint’s “P” mintmark. The obverse Features the profile of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, along with the year and face value.

 

The 2017 Australian Koala 1 ounce silver bullion coin

This years Silver Koala features an ounce of pure Silver and an attractive reverse design that changes each year, This year it features a koala sitting next to a  tree with the Australian Bush in the background.
The 2017 issue features a koala walking along a tree branch, The Ian Rank-Broadley likeness of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the monetary denomination are shown on the obverse.

 

The 2017 Australian year of the Rooster 1 ounce bullion coin

Minted by the Perth mint in Australia, the Year of the Rooster is the tenth animal in the Australian lunar II series, As always the Australians have kept to a detailed & well made simple design of high quality,  The coins also come in 1/2 up to 1 kilogram coins.

In Chinese astrology the animal signs assigned by year represent what others perceive you as being or how you present yourself. It is a common misconception that the animals assigned by year are the only signs and many western descriptions of Chinese astrology draw solely on this system. In fact, there are also animal signs assigned by month (called inner animals), by day (called true animals) and hours (called secret animals).

 

The 2017 Australian Kookaburra 1 ounce silver bullion coin

This years Australian Kookaburra 1 ounce silver bullion coin features 2 Kookaburra’s sitting on a garden fence in the Australian landscape, as always the Kookaburra is beautifully designed and probably my personal favorite of all the standard bullion coins.
The standard Ian Rank-Broadley likeness of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is on the obverse.

 

The 2017 Australian kangaroo 1 ounce silver bullion coin

The Perth Mint is pleased to present the second Australian Kangaroo 1 oz Silver bullion coin. Struck in .999 fine Silver, As a Perth Mint first, a micro-laser engraved letter “A” appears within the first A of “Australian” (visible under magnification), providing authentication and detection against counterfeits.

Obverse: Bears the Ian Rank-Broadley likeness of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the face value.
Reverse: Features the classic red kangaroo design by Dr. Stuart Devlin, surrounded by a radiating design, along with a micro-engraved “A”  which appears under magnification.

 

The 2017 Australian Dragon and Phoenix 1 ounce silver bullion coin

Released by the Perth Mint as a standalone silver bullion coin to complement the Australian Bullion coin program this 50000 limited edition minted silver coin is rich in Chinese symbolism.
The coin’s reverse features a Dragon and Phoenix flying above the clouds around a flaming pearl, exquisitely detailed These coins are struck at the Perth Mint in Australia with a purity of 999.
The obverse features the  Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the 2017 year-date and the monetary denomination are shown on the obverse of each coin.

 


British Releases:

 

The 2017 Falkland Island Britannia 1 ounce silver bullion coin

To commemorate the 35th Anniversary of the Falklands Liberation, Pobjoy Mint has produced a New Britannia Bullion 1 crown coin in honour of the soldiers that gave their lives for the sovereignty of their country. The reverse of the coin features the Britannia, the female personification of the British Isles who is seen as a symbol of British unity, liberty and strength, is shown in the foreground holding a trident. The waves of the sea are shown in the background.

The coin is another of Pobjoy’s limited run reverse-proof silver bullion coins, This one combines a popular Pobjoy theme with one of the client countries they issue for. The Falkland Islands Britannia is issued for the invaded state and depicts an icon that is as British as Walking Liberty is American – Britannia. Wearing the traditional headgear and robe, carrying the trident and with stormy waves in the background, it’s a classic depiction and potentially a fine one.

The obverse has Pobjoy’s own effigy of Queen Elizabeth II surrounded by a border holding the issuer and date inscriptions. The denomination and composition are inscribed on the reverse face, along with the classic patriotic text ‘BRITANNIA RULES THE WAVES’. Struck in an ounce of fine 0.999 silver, the reverse-proof style coin has a mintage limited to 50,000 pieces.

Production has been stopped so we have no idea how many were produced from the 50,000.

 

The 2017 Landmarks of Britain Big Ben 1 ounce pure silver bullion coin

The 2017 Landmarks of Britain Big Ben 1 ounce Silver Coin is the first in a new series of bullion coins celebrating Britain’s architectural icons, coin designers Glyn Davies and Laura Clancy set out to capture the Elizabeth Tower through the eyes of the thousands of tourists who visit the United Kingdom’s capital each year. Their design reflects the viewpoint of the crowds at street level, looking upwards for the best view of the famous tower against the London skyline.

