Perth Mint Issues Prestigious Gold Coin Tribute To Iconic Australian Bushranger

The ultimate tribute to Australia’s world famous bushranger, this flawless new legal tender $25 coin unites the latest in minting technology with the beauty, purity and luxury of the world’s favourite precious metal. As exclusive as it is eye-catching, the Ned Kelly $25 1/4oz Gold Proof is destined to be one of the ‘Coins of 2010’.


Tuvalu 2010 $25 Ned Kelly 1/4oz Gold Proof

A unique blend of history, quality and innovation, the Ned Kelly $25 1/4oz Gold Proof represents a glowing tribute to the expertise of the precious metal specialists at the Perth Mint. Demonstrating the Mint’s mastery of full-colour technology, the 22.6mm flan of this unique legal tender type is graced with a superb design. Contrasting against the pure, lustrous .9999 gold, the striking portrayal of Ned is complemented perfectly by a design of the helmet from the armour suit Ned wore at the final showdown at Glenrowan.

With the Mint striking just 1,000 examples for worldwide distribution, it will be a race against time to own one. Certain to be pursued by gold collectors, as well as those seeking a prestigious tribute to Ned in the 130th anniversary year of his death, the only question is when – not if – this Australian made Gold Proof will sell out.

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In 2010, we mark the 130th Anniversary of the death of Ned Kelly. Although opinion will always be divided – to some a working class hero, to others a criminal – no one has captured the public imagination quite like Australia’s most notorious bushranger.

Involved in cattle rustling in the 1870s, Ned’s transition from minor criminal to fully-fledged bushranger was triggered when he and brother Dan were accused of the attempted murder of a trooper in 1878. With a price on their heads, Ned and Dan took to the bush, where Joe Byrne and Steve Hart soon joined them.

The reward for each Kelly Gang member was raised to £1,000 after the outlaws confronted a search party at Stringybark Creek, shooting Sergeant Kennedy and Constables Lonigan and Scanlon dead. That reward rose to an incredible £2,000 per man following the bank robberies in Euroa, Victoria and Jerilderie, NSW.

The gang then disappeared from view for over a year, until June 1880. Killing former friend Aaron Sherritt in revenge for a perceived betrayal, the gang set out for Glenrowan, taking 70 people hostage in the hotel. It would be here that the Kellys’ last stand was to take place, and where the gang’s famous suits of armour would make their one and only appearance in battle.

With Joe Byrne killed by police, and Steve Hart and Dan Kelly committing suicide, Ned was the sole survivor of the gun battle, and was sent to Melbourne to stand trial. Sentenced to death for the murder of Lonigan at Stringybark Creek, and with pleas to have the sentence commuted ignored, Ned was led to the gallows at Melbourne Gaol on 11 November 1880 – exactly 130 years ago.

New Zealand Issues Impressive Maori Heitiki One Ounce Gold Coin

New Zealand is known around the globe to be home to some of the world’s most spectacular and picturesque natural treasures, and now to add to this, they have created one of the most awe-inspiring numismatic treasures of today – the 2010 $10 Maori Art Heitiki 1oz Gold Proof!


New Zealand 2010 $10 Maori Art Heitiki 1oz Gold Proof

Forged from 1oz of .9999 pure gold and produced to the highest standard of craftsmanship, the $10 Heitiki Gold coin is the very definition of New Zealand ‘taonga’ (treasure). Flawlessly struck to proof quality, the massive 40.6mm diameter gold reverse depicts an incredibly detailed Heitiki symbol, framed by two elegant Huia bird feathers, with the obverse containing the traditional
portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

What truly sets this wondrous coin apart from all others is its one-of-a-kind packaging. Each 1oz Maori Art Heitiki Gold Proof is offered in a specially crafted ‘waka huia’ (treasure box) that has been uniquely designed by Warren McGrath, master carver to the Maori King! The waka huia case features a carved handle at each end in the shape of a ‘kooruru’ (owl face) and the lid is beautifully adorned with a special ‘rau-tawa’ engraved design which symbolises the bounty that is gathered from ‘Te wao nui a Tane’ (New Zealand native forest). Made from 45,000-year-old New Zealand swamp kauri, each case is unique in its appearance and perfectly reflects the premium status of this precious gold coin. The overall presentation is completed by the accompaniment of an innovative and individually numbered Authentication Booklet, detailing the intriguing stories surrounding the Heitiki and exclusive waka huia packaging.



