Silver Australian Icon

The Perth Mint Australia have just issued a first with six TV icons on the one coin. This is a pure silver coin with 6 pictures that alternative on the one coin. The amazing “lenticular” reverse coin celebrated 50 years of Television in Australia with pictures of some of the most well known icons in Australian Television.

The six images, which 'morph' from one to another, portray:

Graham Kennedy - the 'King' of Australian television, who famously hosted In Melbourne Tonight and other hits including Blankety Blanks.

Playschool - the iconic programme that first went to air in 1966 and still plays a significant role in the early childhood experiences of today's kids.

Skippy - the show that launched Australia's first international TV superstar - an intelligent and resourceful kangaroo that fascinated viewers worldwide.

Countdown - the Australian music institution said to have created a spike in electricity demand every Sunday night, such was its popularity.

The Movie Show - the film connoisseurs' choice hosted by Margaret and David, whose famous spats made it irresistible to almost everyone.

The coin is proof quality 99.9 percent pure fine silver and has a unique square shape and comes with a presentation booklet and a numbers certificate of authenticity. There is a limited mintage of just 12500

Issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965, the coin depicts the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on its obverse.

Each coin is housed in a spiral-bound presentation booklet examining the appeal and greatness of each television icon portrayed on the lenticular reverse. The booklet comes in an outer cover depicting a family watching an early television set in the 1950s.

No more than 12,500 of these coins will be released by The Perth Mint, accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity

Specifications:

Coin celebrating 1956-2006 50 Years of Australian Television
Features amazing 'lenticular' reverse - six TV icons on one coin
50-Year Anniversary
Proof Quality 99.9% Pure Silver one ounce coin.
Six Lenticular Images
Australian TV Icons
Australian Legal Tender
Unusual Square Shape
Presentation Booklet
Limited Mintage 12500
Numbered Certificate of Authenticity
Cost AUD$77.27
Estimated Shipping AUD$8.25

The Silver Australian Icon coin will be much in demand and a collectors item for many years to come.

Australian Antarctic Territory Series silver coin

As per the Australian Perth Mint, the third release from The Perth Mint's popular Australian Antarctic Territory Series celebrates the establishment 20 years ago of the Edgeworth David summer base, which lies 85 kilometres inland from the Shackleton Ice Shelf in the Bunger Hills area. The base is named in honor of Australian geologist and explorer Sir Tannant William Edgeworth David, who led the first successful ascent of Mount Erebus, Antarctica’s only active volcano, and led the first team to reach the Magnetic South Pole during Shackleton’s famous expedition of 1907.

This coin is proof quality silver and like its sought after predecessors, this coin is struck from 1oz of 99.9% pure silver in proof quality.

The main design, which appears within the outline of Antarctica, is symbolic of the site of Edgeworth David, where permanent sea ice is suitable for use as an aircraft runway. Coloured elements include an Albatross and its chick, as well as the inscriptions 'EDGEWORTH DAVID BASE:1986-2006', 'Australian Antarctic Territory' and the Mint’s traditional 'P' mintmark.

The coin is Issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965, and the coin’s obverse depicts Ian Rank-Broadley’s effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Each coin is housed in a blue-colored presentation case, which comes within a stylish outer shipper. A numbered Certificate of Authenticity accompanies each coin.

There is a limited mintage of no more than 7,500 individual 1oz silver coins.

2006 Victoria Cross 50p Silver 2 Coin Set

The British Royal Mint has issued the new 2006 Victoria Cross 50p Silver Piedfort 2 coin set. These are two coins, one focusing on the award itself while the other honors the heroic acts performed. Housed in a luxurious two-coin case the fifty pence coins come complete with a colorfully-illustrated booklet with Certificate of Authenticity.

These beautifully designed, limited-edition Silver Proof Piedfort coins celebrate the sesquicentenary of the institution of the Victoria Cross. Both are struck to glorious Proof quality in sterling.925 silver

There is a Low issue limit of just 5,000 authorised to satisfy worldwide demand

The Piedfort which literally means 'heavy weight', originated in the royal courts of twelfth-century France. They were thicker than normal coins and were given as prized gifts by the King to a small number of favored dignitaries. Today, our Piedforts continue this tradition by being struck using blanks that are double the weight of their circulating counterparts – and therefore contain twice the amount of pure silver.

The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest recognition for valour 'in the face of the enemy' that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces of any rank in any service, or civilians under military command. It is also the highest award in the British Honours system and as a tribute we have struck to Proof quality two magnificent piedforts, one celebrating the heroic acts and the other dedicated to the highly regarded medal itself.

Specifications:
Housed in a luxurious two-coin case the fifty pence coins come complete with a colorfully illustrated booklet with Certificate of Authenticity. They are struck in sterling.925 silver to glorious Proof quality and a worldwide issue limit of 5,000 only.

The new 2006 Victoria Cross 50p Silver Piedfort 2 coin set coins will make a very fine addition to any enthusiastic collection of silver coins.

Sterling Silver Bullion

Sterling silver is a type of silver which has 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent other metals, most often copper. The ‘fineness’ is 925. this is different to the silver we know of in silver coins which is usually 99.9 percent or thereabouts.

Sterling silver originated in England in about the 13th century. The origins of the terms "Sterling" and "Pound Sterling" seem to be lost in time and there are many theories as to where the terms original came from. But it is certain that the term has now come to mean an agreed upon quality and standard by which other purities of the metal silver are judged.

Sterling silver objects are usually stamped with either the word "Sterling" or .925 percent or the Lion Passant mark as part of the Hallmark.

Of course this does not apply to silver coins, which nowadays, will have a silver contend higher than the sterling silver standard.

Silver coins and small bars, often known as biscuits, usually have a silver content of 99.9 percent of silver and considered pure silver. Always check the silver content when purchasing silver coins or bars.

Silver is an excellent way to store one’s assets. Silver is a steady metal and currently on a gradual rise in value, partially due to the increasing demand of countries like China but also due to the world wide shortage of silver due to lack of mining. Most silver has been obtained as a by product of mining other metals such as gold, platinum, aluminum etc. It seems unlikely that silver will be in plentiful supply world wide in the foreseeable future and likely will remain in high demand.

When buying silver bullion such as coins and bars, they should come sealed in their own protective plastic bubble, and it is inadvisable to remove this as it lets in moisture which will tarnish the silver. Also handling proof coins and bars will reduce the value as the surface of the bullion will deteriorate due to the handling. Sweat, oils, harsh skin, all can affect the surface of coins and small bars and reduce the value thereby.

The candle sticks, the soup tureens and the cutlery is really what is meant by sterling silver. There is, strictly speaking, no such thing as sterling silver bullion.