Mint of Poland Issue Romeo And Juliet Silver Coin To Start New Series

Kicking off a series of stunning silver coins struck at the Mint of Poland (Mennica Polska) entitled "Famous Love Stories", this captivating new release is dedicated to the tragic tale of Romeo and Juliet.


2010 $1 Romeo And Juliet Silver Proof

Romeo and Juliet is a Shakespearean drama presenting the tragic love of two young people whose story has become a model for romantic lovers. The play was written between 1591 and 1595 and was inspired heavily from the Italian romantic story "The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet" (1562) by Arthur Brooke, which had already been retold as "Paradise of Pleasure" (1582) by William Painter.

The play tells the story of Romeo, a member of the Montague family of Verona, and Juliet, the daughter of the rival Capulet family. The Capulets and Montagues are warring families opposed on every front, the patriarchs of each family stubborn in their respective prides. Upon a first look Romeo and Juliet fall in love and are secretly wed by a sympathetic priest, motivated by the ideal that these two young lovers might bring peace to the war between the families. However when Romeo is banished from Verona for a revenge killing, Juliet is forced into an arranged marriage - one she tries to get out of by taking a drug that puts her in a "death-like state" for several hours. Juliet's family, believing her to be dead, lay her to rest in the family crypt. Romeo's servant, Balthazar, sees Juliet within the crypt and tells Romeo that his beloved has died. Overcome with grief, Romeo obtains a vial of poison with the intention of joining his love in the afterlife. He returns to Verona and seals himself in the crypt where Juliet lays, drinking the poison and dying beside her. At that moment Juliet awakes to see Romeo's lifeless body, and succumbing to her own grief takes her life using Romeo's dagger. Both families discover the bodies of their children and swear to overlook their differences from then on.

This beautifully crafted silver proof coin is the first in a series which will also feature tributes to Samson and Delilah and Paris and Helen of Troy, amongst others. The reverse design of this coin features an image of the star cross'd lovers staring lovingly into each others eyes. Around them are traditional renaissance patterns. The obverse, which is common to to the "Famous Love Stories" series, shows a figure of Anteros, Greek God of requited love. The design is inspired by the statue located at Piccadilly Circus in London, which is known as the Angel of Christian Charity. Above is an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, while inscribed around the bottom rim is the country and year of issue along with the nominal face value of the coin.

Each superb collector coin is struck by the Mint of Poland from 28.28 grams of 92.5% sterling silver on a 38.61mm flan by the authority of the island nation of Niue to exacting proof quality. The coin is encapsulted with a mintage of just 9,000 issues released worldwide.

Perth Mint Struck Silver Coin Celebrates 200th Anniversary of First Australian Horse Race

A pulsating sport, a vibrant industry and an obsession for millions of people across the country, Australian horse racing was founded exactly 200 years ago, when the first official race meeting took place in Sydney. Struck by Australia’s own Perth Mint, this spectacular precious metal Proof forms an exclusive, eye catching tribute to the bicentenary of this major landmark in Australian history.


Tuvalu 2010 $1 First Official Australian Horse Race 1oz Silver Proof

One of many major advances made during the time of Australia’s fifth Governor, Lachlan Macquarie (1810-21), in part aimed at integrating a divided colonial population, Australia’s first official race meeting took place at Hyde Park in October 1810. A significant moment in the life of the infant colony, the meeting drew huge crowds, with the vitality and colour of this gala event captured perfectly upon the 40.60mm frame of the 2010 $1 First Official Australian Horse Race Bicentenary 1oz Silver Proof.

An outstanding addition to any collection, and a brilliant tribute to an event that would have a major impact on the course of Australian history, this unique .999 fine silver coin is extremely exclusive. A release of immensely broad appeal – certain to catch the eye of racing devotees as much as collectors – the mintage of 5,000 is sure to be placed under huge pressure.

The brainchild of Australia’s fifth Governor, Lachlan Macquarie (1810-21), Australia’s first official horse race meeting took place in October 1810 at the new Sydney Racecourse in Hyde Park.

Ever the visionary, Macquarie believed a racecourse would serve to integrate what was then a divided society, with official horse race meetings providing an atmosphere where colonists of all classes – military, convict, emancipist and immigrant – might be encouraged to mix freely. Soon after Hyde Park had been gazetted as a ‘common’ by the Governor, who had dedicated ‘recreation and amusement’, it became the venue for Australia’s first official horse race meeting.

The racecourse was funded by public subscription, and established by the 73rd Regiment – Macquarie’s regiment. Macquarie’s men not only built the track, but the officers of the regiment devised the rules and organised the event, with many of them owning competing horses. Held over three days on the 15th, 17th and 19th of October, 1810, the meeting comprised of a main race on each day – a best-of-three contest over a distance of 2 miles – as well as several minor races. Captain Ritchie won the main race on the first day of Australia’s first official horse race meeting, with a 6-year-old gelding named Chase. Part of what was described as ‘by far the most numerous assemblage of persons ever before collected in the colony’, Governor Macquarie attended all three days of the meet, and the event was dubbed a grand success.