Possibly named in honour of Sir Benjamin Hall, the First Commissioner for Works in 1855, its chimes have accompanied London life for more than 150 years. Big Ben continues to strike, marking each passing hour, era and great event and ringing out in times of national celebration.

The Elizabeth Tower, with its famous clock, dominates the skyline at the northern end of the Houses of Parliament. Popularly known as ‘Big Ben’, after the nickname given to the tower’s great bell, it is one of London’s most familiar sights and is instantly recognisable as a symbol of Britain to people around the world.

 

The 2017 20th Anniversary Britannia 1 ounce pure silver bullion coin

The 2017 UK Britannia 20th Anniversary 1 ounce Silver Coin features a new trident ’20’ mint mark to signify the 20th anniversary of the silver Britannia. The image of Britannia is also featured on the reverse of the coin, including radial lines for the first time, these lines add security to the traditional design. Details of the coin’s weight, fineness and year-date also feature.

 

The 2017 Welsh Red Dragon Queens Beasts 2 ounce silver bullion coin

The Queens Beasts 2 oz Silver Bullion coins Collection will be the first ever 2 ounce silver bullion coins produced by the Royal Mint, inspired by hundreds of years of royal heraldry, The 2017 Welsh Red Dragon is the Third of 10 designs depicting the Queens Beasts from the background of Her Majesty The Queens coronation, where ten heraldic beasts stood guard,  reimagined and Beautifully designed by Royal Mint Coin Designer Jody Clark. Jody also created the latest definitive coinage portrait of The Queen to appear on United Kingdom coins. His bold interpretations of the Welsh Red Dragon will be the Third coin to be released.

 

The 2017 Cook Islands Bounty 1 ounce pure silver bullion coin

Minted under license for the The Cook Islands this 1 ounce silver bullion features the HMS Bounty which was a small merchant vessel purchased by the Royal Navy for a botanical mission. The ship, under the command of William Bligh, was sent to the Pacific Ocean to acquire breadfruit plants and transport them to British possessions in the West Indies. That mission was never completed, due to a mutiny led by Acting Lieutenant Fletcher Christian. This was the famous Mutiny on the Bounty.
The reverse of this coin shows the famous HMS Bounty on its new web like background, the obverse a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II the year 2017 and Cook islands.

 

The 2017 Griffin Queens Beasts 2 ounce silver bullion coin

The Queens Beasts 2 oz Silver Bullion coins Collection will be the first ever 2 ounce silver bullion coins produced by the Royal Mint, inspired by hundreds of years of royal heraldry, The 2017 Griffin of Edward III is the second of 10 designs depicting the Queens Beasts from the background of Her Majesty The Queens coronation, where ten heraldic beasts stood guard,  reimagined and Beautifully designed by Royal Mint Coin Designer Jody Clark. Jody also created the latest definitive coinage portrait of The Queen to appear on United Kingdom coins. His bold interpretations of the Griffin of Edward III will be the second coin to be released.

 

The 2017 silver Britannia 1 ounce pure silver bullion coin

Minted by the Royal Mint This years edition has 2 different backgrounds one on either side of the coin, on the Britannia side a New radial effect can be seen on the background behind the lady Britannia while on the queens face side the background is still the same as last years edition of the matte background.

I have to say the radial effect behind the Britannia is a really nice change and brings out the beauty of the coin.

 

The 2017 Virgin islands Pegasus 1 ounce silver bullion coin

Minted by The Pobjoy Mint with an edition limit of 50.000 coins, the 1 troy ounce Virgin island Pegasus silver Bullion coin has a reverse proof finish.
Much like the isle of man Angel coin these coins are made to the very highest standard.

