2013 Wood Bison Silver Bullion Coin - Canadian Wildlife Series

The 2013 Wood Bison Silver Bullion Coin features a depiction of the animal galloping in a display of strength and endurance. Similar to the two prior releases, the image is framed within a circular area with the inscription “Canada” above and “Fine Silver 1 oz Argent Pur” below.

The fineness of “9999″ is included within the image area. The reverse design is by Canadian artist Emily Damstra.

Although the coins are part of a bullion series with corresponding pricing and availability, a maximum of one million will be produced by the Royal Canadian Mint Ottawa facility. The mintage limit and the appeal of the alternating designs provides the potential for appreciation outside of the bullion value.

The concept of limited mintage bullion releases has been used by other world mints. The RCM’s Wildlife series seems to have achieved a measure of success and popularity with bullion investors and coin collectors. This may set the stage for similar series in the future.

The “Wood Bison” design was announced at the World Money Fair in Berlin. The RCM has indicated that the coins will soon be available through their network of bullion distributors, although no exact date has been specified.

Melt Values for Silver Coins Jump through Q3 2012

Fiery gains for silver in July and August have boosted the melt values of silver coins in the third quarter 2012 and for the year.

After boisterous gains during the January-March period, silver prices plunged in the second quarter to such an extent that silver was in the red through the first half of 2012. A modest turnaround in July and then sharp increases in August and September brought silver well back into the black for the third quarter and for the year — up in London with respective increases of 28% and 23%.

Melt values for silver coins, naturally, shot higher with silver’s gains. Holders of bullion and junk silver coins, such as 90% silver coin bags or older US silver coins, watched their values rise sharply. For example, a 1964 Kennedy half dollar went from a melt value of $9.79 at the end of June to $12.53 just three months later — a change of $2.74.

In the same vein, melt values for modern silver coins jumped to make their prices much more attractive. Looking at several silver products from the United States Mint highlights the changes. In the table below are U.S. Mint products with columns that show how melt values have changed from their release date to the end of September when the London Fix price for silver was $34.65 an ounce.