The Perth Mint of Australia has launched an innovative rotating coin commemorating the first man in space. The legal-tender, 1 oz silver coin celebrates the journey of Yuri Gagarin, who became the first person to enter space and orbit Earth for 1 hour 48 minutes aboard Vostok 1 on April 12, 1961.
The limited minted coin marks the second release in the Perth Mint’s successful Orbit and Beyond Coin Series.
Gagarin’s flight ushered in a new era of manned space exploration that the 2008 Yuri Gagarin silver proof coin memorializes in a most unique way.
The .999 fine silver coin is constructed to rotate or "orbit" around a central brass representation of a colorful earth.
Equally colorful is the outer reverse or tails design bearing a "montage of images" symbolizing Gagarin’s journey and the border inscriptions "1961 FIRST MAN IN SPACE – YURI GAGARIN."
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The British Royal Mint has announced the sale of the extremely limited 2008 UK Queen Elizabeth I £5 Piedfort Platinum Proof Coin, and only days after releasing the four-coin silver proof Piedforts.
The platinum coin, like its sister silver version, has the piedfort-style double weight and thickness. It’s on sale for a whopping £5250 (~$10,264 USD). Too high? Set aside the coin’s beauty and consider only its limited 150 issuance and 3 ounce platinum content. You might just reconsider.
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The Royal Mint launched their very limited 2008 UK Silver Proof Piedfort Four-Coin Collection for £249.95 (~$490 USD). Piedfort coins are unique with their contrasting double weight and thickness. The name ‘Piedfort’ (Pee-ay-fore) actually comes from the French word meaning "heavy measure."
The four coin silver proof collection includes the £1 coin bearing a fresh rendition of the Royal Arms, and this year’s three commemorative coins:
- £5 pieces honouring the 450th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth I
- £5 pieces honouring the 60th birthday of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and
- the bi-colour £2 coin marking the centenary of the Olympic Games held in London in 1908
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Federal Mint Swissmint has launched a new several year commemorative coin series celebrating historical mountain railways. The first commemorative out of the gate is the 20 Swiss franc silver coin, the "Vitznau-Rigi Railway," honoring Europe’s first mountain railway.
Artist Benno K. Zehnder designed the coin and portrays the cog railway on the Rigi in the form of a playing card. Separated by letters ascending to the right is a modern railway engine and under the "Vitznau-Rigi Railway" heading is a historical steam engine.
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Dallas, TX. The Official Auction of the ANA’s Phoenix National Money Show, presented by Heritage Auction Galleries March 6-7 has concluded, with prices realized close to $10 million; this marked Heritage’s 37th official auction on behalf of the American Numismatic Association. Prices realized from the 2,000 lots included in the event currently stand at $9,671,627; after adding proceeds from all Post Auction Buys, total prices are expected to exceed $10 million. Images, descriptions, and prices realized are currently posted at Heritage’s HA.com website.
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The British Royal Mint is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the decimal £1 coin with two special and spectacular 14-coin proof collector sets. The rare commemorative 22-carat gold proof set and the .925 sterling silver proof collection each bear reverse designs that have been used on pound coins during the last twenty-five years.
Both sets of coins look exceptional. One thing, however … Do not get too excited about the gold proof set. The coins are already extremely rare. With the Mint only producing 150 sets worldwide, few will ever see them in person.
For an added contrast to the silver proof coins, the Royal Mint added 24-karat gold plating to each coin’s designs, making them "pop" with extra detail.
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The bimetallic Golden Eagle commemorative coin is now available from the Federal Mint Swissmint. The Golden Eagle coin is the second of four commemoratives released within the 4-year "Swiss National Park" commemorative series. The design of the new coin portrays an eagle with wings spread, claws extended and body powerfully positioned to land. While the [...]
Dallas, TX. Bidding described as “astronomical,” “incredible,” “feverish,” and “stunning” greeted the long awaited Large Cent Collection of Walter Husak at Heritage’s Official Auction of the February 14-16, 2008 Long Beach Coin Expo.
Prices Realized from the Husak consignment exceeded $10.7 million, and another $4.6 million from the Southwest Collection, with these two incredible consignments (out of 220 consignors) accounting for half of the proceeds.
After adding proceeds from the Token and Medal session, the Final Session Auction and all Post Auction Buys, the total prices realized are expected to exceed $25 million.
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New 2008 commemorative £2 coins celebrating the centenary of the 4th Olympiad in London are available from the British Royal Mint. The attractive, limited edition commemorative coins comes in Brilliant Uncirculated and Proof versions with each bearing a unique reverse design honouring the centenary of the London Olympic Games of 1908.
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The United States Mint has 