The design on the coin is based on a famous Greek image of the famed Winged Horse Pegasus and the Goddess Athena, minted to a superb reverse proof standard This coin Depicts the Goddess Athena taming the mighty Pegasus with the golden bridle described in Greek mythology.
The obverse Features the Portrait of her majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

 


Canadian Releases:

 

2017 Canadian Voyageur 1 oz 150 year Federation Silver Bullion Coin

An outstanding new release from the prestigious Royal Canadian Mint, the 2017 Special Edition 1oz 150 Voyageur Silver Coin celebrates 150 years of the Federation of Canada in fine .9999 silver

Canada’s first circulating silver dollar was introduced in 1935 to mark the Silver Jubilee of King George V. Its reverse featured the iconic ‘Voyageur’ image created by acclaimed Canadian sculptor, Emanuel Hahn – a design that proved an instant hit and was little changed over the years. The new Special Edition 2017 1oz 150 Silver Voyageur is identical to the 1935 coin and features a Voyager and his guide aboard a canoe loaded with furs to trade – look closely and you’ll see that the bundle is marked ‘HB’ for the Hudson Bay Company. A pine-forested island can be seen in the background, evoking all the possibility and abundance of the unexplored wilderness. The coin’s reverse also carries the Royal Canadian Mint’s famous maple leaf security motif and a 150-year marker against a background of precision-cut radial lines.

The obverse of the 2017 Silver 1oz 150 Voyageur is graced with Susanna Blunt’s portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II along with the silver coin’s year of issue and its denomination – at $5,

 

The 2017 Canadian Howling Wolf 1 ounce silver bullion coin

As the third release of the Royal Canadian Mint’s Wolf Series, this 3/4 oz Silver Wolf Moon coin is beautifully crafted and portrays an over-sized moon rising behind the wolf as he lets out his eerie howl into the night sky.

Known officially as canis lupus, the grey wolf is the largest canine species on the North American continent. Though its range once spread throughout much of the northern United States and Canada, today only 30% of the grey wolf population in the world is found in Canada, with more in the United States. Grey wolves have made a remarkable comeback from near-extinction and now live in .9999 fine Silver.

Obverse: Susanna Blunt’s design of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, along with the $2 face value.
Reverse: Features a large, over-sized moon rises into the sky behind the wolf, outlining its body as the wolf raises its head toward the heavens.

 

The 2017 Canadian Lynx 1 ounce silver bullion coin

The Canadian Lynx is the second in the line of the new Canadian Predator Series,
The Canadian Lynx is a skilled hunter with a calm demeanor, keen senses, and sharp instincts that allow it to perfectly adapt to the changing seasons that shape and define the Canadian wilderness. A predator that could not be left out of the Predator series,
The Royal Canadian Mint has again shown that it is rightly one of the most famous mints in the world. The finest details, the best possible forgery protection and an eye-catching design distinguish the Predator series Lynx. Therefore, it is understandable that such a coin – especially with such a high fine content – is only minted in small issues.

 

The 2017 Canadian Maple Leaf 1 ounce silver bullion coin

Minted by the Royal Canadian Mint the Canadian maple leafs are among the purest & well known 1 ounce silver bullion coins on the market today.
The Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coin was first struck in 1988 by the Royal Canadian Mint. The obverse of the coin features an image of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, and, on the reverse, is the image of Canada’s national symbol, the maple leaf. The universal element of all silver maple leaf coins is the phrase “Fine Silver 1 oz Argent Pur” along the bottom of the reverse of the coin, referring to the coin’s weight and 99.99 fine silver content.

 


Chinese Releases:

 

The 2017 Bhutan Lunar Rooster 1 ounce silver bullion coin

The Kingdom of Bhutan proudly issues the inaugural Blessings of Happiness Lunar Coin Collection – The Bhutan Lunar and Attraction series (2016-2027), exclusively minted and marketed by The Singapore Mint. Apart from the proof coin series, the Singapore Mint is producing the bullion coin for this year’s main character – the lunar rooster.

The obverse of this Bhutan Lunar Rooster Brilliant Uncirculated Coin features a magnificent rooster, inspired by the idea of a “crowing rooster among the clouds”. The distinctive characteristics of the rooster – a huge and towering comb, forward-thrusting chest, and a gorgeously curled tail, are tastefully reflected.

The reverse features the national emblem of the Kingdom of Bhutan in intricate engraving.

Not only known as one of the happiest country, the Kingdom of Bhutan is also popularly known as the Last Shangri-La of the world. The Kingdom of Bhutan is heavily forested and perched atop of a mountain among the clouds. Home to a stunning natural scenery with an exotic mix of flora and fauna, the Kingdom is also embellished with majestic architectures of Dzongz, Stupas and Monasteries, resulting in a picturesque view from every angle.

