Tuesday, May 12, 2015

2015 Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagle 1oz Silver Bullion Coin

2015 Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagle 1oz Silver Bullion Coin from the Perth Mint
The Perth Mint is delighted to offer investors a new bullion coin featuring this majestic bird which is known to soar to dizzying heights.
The coin’s reverse depicts an impressive Wedge-tailed Eagle in mid-flight as it prepares to land on a tree branch. The design also includes the inscription AUSTRALIAN WEDGE-TAILED EAGLE, the 2015 year-date and The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark.
Each bullion coin is presented in an acrylic capsule, from an unlimited mintage.
2015 Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagle 1oz Silver Bullion Coin


2015 Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagle 1oz Silver Bullion Coin

One of our favourite silver bullion coins of 2014, indeed of modern times, the Wedge-Tailed Eagle coin designed by John Mercanti for the Perth Mint had its debut last year. First released as high-relief silver and gold coins with mintages of 10,000 and 1,000 respectively back in January 2014, they followed up with a standard silver proof and a fantastic five-ounce high relief coin last May. This year will almost certainly see new releases of most, or all of those.
The bullion coin, while not as impressive as the completely sublime High-Relief versions, remains a beautiful piece, and if last years mintage limit is repeated, a relatively rare one by bullion standards.

COIN Specifications

Metal Content (Troy oz)1.000
Fineness (% purity)99.90
Minimum Gross Weight (g)31.135
Monetary Denomination (AUD)1.00
Maximum Diameter (mm)40.600
Maximum Thickness (mm)4.000

About the Wedge-Tailed Eagle
The Wedge-tailed Eagle is Australia’s largest bird of prey and one of the biggest eagles in the world. Found throughout mainland Australia, Tasmania and southern New Guinea, the Wedge-tailed Eagle has a wingspan of up to 2.7 metres, and displays a long, wedge-shaped tail and feathered legs.
Last year, 10% of the 50,000 mintage was sold by Australian dealer Ainslie Bullion but we’re currently unsure when or if they will be the dealer selling them this year. We understand that any Australian issued coin has to have 10% of its mintage sold in Australia, thus explaining why GovMint don’t get all the coins to themselves. This would indicate that the same would be the case this year, but GovMint do not list a mintage for the 2015 release, so how many an Australian dealer would get is unclear at present.

Friday, May 8, 2015

Chinese Demand for Silver Bullion Bars Halved in 2014



Silver bars weren’t very popular last year — especially in China, where demand fell by half.

Chinese demand for silver bullion bars dropped 52% in 2014 from a year earlier, to 6.2 million ounces, according to the The Silver Institute’s annual World Silver Survey, which was produced by the GFMS team at Thomson Reuters. That was the lowest level since 2010.

“The sharp decline was attributed to the continual implementation of the anticorruption policy, which served a severe blow to the gifting sector, including bars,” according to the survey, which was released Wednesday.





A steep drop in silver prices certainly didn’t help. Silver futures SIN5, +0.79% on Comex fell nearly 20% last year, following a 36% plunge in 2013.

Total global demand for silver bullion bars fell 31% last year to 88.4 million ounces — in value, that’s about a $1.7 billion drop, the survey said.

Andrew Leyland, manager for precious metals demand at Thomson Reuters GFMS, told MarketWatch in an interview that he was surprised to see how weak demand from China actually was.

The government crackdown in gifting and its anticorruption campaign, along with a “softening of economic sentiment through the course of 2014,” impacted bar buying in China, he said. “A lot of luxury goods sectors didn’t have a particularly good year.”

Globally, investment in silver coins and bars fell by 20% last year to 196 million ounces, the survey said.

There was a slowdown in European buying of silver bars and coins, primarily due to an increase in sales tax in Germany that was applied to silver from the beginning of 2014, Leyland said.

He pointed out, however, that the market was coming from a record base year in 2013. Last year’s bar and coin investment figure was still the second highest on record.




And though the world’s silver mine production was up a 12th straight year in 2014 and supplies of the metal were at their highest in about 4 years, the market still saw a supply deficit of 4.9 million ounces last year.

Looking ahead, Leyland expects silver-mine supply to decline and is looking for growth in a number of demand sectors. He forecast an average silver price of $16.50 an ounce for this year.

Prices will see some short-term weakness, but are likely to end the year at more than $17 an ounce, with a couple of years of modest price increases to follow, he said.

Yamaguchi Silver 1oz Proof Coloured Coin 2015 - Prefectures of Japan

Yamaguchi Silver 1oz Proof Coloured Coin 2015 - Prefectures of Japan

The Mint of Japan have announced their latest prefecture silver coin which features a well-known landmark or structure as its obverse design. 

This coin features the Kintaikyo Bridge, in the prefecture of Yamaguchi which is a historical wooden structure that consists of a series of five wooden arches and spans the Nishiki River in Iwakuni City. Built in 1673 by Kikkawa Hiroyoshi, the third lord of the Iwakuni domain, this bridge is known as one of the three most beautiful or unique bridges in Japan and was designated as a place of scenic beauty by the national government.

