Numismatic World
Vancouver 2010 Winter Games commemorative coin collection
Art and coins come together in the launch of a series of commemorative coins for the 2010 Winter Games.Beginning in February and spanning the period up until Games time, the Royal Canadian Mint will unveil an extensive Olympic and Paralympic-related coin collection. With expressive designs created by Canadian artists, these coins offer an opportunity to relive the Games for years to come. The first modern Olympic-themed coins were struck to commemorate the 1952 Olympic Summer Games
Over the next three years, 17 coins will be put into circulation encompassing the most extensive Olympic Games circulation coin program ever undertaken by a Mint: from two commemorative Lucky Loonies to 25-cent winter sport-themed coins to a unique series offering Canadians the opportunity to vote on the athletes featured in its design.
“Taking into account the subject and the sport as well as who the audience is, is integral to the designing of coins,” says commemorative coin designer Steve Hepburn of Richmond, BC. “It’s important to convey a sense of what makes that sport special or different from others, and to make it visually appealing while remaining true to the sport and its intricacies.”
Numismatic, or collector coins, are detailed works of art worth far more than their face value and are sought by collectors as commemorative treasures and gifts.
“The audience for collector coins is more specific than that for circulation coins,” says Hepburn. “When designing collector coins, there is more artistic freedom and room to be less conventional.”
When designing collector coins Hepburn says “size and readability is a challenge. I worked on designs many times larger than the final product to ensure clean, crisp lines with good proportions. It’s very important to remove unnecessary details and information to make a strong-reading design at its final size.”
One of the design challenges Hepburn says is, “What looks good at 8 feet across may be a jumbled, unrecognizable mess when reduced to one inch. It’s important to involve the viewer when designing coins and to make them as interesting as possible by using perspective, angles and foreshortening.”
“I love sports,” says Hepburn. “When the Mint called, I was thrilled to be part of the project. I consider myself quite patriotic so the Olympic Games carry great importance to me. They’re always exciting and with them being in my backyard in 2010, it’ll be a year to remember. Go Canada, Go!”
Canadians can purchase the commemorative coins through the Royal Canadian Mint’s website. Circulation coins are available at RBC Financial Group and participating Petro-Canada locations. Canadians can also look for these coins in their change – the first coin, curling, will begin circulating on February 23. 2010 Australian Gold Nugget Bullion
Santa Christmas 2009 Gold Select
Santa Claus has been a centerpiece of Christmas fantasies for countless children everywhere, and a symbol of giving for family and friends every holiday season.
This silver proof coin commemorates Santa and is minted in 1 troy ounce of .999 fine silver, with selective plating in 24-karat gold. The obverse features the jolly old likeness of Santa himself, along with the words, "Christmas 2009." The reverse has the text "Season's Greetings" with space available for engraving. The coin is enclosed in a lucite capsule, and comes in a museum quality leatherette presentation box with a certificate of authenticity.
Santa Christmas 2009 Silver
Santa Claus has been a centerpiece of Christmas fantasies for countless children everywhere, and a symbol of giving for family and friends every holiday season.This silver proof coin commemorates Santa and is minted in 1 troy ounce of .999 fine silver. The obverse features the jolly old likeness of Santa himself, along with the words, "Christmas 2009." The reverse has the text "Season's Greetings" with space available for engraving. The coin is enclosed in a lucite capsule, and comes in a museum quality leatherette presentation box with a certificate of authenticity.
2010 Calendar Medal and Lucky Token from Austrian Mint
The Austrian Mint has produced 2010 Calendar Medals and Lucky Tokens in continuation of the ongoing series. These new issues are a great way to celebrate 2010 and bring good fortune for the new year!
The 2010 Calendar Medal honors the year's regent Apollo, the sun god. Designed and engraved by the Mint’s Chief Engraver Thomas Pesedorfer, the medal depicts the mighty Apollo also know as Helios in Greek mythology. Apollo's personification by the sun is highlighted in the rays of light surrounding him. He points to the sun and the words, "Jahr der Sonne", or "Year of the Sun", appear around the upper left edge of the medal. Apollo masterfully controls his four winged stallions with one hand as they pull his chariot through the sky.
In the background the mighty lion is represented, which is the ascendant sign to Leo. The sign that is present at the time of birth governs our personality, and appearance. The hard working, loyal, and maybe somewhat conservative Leo’s will shine in 2010. Those born under the sign of Leo will find the year 2010 particularly meaningful.