 

The 2017 Chinese Panda 30 gram silver bullion coin

Minted by the Chinese National mint This years’ design features Features a single panda chewing on a bamboo shoot. Behind him, a wall of bamboo rises, slipping into a delicate bamboo-leaf background on the top of the design. The denomination 10 yuan rests near the bear. The reverse of each 2016 1 Oz Chinese Silver Panda boasts one of China’s greatest architectural and historic wonders, the Temple of Heaven. Built from 1406-1420 to celebrate the Harvest Ceremonies of Winter Solstice, the magnificent temple was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.

 


African Releases:

 

2017 Rwanda Nautical Series 1 oz Santa Maria Silver Bullion Coin

The Rwanda Nautical Ounce will be launched commemorating the 525th anniversary of the discovery of America featuring the expedition’s famous flagship Santa Maria.

  • Obverse: Features the Santa Maria in sail with a stylized compass in the background. The inscriptions “Nautical Ounce”, “2017”, nautical instruments and the purity are listed along the rim.
  • Reverse: Displays the official seal of Rwanda and the face value of 50 Francs.

 

The 2017 Congo Silverback Gorilla 1 ounce Silver bullion coin

This second coin of a series released by the Scottsdale Mint for the Republic of Congo. These coins have a limited mintage, which further adds to their collectibility and strong bullion appeal.

A silverback gorilla is the mature experienced male leader of a group of mountain gorillas in the wild. Named for the silver saddles across his back, the silverback is responsible for the safety of his A group of gorillas, also called a “troop,”. The silverback decides where the troop travels, where it forages for food, where it will rest and where it will sleep at night.

Obverse: Depicts an aggressive silverback gorilla, along with the weight and purity below.
Reverse: Features the Republic of Congo crest along with denomination of 5,000 Francs CFA

 

The 2017 South African Krugerrand 1 ounce Silver bullion coin

The 2017 South African Krugerrand 1 ounce Premium Unc Silver bullion Coin is the first ever Silver Krugerrand minted by the South African Mint, and is released to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Krugerrand coin.

The coin bears the same iconic design as the gold coin; the portrait of Paul Kruger, president of the old South African Republic, on the obverse of the coin and the Springbok Antelope on the reverse, along with the year of minting and silver weight. A small privy stamp of the number 50 is also shown in a circle above the antelope, Finished to Premium Uncirculated standard.

 

The 2017 Rep of Ghana African Leopard 1 ounce Silver bullion coin

New from the Scottsdale Mint is a limited mintage Silver bullion coin from the Republic of Ghana, a nation on West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, known for diverse wildlife and secluded beaches. As the first release in this series, this beautiful and intricate piece showcases an African Leopard on the prowl, ready to pounce towards its prey. The one-of-a-kind obverse features an extraordinary textured surface mimicking the beautiful spots of the African Leopard. The release of 100 Cedi coins will have a limited mintage of 5,000 coins.

Obverse: Design is complemented by the leopard skin pattern found on the obverse of the coin embedded behind the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II with the Ghana denomination of 100 Cedi.

Reverse: Features a sleek African Leopard, perched on a rock, disguised by the tall surrounding grass, only moments from pouncing on its prey.

 

The 2017 Rwanda African Rooster 1 ounce Silver bullion coin

Minted by the BH Mayer’s Mint under license from the country of Rwanda this is the first coin of the new lunar series to be issued, The coin also features the inscriptions ‘lunar Ounce’, ‘2017’ and the fineness of the coin, The reverse of the coin bears the seal of Rwanda, along with the monetary value of 50 Francs.

 

The 2017 Somalian Elephant 1 ounce bullion coin

Minted by Das Bayerisches Hauptmünzamt Mint in Munich, Germany, under license from the Somalian government the Silver Elephant coins were first issued in 2004. With a denomination of 100 shillings, the German-manufactured 1 oz Silver Elephant Coins are made to a pretty high standard and a welcome addition to coin collectors all over the world.

 

The 2017 Rep of Chad African Lion 1 ounce Silver bullion coin

Minted by the sunshine Mint under license from the Republic of Chad this is the Third coin to be issued, with a denomination of 5000 African Francs and a mintage of 50000, this coin comes with a certificate / info card.