The obverse design includes a depiction of the Kintaikyo Bridge and the Akiyoshidai Plateau, which is the largest area of karst topography in Japan, located almost at the center of Yamaguchi Prefecture, and designated as a Quasi-National Park and a Special Natural Monument.





The common reverse design of 1000 yen silver coin: Snow crystals, moon and cherry blossoms. Latent image technology is applied to the center of the largest snow crystal to show the numerals of “47” representing the number of prefectures in Japan, and “60” representing the 60th Anniversary of Enforcement of the Local Autonomy Law appear alternately when viewed from different angles.

Coin Specifications:



DenominationMetalWeightDiameterQualityMintage
1000 ¥en.999 silver31.1 grams40 mm.Proof & Colour100,000
The coin, which is the 39th consecutive issue within the series, will be available to order from now until the 30th June when the coin will officially be issued. A 500 Yen bi-metallic coin intended for circulation with the same design though not colorized is also to be issued at the same instance as the silver coin.
For more information on this and other coins available from the Mint of Japan, please visit their website at:http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/buy-eng/eng_coin_international_index.html 
For international distributors of Mint of Japan coins, please visit: http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/qa-eng/eng_qa_overseasqa_contract.html Information offered in English and Japanese

Monday, May 4, 2015

Houston – Perth Sister Cities Silver 1/2oz Bullion Coin


This stunning coin pays homage to the special relationship shared by Houston, Texas and Perth, Australia.
The energy-themed coin originated with the founding of the Houston-Perth Sister City Association (HSPCA) in 1984, which was based on historical naval ties in WWII and the strong synergies between the two cities’ energy sectors.
Today, Houston and Perth are two of the largest energy hubs in the world, and recently celebrated 30 years of partnership.
The ties between Houston and Perth can initially be traced to the World War II battle of Sunda Strait, where both the USS Houston and HMAS Perth attacked a superior force of Japanese ships in an attempt to stall their advance towards Australia.
Both ships were lost along with many men, but their sacrifice allowed the American and Australian navies to halt the Japanese advance and helped forge the relationship now shared by Houston and Perth. The bond between the two cities was further strengthened during John Glenn’s 1962 spaceflight, when the citizens of Perth turned on all their lights, allowing the astronaut to view the city from orbit.
In the 1980s, when Houston sought to expand its global ties, Perth was an ideal partner for cultural, historical, and economic reasons.
This remarkable Sister Cities coin has been exclusively minted by Perth for Texas Precious Metals. Production will be limited to 500,000 coins.
QUALITY
The Perth Mint’s unbeatable minting experience and its use of advanced manufacturing technology contribute to the coins reputation of being the highest quality in the world.
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT GUARANTEE
Struck by the historic Perth Mint from 99.9% pure silver, each coin’s Australian legal tender status guarantees its weight and purity.
AFFORDABLE
Perth Mint bullion coins are universally recognised as the most affordable means of purchasing silver bullion in the secure form of official, legal tender coins.
BEAUTIFUL
Perth Mint bullion coins are tangible assets that are beautiful to behold. Featuring stunning new artistry each year, they are admired worldwide and are highly collectable.
NUMISMATIC APPRECIATION
As well as annual design changes, the coins’ restricted mintages create the potential for even greater investment return in the form of a numismatic premium.
Houston-Perth-Sister-Cities-Australia-Silver-Coin-perth-mint-legal-tender-close-up-thumb
COIN SPECIFICS:
Year:2014
Condition:Brilliant Uncirculated
Weight (Au, Ag, Pt):1/2 ozt
Minted by:Perth Mint
Mintage:500,000
Face Value:AUD$0.50
IRA:Approved
Packaging:Plastic Tube
Coins Per Tube:25

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Hammerhead Shark Half Ounce Silver Bullion Coin


Hammerhead Shark Silver Half Ounce Bullion Coin – Brand new from the Perth Mint
The hammerhead shark is one of the most recognizable creatures on the planet, and the largest of the species, the great hammerhead shark, is now immortalized in Silver. The Perth Mint has introduced the second release in their Shark Series celebrating this unique and unmistakable hunter.
Each of these Beautiful Uncirculated (BU) coins contains 1/2 oz of .999 fine Silver and exhibits a beautiful representation of the  strong great hammerhead shark swimming through the water. The coin displays the Silver weight and  purity, providing assurance of the high quality of each coin.
Since opening in 1899, the Perth Mint has produced and refined large quantities of Gold, Silver and other Precious Metals.
Today, the Perth Mint is highly involved in producing a wide array of items for collectors and investors.  They beautifully combine unique collectible designs with quality bullion value
Coin Highlights:
  • Contains 1/2 oz of .999 fine Silver.
  • Multiples of 25 come in a tube. 500 coins will come in “Monster” boxes. Individual coins come in a plastic flip.
  • Second release in the APMEX exclusive® Perth Mint Shark Series.
  • Obverse: The Ian Rank-Broadley likeness of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the monetary denomination.
  • Reverse: Features a great hammerhead shark, surrounded by the name, weight and purity, along with the Perth Mint’s “P” mintmark.
1/2oz Hammerhead Shark Silver Bullion Coin