On the other side of the medal all the Sundays are depicted as rays of sunlight emanating from the central figure underlining the bright year that 2010 represents.
The calendar medal has been an Austrian tradition since the 1930’s. Annually the medal changes to reflect a respective year’s regent and astrological ruler. The calendar medal is struck in 900 fine silver, weighs 26 grams and has a diameter of 40 millimetres.
The 2010 Lucky Token features our lucky friend, the chimney sweep takes flight, in a hot air balloon and travels the world. Warm soft breezes help him spread good luck through the four leaf clovers he sprinkles from above to all corners of the globe.
The other side of the token carries the traditional verse that loosely translated means: "Although I am small and round I will bring you luck all year round."
The lucky token has been an annual tradition since the 1930’s. People give them to their friends and family who will carry them for a year in their pockets and purses just for a wee bit of extra luck throughout the coming year.
2010 Presidential Dollar Designs Released
Designer and Engraver: Don Everhart
The obverse of each coin will feature a portrait of the President with inscriptions of the President's name, order of the Presidency, years served, and the motto "In God We Trust". The reverse of each coin will feature the rendition of the Statue of Liberty designed and sculpted by Don Everhart. Reverse inscriptions include "United States of America" and "$1". The date, mint mark, and motto "E Pluribus Unum" will appear on the edge of the coin with thirteen stars.
Designer: Susan Gamble Engraver: Charles Vickers
Desiger and Engraver: Phebe Hemphill
2010 Australian Gold Nugget Bullion Coins
The 2010 Australian Gold Nuggets were released on 1st October 2008. We have them in stock now for immediate delivery.
Actually, we have now sold out of the one ounce version (it only took days), and are just awaiting our next order (3,000 pieces).
2010 One Ounce Nugget
As with many new issues, they remain a premium price item for some time after issue. We usually incur extra costs in ensuring rapid availability, for pure bullion coins at the best prices, please see our other pages, but if you are looking for an interesting and unusual gift, then next year's new coins take some beating!
We are accepting advance orders.
Prices and Availability
Sample prices based on gold at £600 per ounce. Please check current price and availability before ordering.
2010 Gold Sovereigns - St. George & Dragon Design
We received or first delivery of 2010 gold sovereigns in November 2009
Russian Gold Coins
In earlier days, Russia issued gold kopeks, ducats, poltinas, and novodels. In more recent times, most of the gold coins have been roubles or multiples of roubles.
We give below the specifications of most of the more frequently encountered Imperial Russian gold coins, followed by a stock list of any we have for sale.
Demand Outweighs Supply
During the early months of 2007 we sold out of nearly all of our Russian Imperial gold coins, and have struggled to replace them. In June 2007 we were advised that gold coins from the Russian Empire were selling for over double the price of their intrinsic gold content. We believe that these are slightly crazy prices so we won't be buying any from the trade at these prices. If we do manage to source any at a reasonable price we will update this page accordingly.
Reverse of Russian 15 Roubles of 1897
The Very Highest Quality Platinum Coins
Platinum coins are subject to VAT in the UK, so we have not until recently offered new platinum bullion coins, however, we can now obtain and supply them to special order. If demand is sufficiently high, we will start to carry them in stock.
BI-METALLIC RUSSIAN COINS HONOR HISTORICAL TOWNS
2002 Russian cities coins
2005 Russian cities coins
2006 Russian cities coins
2007 Russian cities coins
2008 Russian cities coins
In 2002 Russia began an annual program that each year commemorates some of their historical towns on bi-metallic 10 Ruble coins. The coins picture the city and its arms on one side and has the standard Russian 10 Ruble obverse on the other. The 2002 series was the first in the series. It honored the towns Kostroma, Starya Russa and Derbent. The 2003 series consists of 4 coins, commemorating the historic cities of Kasimov, Dorogobuzh, Murmom and Pskov. The 2004 series consists of 3 coins and honored the towns of Dmitgrov, Kemy and Riyazhsk. The 2005 series honors the towns of Mcensk, Kazan, Borovsk and Kaliningrad. The 2006 Series honored the towns of Torzhok, Kargopol and Belograd. The 2007 series pictured the towns of Gdov, Veliky Ustyug and Vologada. The 2008 Historic towns are Azov, Prioziorsk, Smolensk and Vladimir.
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