 

The 2017 Rwanda African Hippopotumas 1 ounce Silver bullion coin

Minted by the BH Mayer’s Mint under license from the country of Rwanda this is the Tenth coin to be issued, The coin features a mother and baby Hippopotamus, with the continent of Africa above them on the Obverse. The coin also features the inscriptions ‘African Ounce’, ‘2017’ and the fineness of the coin, The reverse of the coin bears the seal of Rwanda, along with the monetary value of 50 Francs.

 


Other Releases:

 

2017 Poseidon Tokelau 1 oz Proof Silver Bullion Coin

Poseidon, father of Pegasus and God of the Sea is depicted in this stunning design from Tokelau. Minted to the highest proof quality, Poseidon is shown emerging from the waves on his chariot pulled by two beautiful horses. His trident is defiantly raised to the sky where a lightening bolt is seen between the clouds.

Poseidon was one of the Twelve Olympians in ancient Greek religion and myth. He was god of the Sea and other waters; of earthquakes; and of horses. In pre-Olympian Bronze Age Greece, he was venerated as a chief deity at Pylos and Thebes. Poseidon was protector of seafarers, and of many Hellenic cities and colonies. In Homer’s Iliad, Poseidon supports the Greeks against the Trojans during the Trojan War. In the Odyssey, during the sea-voyage from Troy back home to Ithaca, the Greek hero Odysseus provokes Poseidon’s fury by blinding his son the Cyclops Polyphemus, resulting in Poseidon punishing him with storms, the complete loss of his ship and companions, and a ten-year delay. Poseidon is also the subject of a Homeric hymn. In Plato’s Timaeus and Critias, the island of Atlantis was Poseidon’s domain. His Roman equivalent is Neptune.

With a limited issue of only 1,000 coins, this spectacular silver piece bearing this legendary Greek God is an excellent addition to any Collection.

 

The 2017 South Korea Chiwoo Cheonwang 1 ounce silver bullion medal

This wonderful 50.000 limited edition 2017 South Korea Silver Chiwoo Cheonwang 1 ounce Silver Bullion Medal BU is an exceptional issue from the South Korean Komsco Mint featuring the second design of the well-known legend – the warrior Chiwoo Cheonwang.

Chiwoo Cheonwang is a renowned symbol of South Korean culture and lore. He is known as the God of War in ancient Asian mythology, as well as the 14th leader of ancient Baedal. He wears an intimidating demon-like mask and casts magical spells conveying fear to enemies which seek war against the Korean Nation. His mask also served as the mascot of the Red Devils – the nickname of the passionate supporters’ club of the South Korean soccer team – during the 2002 World Cup.

This splendid medal is the second release in the Chiwoo Cheonwang silver series from KOMSCO. It displays the powerful figure of the God of War, in full armor with his mask donned, holding his spear and shield, but this time mounted on a fearsome warhorse. The medal carries a special anti-counterfeit feature – the “Ag”-“999” signs -showing differently when looking from distinct angles. Its high quality and incredibly detailed striking make it an excellent addition and a great gift for any fan of the Korean history or supporter of the national soccer team.

 

2017 Darth Vader Star Wars 1 ounce silver bullion Coin

This 2017 1oz Star Wars series silver coin features an officially licensed image of Darth Vader with the Imperial seal in the background. The close-up shows Vader in Sith Lord attire.
The reverse of these beautifully minted silver coins shows a polished close-up of Darth Vader on a matt satin background. The coin’s obverse has an image of HM Queen Elizabeth II.

These 1 oz Star Wars Darth Vader coins contain one troy ounce of .999 silver and are legal tender on the south-Pacific island of Niue with a face value of $2.
Obverse shows a portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II, Legal Niue currency with a face value of $2

 

2017 New Zealand Athena Owl 1 ounce silver Bullion Coin

Based upon the Owl of Athena, these 2017 Niue Silver Athena Owl coins have several unique design features. Firstly the background field on both sides of the coins include a hammered finish that gives the silver coins a unique, ancient appearance.

Secondarily, the coins all have an outer-rim design on the obverse and reverse face of alternating raised and sunken surfaces. These features of the design interlock so you can easily stack your 2017 1 oz Niue Silver Athena Owl Coins together.