A natural successor and partner to the New Zealand 2004 Pukaki Gold Proof – sold out in a matter of weeks and now close to impossible to find – this truly special coin has a strictly limited mintage of just 500 coins worldwide! With a sell-out all but assured, Downies has offered only its top customers the opportunity to secure what is sure to be one of this year's most memorable releases.

Austrian Mint Release New "Tales and Legends" Silver Coin

April 14, 2010. Continuing one of their newest and already most popular series', the Austrian Mint has released the 3rd "Tales and Legends" silver coin, being dedicated to the story of the Discovery of the Erzberg (Iron Mountain). The new coin recounts the folktale surrounding the discovery of one of the most important iron ore sources in Europe still in use today, the "Erzberg".


Austria 2010 10€ Discovery Of Erzberg Silver Coin

In the southeast of Austria (near Graz) there once was a very deep dark grotto filled with cold water in which a merman lived. During the day the merman would slip out of the water and warm himself in the sun. The people of the area knew about the merman but were afraid of him because he was enormous and so unusual that most stayed away.

However, legend has it that if you caught a merman, in order to gain his freedom he had to grant you a wish. A few did try but most were afraid of this strange looking merman, which seemed to be too heavy and slippery to catch.

One day, two rather entrepreneurial chaps placed food and drink along the grotto and hoped the sun would appear, all to entice the merman to come to the surface. After several days and nights of waiting, the sun did appear from behind the dark rain clouds and so eventually did the merman. The merman enjoyed the treats he found and in the warmth of the sun he fell asleep. He was suddenly jolted out of his sleep, as a massive dark cloak was thrown over him. He could not free himself from the cloak because it was covered with sticky tar.

The men then secured a leash around his neck and tried to drag him to a cave. The merman struggled and howled so eerily loudly that he was heard all over the land, but the men would not release him. The merman begged for his freedom but to no avail.

Finally, the merman offered the men a deal – “Please release me and I will reward you.” This pleased the men very much and they stopped dragging the merman over the rough trail and asked what he was offering.

Thinking for a moment the merman gave the men a choice: “I will give you gold for a year, silver for ten years, or iron forever.”

The men reflected carefully and decided to benefit from iron forever. The merman told them the location of the Erzberg Mountain that was filled with iron and so they then released him. He slipped back into his grotto and was never seen again. The mountain and its riches continue to be mined to today.

The reverse of the coin depicts two intense-looking men creeping up on a merman armed with a tar-covered cloak held between their hands. The sleeping merman is loosely holding a trident spear in its webbed right hand. The tail of the merman is seen in the scaly body form ending in its partially exposed fin depicted as a sideways “V” shape in lower right of the design along the rocky shoreline. The words “Entdeckung des Erzeberges”, the discovery of the Erzberg, are located along the top edge of the coin.

The obverse of the coin shows a scene of iron ore mining in the Middle Ages. On the left side of the design a miner pushes a cartload of ore out of the mineshaft, while on the right side another miner breaks the up the ore with a pick and hammer. In the background can be seen the distinctive shape (step- like) of the iron mountain, Erzberg. This side of the coin also depicts the country of issue, “Republik Oesterreich”, as well as the 2010 year-of-issue and the face value of 10 Euros.

The 10 euro silver coin is struck in 925 fine silver, and is available in either proof with a maximum mintage of 40,000 pieces, or in brilliant uncirculated finish, with a maximum mintage of 30,000 coins. The proof version comes in an official Austrian Mint box with a numbered certificate of authenticity. The brilliant uncirculated coin is sold in a colorful and informative bilingual (German and English) blister pack.

A collector album resembling a "classic" book of tales is also available for separate purchase. It is designed to accommodate the complete “Legends and Tales of Austria” series. The interior of the album will hold all six proof coins in capsules on the right side and the certificates of authenticity as well as the promotional brochure on the left.

The series, "Tales and Legends in Austria", will continue in October of this year with a coin marking the capture of Charlemagne in Salzburg, who according to legend slept for several centuries under a mountain near Salzburg.

Austrian Mint Unveils 2010 Issue In Popular Niobium Silver Coin Series

March 10, 2010: The Austrian Mint releases the latest in their series of eye-catching commemorative 25 euro coins, blending the elegance of fine silver with the beauty of coloured niobium. This is the 8th coin in what is undoubtedly the Austrian ints moist successful series, with dedicated collector to part-time numismatic enthusiast all clammering to get their hands on this stunning series.


