2015 African Lion Silver 1oz Coin Burrundi Legal Tender 5000 Francs

2015 marks the first issue in the ModernCoinMart (MCM) exclusive “African Lion” series. Every year a new and different design will be released in the series featuring one of the greatest animals on earth–The African Lion.

2015 African Lion Silver 1oz Coin

The design side of the coin features a pair of adult lions sitting in the Serengeti gazing over their territory alert to anything that moves. The African Lion is the known as the “King of Beasts,” dominant in their domain. 

Highly distinctive, the male lion is easily recognized by its mane, and its face is one of the most widely recognized animal symbols in human culture.

The obverse of the coin bears the forward facing male lion design taken from the seal of Burundi, the issuing authority of this coin. The denomination and date are also present in the inscription on this side of the coin.

Lions are unusually social compared to other cats. A pride of lions consists of related females and offspring and a small number of adult males. Groups of female lions typically hunt together, preying mostly on large prey. Lions are apex and keystone predators, however they are also expert scavengers.

The first in a new annual series, each to feature a depiction of that king of the beasts, the African Lion, mintage on these is quite restricted in outright bullion coin terms at just 50,000. 

With numbers that low, and with it being the debut release in a whole new series, this coin has some good potential to rise independently of the spot price and achieve a solid semi-numismatic status. Unusually, every coin comes with a certificate of authenticity.

We haven’t seen one in the flesh yet, and to be honest the MCM images aren’t particularly great, but we think the design is good, offering plenty of detail while remaining anatomically sound. The inscription is a little invasive and would have looked better following the rim clockwise from 9 to 1 in that clean space, but it’s certainly one of the nicer silver bullion coins released lately. Photographed differently, it looks like we’d see a decent level of relief to the design.

A proof version is already available, limited to 1,000 pieces with the first 100 coming in a nice wooden box, although these may have already sold out. There are gilded and coloured versions to come, as you’d expect these days, but no news on a migration to larger sizes, such as 5oz or 1kg

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
DENOMINATION	5,000 FRANCS
COMPOSITION	0.999 SILVER
WEIGHT	31.1 g
SIZE	38.43 mm
FINISH	UNCIRCULATED & PROOF
MINTAGE	50,000 (PLUS 1,000 PROOF)
ARTIST	UNKNOWN
BOX / COA	YES (PROOF ONLY)/ YES (BOTH)

2015 Lunar Skulls Silver Goat Coin Legal Tender Ghana Bullion

The Chinese Lunar calendar-themed coins have emerged as the largest and perhaps most diverse coin program in the world in recent years. But for the modern world coin collector that results in such a dizzying range of coins, sometimes even from one country, that it is hard to decide which ones are worth getting. In addition, some animals seem to result in more attractive art work than others. The 2015 year of the goat coins have been more challenging in this regard but have already been rendered very nicely in Perth's bullion and collector coins, the 5 oz gilded Niue issue made by Pamp in Switzerland with a mintage of 500, and others.

But now there is a totally original take on the Lunar theme from the country of Ghana with the first coin in a new series of a more macabre nature that depicts the skulls of the animal. The 2015 Lunar Skulls goat issue is being minted by an e-Bay dealer named Son-Montuno, who specializes in modern world coins, who decided to establish his own private mint to produce this series. It will be a 12-coin series, and first year releases are often the most sought after.

The skull coins, which will be minted in high relief, and issued in low mintages in BU (2,000 coins) and especially in proof (just 500 coins), have really struck a chord with many collectors, even though they will only be issued in January, which means buyers have only line art drawings to go by for now.

The coins were produced with the assistance of SMmint.com and were designed by U.S. tattoo artist, Kiana Roo, whose signature appears on each coin. Each coin is also individually numbered on the rim, and the number on the certificate of authenticity will match that on the coin. This is a feature many collectors find appealing.

It is hard to say exactly why these coins have become popular so quickly, but it is not terribly surprising given the success of the Zombucks and similar limited edition rounds sold by Provident Metals, which sell for solid premiums over the issue prices. At the recent Whitman Expo in Baltimore, Maryland I ran into a dealer who said she was particularly taken with the Feast dollar, a macabre version of the famous Peace dollar. Zombucks is billed as "the currency of the apocalypse" by Provident.

Son-Montuno decided to split the mintage of these coins with his business partner. Son-Montuno allocated only 10 coins per dealer
with his half of the mintage, with the other half going to his business partner. Each dealer who buys coins to sell retail will only receive 10 coins in most cases. This method of distribution is one of the reasons prices for the coins in proof have taken off so quickly, though auction results have also been uneven.

Pre-orders for the proofs began on November 22 at $89, there were many sales in the $150 range, and by the 24th they reached $199. Then auction prices started going much higher reaching $596 on the 30th. But on December 6 someone got a proof for only $255, still a healthy increase from the initial price, but a fraction of more recent sales.