On the obverse of all 2017 1 oz Niue Silver Athena Owl Coins you’ll find the familiar right-profile portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. In use on commonwealth coins since her ascension to the throne of England in 1952, Her Majesty’s portrait on these coins comes from Ian Rank-Broadley, and was designed in 1998 as the fourth-generation depiction.

The reverse of the Silver Athena Owl Coins includes the famous depiction of an Athenian Owl, or the creature otherwise known as an Owl of Athena. The owl was, in Greek mythology, the traditional partner accompanying the goddess of wisdom, Athena. Over thousands of years, the owl became known as a symbol of knowledge and wisdom because of its association with Athena.

 

2017 Cayman Islands Marlin 1 ounce silver Bullion Coin

This is the first coin of a series released by the Scottsdale Mint for the Cayman Islands. These coins have a 50000 limited mintage, which further adds to their collectibility and strong bullion appeal, Each Silver Marlin coin comes in an airtight coin capsule.

Obverse: Displays the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II is shown over a wave-like surface, which brings the entire obverse and reverse of the coin together.
Reverse: Features A spectacular image of a Blue Marlin arcing in the air as it jumps from the water, a light mist trailing the sport fish. Its long bill is vividly portrayed across the coin, recreating the effect of the Marlin using its bill as a weapon to stun or injure its prey. Surrounding the marlin is a nautical rope border with the Royal Cypher of Queen Elizabeth II surmounted by St. Edward’s Crown.

 

2017 New Zealand Steamboat Willie 1 ounce silver Bullion Coin

The 2017 1 oz Silver Steamboat Willie coin from the New Zealand mint features the iconic Walt Disney character, Mickey Mouse as he appeared in the 1928 animated short film, Steamboat Willie, Only 250,000 of these beautiful 2017 1oz Silver Steamboat Willie coins will be issued globally

Steamboat Willie – meet Mickey Mouse
Although  the Steamboat Willie cartoon is considered to be Mickey and Minnie’s debut, it was actually the third outing for the famous mouse and his girlfriend. However, Steamboat Willie was Mickey’s first official appearance. It was also the world’s first fully synchronised sound cartoon and became one of the most popular animated films of its time. In 2007, Disney reworked the cartoon’s opening scene of Mickey whistling at the helm of his steamboat and it’s now used as the introduction to the studio’s animated features. The scene is the inspiration for the 2017 Silver Steamboat Willie coin.

 

2017 New Zealand 1 ounce lunar Rooster silver bullion coin

Minted in New Zealand To celebrate 2017 as the Year of the Rooster, the New Zealand Mint released this interesting Silver coin. Each coin features an artistic image of three roosters, The year of the Rooster is the tenth animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. These coins are struck at the New Zealand Mint with a purity of 999 silver. In Chinese astrology the animal signs assigned by year represent what others perceive you as being or how you present yourself. It is a common misconception that the animals assigned by year are the only signs and many western descriptions of Chinese astrology draw solely on this system. In fact, there are also animal signs assigned by month (called inner animals), by day (called true animals) and hours (called secret animals).

 

2017 Noah’s Ark Armenian 1 ounce bullion coin

The Noah’s Ark investment coin tells The story of Noah’s Ark and the Great Flood.  a meaningful symbol in Armenian history. On the obverse side of the 2016 1 ounce Armenian Silver Noah’s Ark Coins is the national coat of arms for Armenia. Flanked by an eagle on the left and a lion on the right, Geiger Edelmetalle GmbH in Germany is  Given permission by the Central Bank of Armenia to strike the Noah’s Ark coins.

 

2017 Austrian Philharmonic 1 ounce silver bullion coin

Minted by the Austrian Mint the Austrian Philharmonic is the official Austrian mint Silver bullion coin of Austria, The Austrian Mint’s Philharmonic coin design honours the Vienna Philharmonics orchestra. The obverse of the coin features the great organ of the Musikverein Golden Hall in Vienna, home to the orchestra, along with the date and face value. The reverse features an assortment of musical instruments, including the cello, violin, harp, french horn and bassoon with the inscription, “Wiener Philharmoniker”.

 


 

More coins will be added as they become available

If you have any questions you can ring me on Tel: 0191 2099300 or email me at martin@silvertrader.uk
Sincerely Martin

Save