Austria 2010 25€ Renewable Energy Silver Niobium BU

The reason for such demand would have to be the sheer unparalleled quality of the coins themselves, with the intricate designs we have come to expect from the talented craftsmen at the Mint, coupled with the extraordinary detail in the strike of each coin. The finest example of numismatic quality on the market today, there is no doubt!

The theme of the 2010 silver/niobium coin is renewable energy, a subject perhaps more topical than any other on the planet today. From the Austrian Mint:

Every aspect of our modern world is powered by some form of energy. The global goal for renewable and cleaner energy grows, as world’s natural energy resources are limited and rapidly dwindling. Continuing research and development as well as growing support by legislative and financial entities are all working together to advance the use of renewable clean energy for generations to come.

More and more individuals, corporations and governments are aware of the earth’s limited resources and our collective futures. Clean renewable energy is the way of today and the future. Trillions will be spent on further developing and harnessing renewable resources known today as well as continuing research into additional sources.

As President Obama proclaimed during his inauguration speech, “We will harness the sun, the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories.” (January 20, 2009)

On the obverse of the coin, set with the vibrant blue niobium, is the image of a tree, used to represent all the vegetation in the world. Coming out of the tree is a spiral design reflecting the continuous cycle of the world's four elements: Earth, Wind, Water and Fire. These are represented along the spiral as follows: Fire (the sun in the backgroud providing photosynthesis), Wind (the leaves blowing to the ground), Earth (giving the tree nourishment as well as recycling the fallen leaves) and Water (stylised at the bottom of the outer silver ring, allowing the tree to absord nutrients). The design was created by Helmut Andexlinger and inspired by the theme to "represent the living, breathing system of plants". Also on this side, at the top of the outer silver ring, is the inscription for the country of issue and the nominal face value.

The reverse design features a number of the many types of renewable energy that are in use today. In the centre of it all is the Earth, depicted here in the stylised globe towards the background of the image. Each of the renewable energy sources shown here also follow the pattern of the four elements. Here fire is represented by the sun's rays being captured by solar panels and converted into energy, water driving the hydroelectric water turbine, geothermal heat sources of the Earth are recovered as steam (noted in the two arrows on the left side of the design) in which water is pumped into the depths of the earth (the down arrows with the droplets) and then heat and energy return as steam (the up arrow with the wavy line), and wind is converted to energy by the large wind turbine in the upper left of the coin. Inscribed at the bottom of the coin are the words "Erneuerbare Energie” (Renewable
Energy).

Each 25 euro 2010 silver niobium brilliant uncirculated coin is struck on a 34mm flan comprised of an outer ring made from 9 grams of 90% fine silver and a core consisting of 7.15 grams of 99.8% pure niobium. The coin is encapsulated and housed in an official Austrian Mint jewel case and outer box, accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity confirming the maximum mintage of just 65,000 coins.

Niue Island and Mint of Poland Present Faberge Coronation Egg Silver Coin!

An inspiring new coin from the Mint of Poland, recognised as among the most innovative, most insightful issuing authorities in Europe, this massive 56.56g Silver Proof pays homage to one of the most famous pieces of jewellery in history – the Faberge Coronation Egg of the last Russian Tsar, Nicholas II.


Niue Island 2010 $2 Faberge Coronation Egg Silver Proof

Symbolising the luxury and extravagance associated with the heyday of European Royalty, the Faberge Coronation Egg was made in 1897 to honour the official investiture of Nicholas II as Tsar of Russia in 1896. A breathtaking combination of gold, diamonds and intricate enamelling, it is considered a masterpiece of the jeweller’s art. One of a range of Eggs created for the Romanov Dynasty by Peter Carl Faberge, the Egg opened to reveal a superb miniature of the ‘Gold Coach’ – built in 1793 for Catherine the Great and used in the 1896 Coronation procession.

Portraying the Faberge Coronation Egg upon it’s broad 41.6mm x 55.6mm elliptical flan, united with a depiction of the Gold Coach, this majestic $2 coin will make a fascinating, unique addition to any collection. Crafted to the most rigorous standards, we have been granted an allocation of the 2010 $2 Faberge Coronation Egg Silver Proof as official distributor for the Mint of Poland – but our stocks won’t last for long!