Keywords: silver, australia silver, hammerhead shark silver coin, shark coin, shark silver coin, australia silver

Monday, April 20, 2015

Privateer Elemetal 2oz Silver Round Ultra High Relief







Each Elemetal Privateer Round consists of two ounces of .999 fine silver, and is manufactured in an IRA approved facility ensuring the metal purity and production quality.

The Elemetal Mint is a collaborative effort between three of the most prominent names in the 



Precious Metals industry: Ohio Precious Metals (OPM), NTR Metals, and Provident Metals. The goal of this collaboration is to offer high quality, investment grade bullion at a price that is accessible to every investor.

Each partner in the Elemetal Mint offers unique attributes and assets that accommodate this goal. OPM, an LBMA certified mint, has a legacy of producing high quality Precious Metal Bullion that meets standards required for global institutional trades. 



NTR Metals offers a production capacity that allows the Elemetal Mint to produce bullion as demand requires. Provident Metals leverages advanced fulfillment technology and processes to ensure that bullion is offered at the lowest possible price, and delivered in a timely manner.

The obverse of the ultra high relief Elemetal 2oz Privateer Silver Round carries the inscription “NO PREY NO PAY”, which is a piratical term meaning that unless a raid was successful at acquiring valuable commodities, the privateers would not receive a commission. 

Likewise, if contemporary investors are unwilling to invest in Silver Bullion, they will miss the security and value that only precious metals offer.

The obverse of the Elemetal Privateer Round also features a skull over a ship’s wheel, reminiscent of the Jolly Roger, and the inscription "2OZ FINE SILVER .999".

The reverse of this 2oz silver round features the stern of a pirate ship, the ship drifting through rough seawaters. High waves roar across the design as the ship’s sails flutter in the wind. The moon peaks out from the clouds on the right of the image.

The Elemetal 2oz Ultra High Relief Privateer Silver Round is a beautiful addition to Provident Metals’ offerings of Privately Minted Bullion. Each of these 2oz Silver Rounds is IRA approved and will ship in New Condition. Individual rounds ship in poly bags, and quantities of 10 or more ship in plastic tubes.

Expand your treasure chest with an Elemetal 2oz Privateer Silver Round

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Blue Tongue Lizard 2015 1oz Silver Proof Coin – Australia’s Remarkable Reptiles 2015


PROOF QUALITY 99.9% PURE SILVER

The coin is struck by The Perth Mint from 1oz of 99.9% silver in proof quality.

STUNNING COLOURED REVERSE DESIGN

The coin’s reverse portrays a coloured Blue Tongue Lizard displaying its tongue, bordered by a montage of exotic reptile skin patterns. The design also incorporates the inscription BLUE TONGUE LIZARD.
blue-tongue-lizard-2015-1oz-silver-proof-coin-australias-remarkable-reptiles-2015-case

LIMITED MINTAGE

No more than 5,000 Australia’s Remarkable Reptiles – Blue Tongue Lizard 2015 1oz Silver Proof Coins will be available for sale worldwide.

TUVALU LEGAL TENDER

Issued as legal tender under the authority of the Government of Tuvalu, the obverse of the coin depicts the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the monetary denomination and the 2015 year-date.

PRESENTATION CASE AND NUMBERED CERTIFICATE

The coin is housed in a wooden presentation case and custom designed shipper, and is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity
blue-tongue-lizard-2015-1oz-silver-proof-coin-australias-remarkable-reptiles-2015-box
Australia’s Remarkable Reptiles – Blue Tongue Lizard 2015 1oz Silver Proof Coin at The Perth Mint, featuring:
  • Proof Quality 99.9% Pure Silver
  • Stunning Reverse Coloured Design
  • Limited Mintage – 5,000
  • Tuvalu Legal Tender
  • Presentation Case and Numbered Certificate
  • Third Coin Release in Series
The Blue Tongue Lizard is native to Australia and is recognised by its bright blue tongue and brownish grey scales. They are not poisonous and can often be found living peacefully in the same backyard for years, conveniently consuming slugs and snails and sunning themselves by the backdoor, or out under the clothesline.
These slow-moving creatures are found in just about every part of Australia: on the coastal plains; in the mountains; in rainforest; deserts and at least one species is found in every Australian capital city.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
Silver Content (Troy oz)1
Monetary Denomination (TVD)1
Fineness (% purity)99.9
Minimum Gross Weight (g)31.135
Maximum Diameter (mm)40.60
Maximum Thickness (mm)4.00
Maximum Mintage5,000