From what I have read and heard from other collectors it is clear that some buyers quickly realized the proof coins represented a good value at $89-$150 and appear to have purchased extras to sell at a profit. It remains to be seen whether by January the proof coins will still bring $600-700, but $300 seems like a reasonable prediction. A lot will depend on how the coins look in person, and on the extent to which buyers decide to sell their extra coins, or keep them to see how prices develop.

Why should you be interested in this coin?

• Highly limited (2,500 coins maximum/ ONLY 500 PROOF).
• Three nines fine silver (99.9% pure silver).
• First coin of a new series w/ unique serial # engraved on coin with matching COA.

Specifications:

• Country: Ghana
• Metal: 1 Troy oz. of 99.9% pure silver
• Finish: Proof/ BU (satin)
• Diameter: 36.81mm
• Edge: Milled
• Denomination: 5 Cedis
• Year of Issue: 2015
• Mintage: 500/2,000

Angel’s 30th Anniversary Celebrated with New Silver Bullion Coin

I had the opportunity recently to speak with Sharon Eiden Cornejo of Asset Management Services, whose subsidiary GovMint.com is the exclusive worldwide distributor of the first silver bullion strike Angel. 

Among other questions, I asked about the latest addition to the Angel range and discussed the background of both the legacy and modern Angel coins and why this coin retains such popularity with so many collectors of all interests. 

With such a fiercely competitive bullion market, the angel has comfortably held its own over the last thirty years and if what we’ve seen over these last three decades has anything to determine with what’s in store for this sought after coin, the Angels will be around for many years to come, and then some – read on & enjoy!

MA: Hello Sharon, Thank you for speaking with me today. Your department at Asset Marketing Services have been in the process of promoting a new product, the first silver bullion strike angel – which was minted to celebrate the ever-popular Isle of Man gold Angel’s 30th anniversary, this coin is the first time a silver bullion quality angel crown has been produced – the other silver coins being proof & minted in 1995 and 2010, how are the sales for this beautiful coin progressing so far..?

SEC: We have seen a great response to this coin in its first year. Govmint.com is the exclusive worldwide and authorized distributor for the 2014 Silver bullion Angel. To date we have sold over 118,000 silver angel bullion coins.  There has been worldwide interest in this coin attesting to the appeal of the Angel series

MA: I have the new 2014 silver angel in front of me now and it’s a beautiful crown, I’ve been receiving questions about both the gold and now the silver ounce coin, asking why I hadn’t covered the issue of the new silver coin until now, why haven’t we heard about the coin until just recently..?

SEC: We did a “soft” release back in the fall of 2013. Response was quick and strong, proving that this is a coin that collectors want to add to their collections. Throughout 2014 we have continued with our promotions and sales have been strong while interest continues to grow.

A quick background on the Angel series. The first modern Angels were released by Pobjoy Mint in 1984.  These were proof fractional gold coins struck in 1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, 1/10 oz and 1/20th oz sizes.  The design was so well received that the following year it was awarded the prestigious Coin of the Year award for Best Gold Coin. It was only fitting that in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Angel series, a first year issue silver bullion Angel be added. 

MA: The original angel coin itself has a very long history – stretching all the way back to the reign of King Henry VIII, much earlier than the modern Isle of Man issued coins which have managed to make this coin so popular with bullion investors and coin collectors alike (who favor the proof editions), what is either your favorite “folklore” legend about the legacy coin or aspect of the modern edition..?

SEC: I like the traditional story of medieval Kings and Queens giving the Angel coins to their workers that they deemed worthy of receiving one. These workers in turn believed that the Angel coin brought them good luck and fortune and sometimes even thought to cure sickness and save lives. That is a lot of power for one coin to hold! These are also great generational coins that are passed down from one generation to the next. Often given as tokens of good luck. We even have employees that carry them around in their pockets as a good luck piece.

The Silver Angel for many years has been one of the missing pieces in the coin collector world. In years to come, this coin could become as sought after as an American Silver Eagle or China Silver Panda.

MA: I especially love the silver examples myself and yes, the first year issue has indeed become one of the “key” coins to have added early on. What was so exciting about the gold issues from the start was the very large size & variety from 15 ounce at one time right down to 1/20th ounce, are there any plans to produce the same variations in sizes for the silver coins..?

SEC: In 2013, Pobjoy Mint issued a 5 ounce silver proof in spectacular high relief which was carried exclusively by Govmint.com.  It is quite an impressive coin showing all the details of the battle between St. Michael & the Dragon. But at this time we do not have plans to produce a full range of sizes in silver, however we do have some very exciting coins in a variety of sizes and metals coming up for 2015, including another 1oz Silver bullion.

MA: Over the past 30 years of production, there have been some real changes for the coin, most noteworthy, the quality of the strikes and the high relief examples, in your opinion, what has been the greatest change in the range and which example or version is the best-selling in the gold range of coins..?