The foundation stone of Australia’s rich history of horse racing – an activity embedded in our national culture – the bicentenary of this landmark event has been rightly recognised with the release of the 2010 $1 First Official Horse Race 1oz Silver Proof.

Extinct?

This teaser confirms what ECI has been hoping for some time - a new coin release, featuring a particular extinct Australian marsupial. We hope to be able to provide more information in the coming days but this is an exciting discovery indeed, one that keen buyers should be on the watch for.

Stay tuned and follow ECI on Twitter or join our Facebook page to be notified the minute this exciting new release makes it's appearance on September 1. High demand is expected.

Austrian Mint Issues Next "Rome On The Danube" Silver Coin

September 8, 2010: The Austrian Mint will be releasing the 2nd in their fresh new series dedicated to various Roman cities along the Danube River. This latest issue, coming after the Virunium coin that started the series, is dedicated to Vindobona - the Roman military camp that grew to become Austria's capital city, Vienna!


Austria 2010 20€ Rome On The Danube Vindobona Silver Proof

The name Vindobona comes from the Celtic words for "blessed" and "base/bottom", and was presumably named for the geological position of the original Celtic settlement. Apart from growing to become the city we now know as Vienna, Vindobona is also noted for being the location of emperor Marcus Aurelius' death in March 180A.D. Remains of the Roman military camp have been found at many sites in the centre of Vienna, with over 3000 stamped bricks, several stone monuments and written sources proving that several legions, cavalry units and marines were stationed in Vindobona.

The obverse of the coin shows Marcus Aurelius on horseback in the legionary fortress of Vindobona. An officer of his imperial guard stands beside him, while another hands the emperor a scroll bearing an important message. In the background one of the double gates of the fort with its twin defensive towers can be seen; perhaps the porta decumana that opened up on the defensive ditch to the south, today’s Graben. The scene is based on an ancient marble relief depicting the Marcomanni Wars. The ragged edge at the top symbolises the border along the River Danube.

The reverse side shows a centurion proudly inspecting the soldiers of his centuria (nominally 100, but in reality 60-80 men) drawn up on the via principalis, the main road of the fortress crossing from east to west. In the background is the porta principalis dextra (the principal right-hand gate). The centurion wears a transverse crest on his helmet, a sign of his rank. The legionaries stand with their rectangular body shields holding the Roman spear or pilum.

This 20 euro coin, with it's intricately detailed designs, is struck to the Austrian Mint's stringent proof specifications, from 18 grams of 90% fine silver. Each silver coin is encapsulated and presented within an official Austrian Mint box, accompanied by an individually numbered Certificate of Authenticity confirming the mintage of only 50,000 coins struck.

The Rome On The Danube Collection Case, with room to house the entire series of coins may be purchased separately.

Perth Mint August Releases!

August 3, 2010 - The Perth Mint have released their new release products for August, containing some exciting issues sure to get the collector palate salivating! The first of these, and sure to generate the biggest demand, is the second in the already hugely popular silver series entitled "Bush Babies".




Australia 2010 50c Bush Baby Sugar Glider 1/2oz Silver Proof

Devoted to the native Sugar Glider, the coin features an adorable depiction of this gliding marsupial as a youngster. The coin is struck from 1 ounce (31.10 grams) of 99.9% fine silver on a 36.60mm flan. A truly wondrous release, designed to inspire a new generation of collectors, the Sugar Glider 50 cent silver coin comes on the hot heels of the Baby Kangaroo (Joey) coin released two months ago and selling out within days. Expectations are therefore high with this one, and with future releases featuring the Dingo pup, baby Bilby and Koala cub, the entire series looks set to be hot property amongst collectors. Each coin is encapsulated and presented in an official Perth Mint jewel case with full-colour outer box, accompanied by an individually numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

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Also part of a hot pursued silver series comes this latest issue in the Famous Naval Battles series! Released as the third coin in the 5-coin series, this latest issue is dedicated to the Battle of Hampton Roads of 1862 - also known as the very first battle between ironclad warships!


Cook Islands 2010 $1 Great Naval Battles Hampton Roads 1oz Silver Proof

The Battle of Hampton Roads occurred as part of the American Civil War (1861-1865), and this stunning coin recalls the encounter between the Confederate ironclad ram, Virginia, and the North's ironclad Union Monitor in 1862. Fighting for several hours, neither ship could land a decisive blow - their armour-plating proving extremely effective - and the course of naval battles was changed forever! Coming after the already sold out "Salamis" battle coin, and the popular "Trafalgar" issue, the Hampton Roads $1 battle coin is similarly struck from 31.10 grams (1 ounce) of 99.9% fine silver on a 40.60mm flan. The design shows an awesome warship struck in silver against a backdrop of iron cladding, with a full-colour design showing the fierce battle in progress enhancing the coin using the Perth Mint's expert colour printing technology. Each coin is also supplied in an official case and outer box, with numbered Certificate attesting to the exclusive mintage of just 5000 coins worldwide.

