Submarines of the World Four Silver Bar Set 999 One Ounce New Zealand Mint

Metal .999 Silver

Finish Proof
Diameter 45 x 31 mm
Edge Milled Milled
Denomination $2
Year of Issue 2010
Mintage 15,000

About the Design

RUSSIAN TYPHOON 

Typhoon class submarine is a type of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine deployed by the Soviet Navy in the 1980s. With a maximum displacement of 26,000 tonnes, Typhoons are the largest class of submarine ever built.

In its day it was one of the most feared weapons of mass destruction ever made. Although technically able to successfully deploy their long-range nuclear missiles while moored at their docks, Soviet doctrine for these vessels was to have them attack North America while submerged under the Arctic Circle, avoiding the traversal of the GIUK gap to remain safe from enemy attack submarines and anti-submarine forces. The image on the coins shows the Typhoon Submarine in North Arctic Region.

BRITISH VANGUARD

The Vanguard class are the Royal Navy’s current nuclear ballistic miss le submarines, each armed with up to 16 trident II submarine – launched ballistic missiles. The class was introduced in 1994 as part of the UK governments Trident nuclear program. This class includes four boats Vanguard, Victorious, Vigilant and Vengeance, all built at Barrow-in-Furness by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd between 1986 and 1999.

All four submarines in this class are based at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde, 40 km west of Glasgow, Scotland. The image on the coin shows HMS Vanguard leaving its base in Glasgow.

UNITED STATE OHIO

The Ohio class is named after the lead submarine of this class, USS Ohio. The 14 Trident II SSBN’s together carry around fifty percent of the total U.S. Strategic warhead inventory. Although the missiles have no pre-set targets when the submarine goes on patrol, the platform when required, is capable of rapid targeting using secure and constant at sea communications links. The Ohio class is the largest type of submarine ever constructed for the U.S. Navy and are second to the Russian Typhoon class. The image of the coin shows the USS Ohio leaving its port in Hawaii.

FRENCH TRIOMPHANT

The Triomphant class of strategic missile submarines of the French navy are currently being introduced into service to provide the sea based component of the French ‘force de frappe’ (nuclear deterrent). On the 3rd/4th February 2009. it has been reported that the Triomphant apparently collided with the Royal Navy submarine vanguard. Triomphant was reported to have proceeded to brest under her own power, submerge, but with extensive damage. The French Navy plan to operate a force of four ships of which two are on patrol at any one time. The image on the coin shows the Le Triompant leaving the french naval base located at Ile Longue.

Obverse

The obverse of the coin features the Raphael Maklouf effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, sovereign of the Commonwealth and Fiji, along with the year of issue (2009) and the denomination of $2.

Limited Mintage

No more than 15,000 sets will be issued by New Zealand Mint.

Presentation

Each four-coin set comes in a magnificent replica submarine box. It packaged in a colourful outer packer, accompanied by a numbered certificate of Authenticity, which includes background information on each submarine class.


Submarines of the World Four Silver Bar Set 999 One Ounce New Zealand Mint

Republic of Belarus 'Zodiac Signs' Silver Coin Series 925 Legal Tender Numismatics

A silver collector coin issued by the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus in the 'Zodiac Signs' series presenting the image of Pisces. A unique coin produced using the oxidation technology and characterized by oriental stylization. As all coins from this series, the coin has been decorated with colorful zircons.

Obverse:

In the central part images of the Sun and the Moon. Below the graphic symbol of Pisces and the name of the Zodiac sign in Latin and Russian. Around the Sun and the Moon 12 graphic symbols illustrating each of the Zodiac signs. Above the symbols the name of the series issuer – Республика Беларусь (Republic of Belarus), the emblem of Belarus, the mintage year, the assay of silver (Ag 925) and the coin face value (20 Roubles). 

Reverse:

In the central part of the coin the image of Pisces surrounded by a circular, geometric ornament, reserved only for this coin, which gives the impression of three-dimensionality.

There are two ruling planets for Pisces – Neptune, the planet of illusion and intuition and Jupiter, the planet of expansion and idealism. People born under this sign are creative, sensitive, gentle and understanding. 