SEC: The Angel series has come a long way since 1984. Of course the award winning 1984 design is a favorite for me and for our customers. Pobjoy Mint has produced some amazing coins over the years. The skill that was used to create the Silver and Gold Bimetal coin in 2009 and again in 2011 when they produced a Platinum and Gold Bimetal Angel, knowing how difficult Platinum can be to strike much less put into a bimetal coin! And as I mentioned earlier, the careful precision to create the first ever 5 ounce High Relief Silver Proof Angel. As you can tell, it is hard to pick just one!

The first year issue 1984 design still holds the title as our best selling gold Angel, however the 2006 1 ounce Angel struck in High Relief Gold Proof isn’t too far behind.

MA: 30 years is a substantial time to have been part of a very active worldwide bullion market, so many changes have taken place and a great number of products have entered the market since 1985, what changes from the perception of Asset Marketing have been the most profound and how does the Angel “make its mark” in such a competitive market – what current trends do you see taking root for bullion related coins..?

SEC: The Pobjoy Mint is known for its quality and attention to detail.  The history and legacy of the modern Pobjoy Angel series and vintage versions of the Angel coin makes this a great collector piece.  Not many of the modern silver bullion pieces have such a history to their design like the Angel’s history – dating back over 500 years. The Silver Angel bullion has already started strong in its first year and I only see it getting stronger and gaining more collectors in the coming years.

MA: This coin has always been a real favorite of mine since its introduction and I look forward to following any changes it may have the future – including a possible new portrait of the Queen shortly. Sharon Eiden Cornejo, Vice President of Product Development of GovMint.com, thank you so much for your time today.

SEC: You’re very welcome

My thanks go to Alexa LeMay, Senior Program Coordinator of Govmint.com for additional information provided. For more information on the entire range of bullion and collector versions of the Isle of Man Angel series coins, please visit the website of GovMint.com at:http://www.govmint.com/world-coins/top-world-coins/angel-coins.html For additional information on additional coins from the Isle of Man, please visit the website of the Pobjoy Mint at:http://www.pobjoy.com/ukworld/section.php/1054/1

US Mint Silver Coin Sales Climb to Annual Record as Silver Price Rebounds

The U.S. Mint has sold a record number of silver coins this year as demand for the physical metal helped futures in New York recover more than 20 percent since falling to a five-year low early this month.

Purchases of American Eagle silver coins reached 43.051 million ounces in 2014, data on the mint’s website shows. That tops last year’s 42.7 million ounces, the previous all-time high, according to an e-mailed statement yesterday. There are still enough supplies to keep selling 2014-dated coins through the week starting Dec. 15, the mint estimates.

A surge in demand prompted the mint to suspend sales in November for more than a week because of a lack of inventory. When the coins were again made available for purchase, it was on allocated basis. Buying has increased with prices heading for a second straight annual loss, the longest slump since 1992.

“This has been a very strong year for us,” said Michael Kramer, the president of New York-based MTB Inc., a dealer authorized to purchase coins directly from the mint and sell to consumers. “It was especially busy on days prices took a big tumble.”

Silver futures for March delivery jumped 5.3 percent to $17.134 an ounce on the Comex yesterday, the biggest gain since Dec. 1.

Prices declined 12 percent this year through yesterday, after dropping 36 percent in 2013. On Dec. 1, the metal reached $14.155, the lowest since 2009.

The Provident Prospector 10 oz - 999 Bullion Silver Bar

The Provident Prospector 10 oz  999 Bullion Silver Bar

Each Prospector bar is composed of 10 troy ounces of .999 fine silver and arrives in new condition. 

These bars are produced at the Provident Mint, an ISO9001 facility, and are therefore eligible to be placed in a precious metals IRA.

Each Silver bar comes in mint plastic with multiples of 10 bars being a complete plastic sheet.

Coming soon - see the website at Provident Metals   - http://www.providentmetals.com/provident-pr

Bull and Bear Silver 1oz 999 Bullion Round

The 1 oz Bull and Bear Silver Round is in stock and now available in brand new condition. Each of these particular rounds have been produced by NTR Metals located in Texas and is minted with 1 troy ounce of .999+ fine silver. 

With an artistic design and available for low over spot premiums, the 1 oz Bull and Bear Silver Round can make for a fine investment in silver.

NTR Metals is well known for their production of quality, low cost silver bullion and the 1 oz Bull and Bear Silver Round is certainly a fine example. On the front of the round is the image of a bull with its head turned in profile. 

Above the animal are inscriptions for its name which reads “BULL.” Listed underneath the bull are weight inscriptions which read “ONE TROY OUNCE.” On the other side of the round is the image of a bear with its mouth opened and paw raised. Above the animal is the word “BEAR.” The purity inscriptions are located below the bear which read “.999+ FINE SILVER.”

All orders placed with JM Bullion are shipped in discreet packaging and are also fully insured. In this way, customers can rest easy knowing their precious metals will arrive to their doorstep as securely as possible. Furthermore, all items that we purchase are inspected for purity and authenticity once they arrive at our facility as a protection to our customers.

Bull and Bear Silver 1oz 999 Bullion Round