Ukraine Issues "International Year of Astronomy" Commemorative Coin

October 14, 2009: Approaching the end of 2009 comes this cupro-nickel brilliant uncirculated coin issued by the National Bank of Ukraine to commemorate the International Year of Astronomy. The International Year of Astronomy in 2009 coincides with the 400th anniversary of the first recorded astronomical observations with a telescope by Galileo Galilei, as well as the publication of Johannes Kepler's Astronomia nova in the 17th century which details his laws on planetary motion.


Ukraine 2009 5 Hryvnia International Year Of Astronomy BU

Following on from a series of commemorative coins issued throughout the world celebrating the topical theme of space and astronomy, with 2009 also being the 40th anniversary of the first moon walk, the National Bank of Ukraine struck two coins to celebrate this import scientific year. The 100 Hryvnia IYA coin was struck in an impressive 1 kilograms of 99.9% fine silver, on a 100mm flan. The more affordable 5 Hryvnia was struck from the familiar composite of cupro-nickel, also known by some as German silver, at a weight of 16.54 grams on a 35mm surface area, with an equally stunning design.

On the reverse is a mixed design featuring elements important to the International Year of Astronomy. In the upper left quarter is the official IYA 2009 logo, featuring two figures looking up into a stylised cosmos. To the right is a portrait of noted Russian philosopher, astrologist, writer and doctor, Yuriy Drohobych, with the years of his life below. In the bottom portion are various objects used in astronomical research. To the left is the inscription "МІЖНАРОДНИЙ РІК АСТРОНОМІЇ" (International year of astronomy). The obverse has, at the top, the inscription "НАЦІОНАЛЬНИЙ БАНК УКРАЇНИ" (National Bank of Ukraine), with the coat of arms in the centre. Below is a composite image symbolizing the Cosmos, with the image of Urania, the patroness of astronomy, one of the nine Muses in the Greek mythology, to the left, with a fragment of a scheme showing the motion of solar system planets to the right. Near the bottom is the year of issue (2009) and the denomination inscribed within a stylised ribbon. The coin is supplied in a protective plastic flip.

The International Year of Astronomy commemorative coins have generated plenty of interest throughout the world, mostly due to the popular theme of space and the stunningly detailed designs. Euro Collections International has a special section dedicated to displaying all the coins issued to mark 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy, and you can see our showcase by clicking here.

Fiji Issues Commemorative Silver Bullion Coin Honouring The Hawksbill Turtle (Taku)

Authorised by the Fijian government, this silver bullion coin commemorating the Hawksbill sea turtle, or Taku as it is known locally, has been released for 2010 and has captured the interest of collectors of world bullion and striking silver issues with an ocean-theme.


Fiji 2010 $2 Hawksbill Turtle Taku 1oz Silver BU

While Taku is one of four sea turtle species that are in abundance amongst the islands of Fiji, it is listed as critically endangered throughout the rest of the world. The Hawksbill turtle, belonging to the family Cheloniidae, is the only species in the Eretmochelys genus, while there is an Atlantic and an Indo-Pacific subspecies. The Hawksbill's appearance is similar to that of other marine turtles; a generally flattened body shape, protective carapace, and flipper-like arms that are adapted for swimming in the open ocean. Where Taku differs from other sea turtles is by its sharp, curving beak and the saw-like appearance of its shell margins.

Because of human fishing practices, Hawksbill populations around the world are threatened with extinction and the turtle has been classified as critically endangered by the World Conservation Union. Several countries, such as China and Japan, have valued hunting Hawksbill turtles for their flesh, which is considered a delicacy. Hawksbill turtle shells are the primary source of tortoise shell material, used for decorative purposes. By the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, it is illegal to capture and to trade in Hawksbill turtles and products derived from them in many nations.

Featured on the reverse of this bullion issue is an eye-catching, stylised depiction of Taku swimming in its natural habitat. Its name is inscribed towards the top of the coin, while the coin specifications are noted near the bottom. The obverse carries an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II together with the country and year of issue, and the nominal face value.

Each 2010 $2 Fiji Taku bullion coin is struck to brilliant uncirculated quality from 31.10 grams of 99.9% pure silver, with the turtle design perfectly detailed on the 40.70mm flan. The coin is supplied within a sealed plastic flip in a small folder that doubles as a Certificate of Authenticity.