In relationships they are delicate, devoted and protective, which makes them excellent partners. Their lives often become chaotic. They are prone to criticism and mood swings and tend to isolate themselves. When they are under a strong influence of Neptune, they escape into illusions and different types of addictions.

Mintage: up to 25 000 pcs

Issuer: National Bank of the Republic of Belarus

Quality: uncirculated

Decoration: zircons

2013 Year of the Snake Silver Bullion Coins

The Perth Mint of Australia will soon release Australian 2013 Year of the Snake Silver Bullion Coins in seven different sizes, ranging from 10 kilo down to 1/2 ounce.

These are offered as part of the Perth Mint’s extremely popular Australian Lunar Series II and will be available to the public beginning on Monday, September 3, 2012.

Each coin in the series is composed from 99.9% pure silver and is guaranteed for weight and purity by the government of Australia. Each also features the new 2013 Year of the Snake reverse design.
That design shows a snake curled around the branch of a tree. Shown to the right of the reptile is the Chinese character for "Snake." The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mint mark is found on the reverse along with the inscription of "Year of the Snake."

2013 Year of the Snake Silver Bullion Coins are struck as legal tender of Australia in addition to the government’s guarantee of content. As legal tender, obverses contain the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II along with the inscriptions of "Elizabeth II," "Australia" and "2013." The obverse also contains the face value and weight of the specific coin.

Lunar silver bullion coins made their debut from the Perth Mint in 1999 with the inaugural strikes of the Lunar Series I. In 2008, the Perth Mint introduced the current Lunar Series II. All of these coins featured annually changing reverse designs based on the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. That zodiac indicates that those with birthdays between February 10, 2013 and January 30, 2014 are born in the Year of the Snake.

As previously mentioned, seven different sized 2013 Year of the Snake Silver Bullion Coins will be issued by the Perth. This includes 10 kilo, 1 kilo, 10 ounce, 5 ounce, 2 ounce, 1 ounce and 1/2 ounce. Of those seven, five will feature unlimited mintages with only the 10 kilo coin and the 1 ounce coin being limited. Mintage of the 10 kilo coin will be no more than 200 with the one ounce coin limited to 300,000 worldwide.

All coins of the series are presented in protective acrylic capsules.

Specifications for Year of the Snake Silver Bullion Coins

Size	10 kilo	1 kilo	10 oz	5 oz	2 oz	1 oz	1/2 oz
Silver Content (oz)	321.510	32.151	10	5	2	1	.5
Face Value (AUS)	$300	$30	$10	$8	$2	$1	$.50
Minimum Gross Weight (g)	10,010.000	1,001.002	311.347	155.673	62.270	31.135	15.591
Maximum Diameter (mm)	221.00	100.60	85.60	65.60	55.60	45.60	36.60
Maximum Thickness (mm)	33.00	14.60	6.60	5.80	3.60	2.60	2.30
Maximum Mintage Limit	200	unlimited	unlimited	unlimited	unlimited	300,000	unlimited

About the Perth Mint

The Royal Mint of England established the Perth Mint as a branch facility in 1899 to refine and strike gold recovered from nearby deposits. Ownership was transferred to the State Government of Western Australia in 1970. Today the Perth is responsible for the Australian Federal Government’s Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Program in addition to striking some of the most unique numismatic coins in the world.

2011-2013 Canadian Wildlife Silver Bullion Coins

With the upcoming availability of the fifth coin in the Canadian Wildlife Silver Bullion Coin Series, this article provides a quick review of all post issues

Canadian Wildlife Silver Bullion Coins are produced as a three-year series issued by the Royal Canadian Mint. Dates on each are either 2011, 2012 or 2013.

A total of six unique coins are included within the series, each featuring a unique reverse design showcasing a different member of the diverse creatures found in Canada.


Every coin is struck from one ounce of .9999 fine silver to a diameter of 38 mm. The 3.29 mm thick strikes have a reeded edge and a legal tender face value of CAD $5.

