Here at ECI our aim is to provide the largest range of world coins to meet demands of collectors around the globe. In an effort to increase the exposure of our latest arrivals we've decided to start a weekly blog post that showcases what's new on ECI for the previous week. We hope that this will give collectors easier access to information about new release world coins and banknotes at Euro Collections International.
Week #1 - September 12-16
USA 2011 September 11 Silver Proof Medal
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the tragedy of "9/11", the US Mint has struck this official commemorative medallion from 1oz (31.1grams) of 99.9% silver on a 40mm flan.
More Information
USA 2011 State Quarter 9-11 Colour Tribute Set
Not an official release, but just as poignant, comes this three-coin United States quarters set, also marking the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Using the relevant issues of New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania from the State Quarters series, the 3-coins have been enhanced with full-colour designs showing the Twin Towers, Pentagon building and the Flight 93 National Memorial respectively. The coins are presented in a special tribute folder.
More Information
USA 2011 $1 Presidential BU Set
Also arriving on ECI shelves on Monday was another US coin release, the 2011 issues from the celebrated "United States Presidents" series. This four coin set features the president Andrew Johnson (1865-69), Ulysses S. Grant (1869-77), Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-81), James Garfield (1881).
More Information
Germany 2011 10€ 500th Anniversary of Till Eulenspiegel Silver Proof
Tuesday saw the arrival of the latest two silver coins from Germany's ongoing yearly commemorative coin program. The coins, being the 4th and 5th releases for 2011, mark the anniversaries of mischievous literary character Til Eulenspiegel and the discovery of the Archaeopteryx fossil oldest known example showing the link between dinosaurs and birds.
More Information on Til Eulenspiegel
Germany 2011 10€ 150th Anniversary Discovery of Archaeopteryx Silver Proof
Both silver coins are struck to exact Proof quality and will be the only examples of these coins issued in this ever-increasing precious metal, being struck from 16 grams of 62.5% silver. Germany decided earlier in the year, with the rapidly growing precious metal costs, to cease production of their Uncirculated commemorative coins in the silver, instead offering a cupro-nickel version. No doubt that will only add to demand for this already sought-after program.
More Information on Archaeopteryx
Slovakia 2011 10€ 150th Anniversary of Slovak Nation Silver Proof
Also on Tuesday saw new releases from Slovakia, one of the countries benefiting from a growing demand for silver coins from Eastern Europe in general and new EU members in particular. The first of these has been struck in 18 grams of 90% silver on a 34mm flan and marks the anniversary of the signing of the "Memorandum of the Slovak Nation". Sure to start a fire of demand, the coin has an exclusive mintage of just 9,100 coins worldwide.
More Information
Slovakia 2011 10€ Jan Cikker Silver Proof
2011 is the 100th anniversary of the birth of one of Slovakia's most famous and revered composers, Jan Cikker. It is only fitting then that the Central Bank of Slovakia issue a commemorative coin, struck in beautiful Proof quality from 18 grams of 90% silver on a 34mm flan, to pay tribute to this man's life and work.
More Information
Japan 2011 1000¥ Toyama Silver Proof
ECI is pleased to announce the arrival of the latest silver coins from the voluminous "47 Prefectures" series from the Japan Mint. The series, as the title suggests, will see 47 coins released over several years, with each coin honouring a particular prefecture (district) on the island of Japan. These latest releases mark the 13th coin in the series, and are dedicated to the Toyama prefecture. As with previous releases, the silver coin - struck from 1oz (31.1grams) of 99.9% silver on a 40mm flan are available as a
Standard Edition presented in an official display unit, or as a
Deluxe Edition that is accompanied by a set of 5 80 yen stamps also honouring Toyama, and presented within an elegant fold-out coin pack. The mintage for each release is 100,000, however it should be noted that only 10% of that mintage (10,000) will be made available outside of Japan.
Italy 2011 5€ 150th Anniversary of Italian Unification Silver Coin
Arriving from the Italian Mint comes this Brilliant Uncirculated Silver coin released to mark the anniversary of the unification of the various Italian states into one single state. The 5 euro coin has been struck from 18g of 92.5% sterling silver on a 32mm flan, with a total worldwide mintage of just 10,000.
More Information
Netherlands 2011 5€ 100th Anniversary of Mint Building Silver-Plated Coin
Last but by no means least this week we have this innovative 5 euro coin from the Royal Dutch Mint. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the completion of the Mint building at Muntkade in Utrecht, Netherlands, the mint has created a truly captivating piece of numismatic work to rival many of their previous, uniquely designed commemorative coins. Within the reverse design featuring a floor plan of the Mint building is an embedded QR code - used with smart phones as a convenient way of viewing a website, image or other type of data. With the code on this coin users will be taken to the Royal Dutch Mint where they will get a special "surprise" within the corridors of the building itself. Try it out!
More Information
See you next week!