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Celebrating the tiny world of backyard bugs is the next in the mint's young collectors $1 collection series. After the success of the 2008 Wildlife and 2009 Space collections, this eye-catching series designed to introduce young people to the joys of collecting, sees focus placed on our insect friends, an arena overlooked by many but beautifully captivating on legal tender one dollar issues!


Australia 2010 $1 Young Collectors Backyard Bugs Collection

Featuring 9 separate coins, each featuring a different backyard bug (Redback Spider, Praying Mantis, Ladybird, Grasshopper, Dragonfly, Cicada, Birdwing Butterfly, Bull Ant, Blowfly), the 2010 collection continues the tradition of excellent value-for-money by including an array of high quality extras. These include a comprehensive information booklet, incorporating a Certificate of Authenticity, a range of bug stickers, a ladybird poster and a magnifying glass - perfect for examining these glorious, brilliant uncirculated coins or actual bugs you find in your own backyard! The entire collection is beautifully bound in a brilliantly illustrated presentation album depicting a bugs-eye view of an Australian backyard! A perfect gift for children or grandchildren aspiring to collecting as a hobby!

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Lastly, but certainly not least, comes a truly lasting tribute to Australia's most famous exploring duo, Burke and Wills, and their fateful expedition to cross the outback. Not just content to issue a stunning $1 brilliant uncirculated coin to honour these great pioneers, the Perth Mint has released a philatelic/numismatic cover, known as a PNC, containing the coin as well as a specially designed postage stamp!


Australia 2010 $1 Burke & Wills PNC

Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the duo's ill-fated expedition, this beautifully designed cover - featuring a depiction of the 15,000 strong Melbourne crowd who saw Burke and Wills off in August 1860 - is a symbolic tribute to the pioneering spirit upon which the Australian nation was built. Officially released from Australian Post, this new PNC represents the most affordable was to honour their successful, if ultimately tragic, attempt to cross the Continent. Graced with an official Australia Post 60c stamp and headlined by the unique $1 Australian legal tender coin - not to be issued into general circulation - this historic and eye-catching PNC is well within the reach of all collectors at the mint's Official Issue Price!

New Silver Coin Commemorating Australian Aviator Sir Charles Kingsford Smith

Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the untimely demise of Australia’s greatest aviation pioneer – Sir Charles Kingsford Smith (1897-1935) – this brilliantly designed precious metal Proof has inspired predictably strong demand.


2010 $1 Charles Kingsford Smith 1oz Silver Proof

Whilst interest in this official legal tender issue can be attributed to the iconic status of ‘Smithy’ – a national hero as big as Don Bradman and Phar Lap – the demand is largely due to the outstanding quality of the coin. Uniting one of the most famous portraits of Smithy with a depiction of his plane, the Southern Cross, contrasting beautifully with a fully ‘struck-up’ depiction of the globe, this exclusive release represents a dramatic combination of stunning full-colour and glorious Proof quality.

Commanding the attention of modern coin collectors, as well as aviation buffs, initial demand for the Perth Mint-struck 2010 $1 Kingsford Smith 1oz Silver Proof has soared sky-high. With the mintage restricted to 5,000, now is the time to guarantee supply of this memorable Silver Proof – whilst still available at Official Issue Price.

Mint Of Poland Kick Off Exciting New "Skies" Silver Coin Series

Mennica Polska (Mint of Poland) have begun an exciting new silver series entitled "How Man Conquered the Skies". The unique, rectangular-shaped coins, stuck in the highest quality proof condition, have been released to celebrate the dream of man taking to the skies - and how that dream became a reality! The series kicks off with the tragic tale of Icarus, taken from ancient Greek Mythology.


Niue 2010 $1 Icarus Silver Proof

The myth tells the doomed story of Icarus, who is imprisoned with his father Daedalus on the island of Crete by Kind Minos. Daedalus was a skilled craftsman from Athens who had built the Labyrinth for the King to hold the mighty Minotaur. He and Icarus were exiled to Crete for giving the ball of yarn to Ariadne, the King's daughter, to help Theseus, who was an enemy of Minos, survive the Labyrinth and defeat the Minotaur.

To escape their imprisonment, Daedalus fashion two pairs of wings from wax and feathers, and told his son before they took off not to fly too close to the sun or too close to the sea. In his wanton curiosity and excitement of taking flight, Icarus forgot his father's words and flew towards the sun, where the waxed part of the wings melted and the feathers dropped away. Icarus fell to his death in the sea that now bears his name (Icarian Sea).

Creating a superb design that beautifully captures the mythological tale of Icarus and his wings, the master craftspeople at Mennica Polska have outdone themselves. Honouring this timeless story with a reverse image that features Icarus and his wings, with the nearby sun set as a stylised icon, the Mint has created a truly eye-catching work of art to kick off what is sure to be a popular series of silver coins. Featured on the obverse are various modes of flight along with the title of the series, the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, and the nominal face value.

Each coin is struck in a 40.00mm x 28.00mm rectangular format, from 28 grams of 92.5% sterling silver, and is supplied in a specially designed capsule, accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity confirming the exclusive worldwide mintage of just 6000 coins!