Despite the investment-intended nature of the bullion coins, many collectors have also shown extreme interest in the series. That is largely attributable to the unique designs, level of silver purity and the limited mintage nature of the program. Coins of the Canadian Wildlife series feature a maximum mintage of 1,000,000 per design.

All six silver bullion coins contain the same basic obverse portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Designed by Canadian artist Susanna Blunt, the portrait is surrounded by the inscriptions of ELIZABETH II, 5 DOLLARS and the relevant year 2011, 2012 or 2013.

The reverse of each coin depicts a different creature of Canadian wildlife. Reverse inscriptions include CANADA, 9999, FINE SILVER 1 OZ ARGENT PUR and the initials of the artist for the design.

A short description of each of the known Canadian Wildlife Silver Bullion Coins is offered below:

2011 Canadian Wolf Silver Bullion Coin

Canadian Wildlife 2011 Canadian Wolf Silver Bullion Coin

2011 Canadian Wolf Silver Bullion Coins made their debut in September of 2010. As indicated by the name, the coin depicts a wolf on its reverse. The snowy scene of the canid also includes an image of a full moon. The reverse was designed by Senior Royal Canadian Mint Engraver William Woodruff.

2011 Canadian Grizzly Silver Bullion Coin

Canadian Wildlife 2011 Canadian Grizzly Silver Bullion Coin

The Royal Canadian Mint released 2011 Grizzly Silver Bullion Coins in January of 2011. A roaring mature grizzly bear is shown on the reverse of the strike along the edge of a body of water. Like the first coin of the series, the reverse of this coin was also designed by Senior Mint Engraver William Woodruff whose initials can be seen to the left of the bear.

2012 Canadian Cougar Silver Bullion Coin

Canadian Wildlife 2012 Canadian Cougar Silver Bullion Coin

Issued in September of 2011, the 2012 Canadian Cougar Silver Bullion Coin appeared as the third strike of what had become an extremely popular series. Showcased on the reverse is the image of a cougar which is also known as pumas, mountain lions or mountain cats. The William Woodruff design shows the cat with its front paws on a fallen tree limb.

2012 Canadian Moose Silver Bullion Coin

Canadian Wildlife 2012 Canadian Moose Silver Bullion Coin

2012 Canadian Moose Silver Bullion Coins made their initial appearance in February of 2012. Also designed by Woodruff, the reverse of this coin shows a moose, complete with large palmate antlers, standing among the tall grasses of its native region.

2013 Canadian Pronghorn Antelope Silver Bullion Coin

Canadian Wildlife 2013 Canadian Pronghorn Antelope Silver Bullion Coin

The Royal Canadian Mint first announced details of 2013 Canadian Pronghorn Antelope Silver Bullion Coins at the American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in August of 2012. The strike showcases a pronghorn antelope on the reverse with a design by Canadian artist and coin designer Emily S. Damstra.

2013 Kookaburra Perth Mint Bullion Program - Design Release Out Soon

The 2013 Kookaburra Design Features two Kooks Perched on a branch overlooking a pond with Lilypads.

The traditional Australian Kookaburra Silver Coin Series featuring designs of Australia's famous bush bird, available in three sizes - 1 kilo, 10oz and 1oz.

The Silver One Ounce Bullion has a Mintage of One Million for 2013, The 10 ounce and 1 kilogram coins are unlimited until the end of mintage at which time the production is ceased.

Three Rare Coins Sell For Nearly $900k

Three rare Australian coins have fetched almost $900,000 at auction - taking out two records in the process.

Australia's first coin, known as the 'Hannibal Head' Holey Dollar, sold for $410,000, while the first gold coin, an 1852 Adelaide pound, netted $370,000.

Both coins fetched record prices for coins of their type sold at auction, with the pound eclipsing the previous record by $240,000.

The coins went under the hammer in Melbourne on Monday night along with an 1813 Colonial Dumps coin, which had a less impressive result, selling for half the estimated price at $100,000.
Coinworks managing director Belinda Downie said it was an exciting auction result.

'It was a win-win. The vendor's happy. I saw really beautiful quality coins sell for very exciting prices, so, from a Coinworks perspective, and an industry perspective, there are no complaints,' she told AAP.

The top selling Holey Dollar is the only one of its type in private hands, with the only other known example housed in the NSW State Library.

'This one is unique for private buyers,' Ms Downie said.

'The quality of the coin is superior to most. It's got a really gorgeous history.'

The Holey Dollar was created from 40,000 Spanish coins acquired by Governor Lachlan Macquarie to alleviate Australia's coin shortage.

Governor Macquarie enlisted the services of convicted forger William Henshall to cut a hole in the centre of each dollar and later to stamp each with the words New South Wales and a five shilling value.

The rare coin gained notoriety after being found in 1881 as part of a bushranger's hoard and was later owned by the Tasmanian governor, Ms Downie said.

'Right from the onset this particular coin has always enjoyed publicity,' she said.

2011 Silver Canadian Grizzly Bear One Ounce 9999 Pure

These magnificent new silver bullion coins are an extension of the Royal Canadian Mint Silver Maple Leaf Program.

This is the second coin in a 6-coin series being released over the next 3 years; Each new coin will have a wildlife theme.

The Grizzly Bear design by Senior Mint Engraver William Woodruff depicts a growling Grizzly Bear alongside water with magnificent wildlife scenery behind it.

The maximum mintage is 1 million coins making them 30 more rare than an American silver eagle. They are more pure than an eagle at .9999 fine silver and have a legal tender face value 5 times than an silver eagle. These coins are in high demand with bullion buyers and collectors worldwide.

Four-Year Silver Probe Set To Be Dropped

A four-year investigation into the possible manipulation of the the silver market looks increasingly likely to be dropped after US regulators failed to find enough evidence to support a legal case, according to three people familiar with the situation.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission first announced that it was investigating “complaints of misconduct in the silver market” in September 2008, following a barrage of allegations of manipulation from a group of precious metals investors.
In 2010, Bart Chilton, a CFTC commissioner, said that he believed there had been “fraudulent efforts” to “deviously control” the silver price.

But after taking advice from two external consultancies, the first of which found irregularities on certain trading dates that it believed deserved more analysis, CFTC staff do not have sufficient evidence to bring a case, according to the people familiar with the situation.

The agency’s five commissioners have not yet formally determined the outcome of the investigation, leaving the possibility that staff could be instructed to dig deeper. A CFTC spokesman said: “The investigation has not reached its conclusion”. He declined further comment.

Ending the probe would infuriate some US silver investors, who claim that a group of large investment banks – in particular, JPMorgan – has conspired to drive the price of silver lower.
“I’m sure it will be met with some concern from a certain group of aggressive silver speculators,” said one person familiar with the investigation.

In a recent blog post, Ted Butler, a newsletter publisher and unofficial champion for the silver investors, accused the CFTC of being “negligent in failing to terminate the obvious manipulation ongoing in silver”.

The CFTC has analysed over 100,000 documents and interviewed dozens of witnesses since it began investigating the market in 2008, it said last year. The people familiar with the situation said the evidence included records from JPMorgan.

The conclusion of the investigation will come as a relief to JPMorgan. Although no company or individual was named in the CFTC investigation, the Wall Street bank has suffered a torrent of allegations from silver investors on the blogosphere.

One campaign exhorted sympathetic readers to “crash JPMorgan” by buying silver – based on the assumption, which JPMorgan has repeatedly denied, that the US bank has a large bet on lower silver prices.

In addition, a class-action lawsuit has been filed against JPMorgan. Lawyers for the bank have asked a judge to dismiss it, arguing that plaintiffs “fail to identify a single trade” showing manipulation.
Blythe Masters, head of commodities at JPMorgan, in an April interview with CNBC conceded that there had been “a tremendous amount of speculation, particularly in the blogosphere, about this topic”, but maintained that the bank had no large bets on silver prices.

“We have no stake in whether prices rise or decline,” she said. JPMorgan declined to comment on the CFTC investigation.

Previous CFTC silver inquiries in 2004 and 2008 found no evidence of wrongdoing.