Armenia gold coin Chess Olympiad

The gold coin issued by the Central Bank of Armenia is dedicated to the victory of the Armenian male team in the 37th World Chess Olympiad. The 37th World Chess Olympiad in which 143 countries have participated was hosted by Torino, Italy from May 20 to June 4, 2006. Winning a glorious victory, the Armenian male team earned the World Cup for a two-year period.

The obverse of the gold coin depicts the symbol of the 37th World Chess Olympiad and the reverse depicts an inscription 'Gold Team of Armenia' and contains names of the chess-players: L. Aronyan, V. Hakobyan, K. Asryan, G. Sargsyan, S. Lputyan and A. Minasyan. Designed by E. Kurghinyan. Minted in Jablonex Group a.s., Division Czech Mint.

Nominal value: 10000 drams
Metal: gold 900
Weight: 8,6 gr
Diameter: 22 mm
Quality: proof
Edge: milled

Source: Central Bank of Armenia

Europe’s Largest Gold Coin

The EUR 100.000 Vienna Philharmonic, the largest gold coin in Europe and second largest in the world today, produced by Austria’s Mint, Munze Osterreich AG, to mark the 15th anniversary of the Vienna Philharmonic gold bullion coin is now on display at the OeNB’s Money Museum. Only 15 such gold coins with a diameter of 37 cm and weighing 31 kg each have been struck.Source: National Bank of Austria

Argentina 5 gold pesos 2006

Obverse: The center features the picture of a headscarf, symbol which identify the Mothers and Grandmothers of May Square. The image is encircled above by the inscription “DERECHOS HUMANOS” (“human rights”) and below, by the legend “MEMORIA, VERDAD Y JUSTICIA” (“memory, truth and justice”).
Reverse: The upper part bears “REPÚBLICA ARGENTINA” (“Argentine Republic”), below the face value “5” and the word “PESOS” and the exergue, the year of minting “2006”.
Face value: 5
Weight: 8,064 g
Diameter: 22mm
Quality: proof
Composition: 900 gold / 100 cooper
Presentation: 1,000 individual boxes and 500 dual boxes (gold/silver), with acrylic case and authenticity certificate
Mint: Monnaie de Paris
Number of pieces: 1.500
Human rights are inherent to people, regardless of sex, race, age, religion, political party or social, cultural or economic condition. In the Argentine Republic, the military junta that took control of government from 1976 to 1983 left thousands of detainee-missing people as a consequence of a policy of terrorism of State.
In addition, many children, who were snatched from hundreds of mothers and pregnant women, were born in captivity and deprived of their right to know their true identity. These developments were a flagrant violation of Human Rights.
In 1976, a small group of mothers and grandmothers decided to raise their voices to the world in search of their missing children and grandchildren, identifying themselves with white scarves over their heads. From then on, and even though many Agencies for the Defence of Human Rights have denounced these crimes against humanity, this kind of scarf became the supreme symbol of this struggle.
The issuance of this series of commemorative coins, quality “Circulated” in copper-nickel and quality “Proof” in gold and silver, pays homage to both the victims of this genocide and those who have showed their commitment, effort and hope in the search of MEMORY, TRUTH, and JUSTICE over the last thirty years.
Part of the circulated pieces -5,000- come in cardboard packs with a short history and the issue specifications. Coins in these packs have a special characteristic they have a milled edge.

Source: Central Bank of Argentina

South Africa 2010 Gold coins for World Cup

South Africa has unveiled a set of new gold coins with the emblem of the 2010 World Cup. The coins are decorated with both the South African and German Coat-of-Arms a symbol of the hand-over from the 2006 German World Cup to South Africa. The coins can be bought at the Mint’s coin world shop in Midrand, for $599 each.
Deputy General Manager Natanya Van Niekerk of South Africa Mint said the quarter ounce (OZ) gold coins formed part of a special launch set for the FIFA World Cup coin series. The miniature image of Soccer City that was recently renamed and reconstructed to become one of the most artistic football venues on the African continent has been placed in the reverse of the gold coin.
The stadium will host the first and final match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. A one oz gold coin will be added on next year’s 2010 FIFA coin series as well as a series of pure silver medallions. Van Niekerk said in 2007 South Africa Mint added another coin to the series to celebrate the 2010 South African World Cup by adding a 1/10 oz coin. In 2008 three coins were introduced and in 2009, the World Cup mascot, Zakumi took centre stage on all three coins.
Source: Africa News

Russian Gold 10 Ruble 1911

Czar Nicholas II design (Minted 1897-1911)


Russian 10 Ruble gold coins are fascinating relics of Imperial Russia. Minted from 1897 to 1911, they are equivalent in size to British gold sovereigns of the same era, yet they are many times scarcer than sovereigns. Prior to the discovery of the Nordic Gold Hoard in the early 1990s, these coins were almost impossible to find in mint condition!
The Last Czar
Nicholas II (1868-1918), the last Czar of Russia, ruled from 1896 to 1917. Studious and well educated, Nicholas was widely considered to be the most intelligent of his contemporary European monarchs, but contradictions in his character led to inconsistency in his reign. Although gentle, approachable, and undemanding in private life, as a ruler he was arbitrary, unyielding, and almost completely unable to relate his subjects, setting the stage for the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917.
The Mad Monk!
Nicholas’ reign also saw the rise to power of Grigory Rasputin, the Mad Monk, one of the most scandalous figures in Russian history. A drunken, womanizing Siberian mystic, Rasputin arrived in St. Petersburg in 1911 and quickly became one of the most influential men in Russia, virtually ruling while Nicholas was away at war. Rasputin’s rise was due to his close relationship with the Empress Alexandra and his unique ability to staunch the bleeding of her hemophiliac son, Alexei. In late 1916 a group of aristocrats, believing that only Rasputin’s death could save Russia from revolution, had him poisoned, bludgeoned, shot, and stuffed under the heavy ice of a frozen river. Nonetheless, Russia was soon lost. Forced to abdicate March of 1917, Nicholas II and his family were shot to death in Yekatinburg on July 16, 1918.
Easily matched in sets with Nicolas II 5 ruble gold coins, these Russian 10 ruble gold coins are a wonderful tribute to the glory of pre-communist Russia, and deserve a place in every collection!

French 20 Franc Gold Angel

In 1871, the French 20 Franc Gold Angel design was resurrected from the 1793 “Guardian Angel” design was originally created during the French Revolution by Augustine Dupré. On the obverse, a winged angel inscribes the inspired French Constitution, set on a pedestal above Dupré’s signature. To its left is a fasces, the ancient Roman symbol of authority later used on the U.S. Mercury dime. To its right a proud rooster symbolizes the fighting spirit of the Republic. The reverse displays a laurel wreath of peace and achievement.

The Legend of the “Lucky Angel”

Gold Angels were nearly always regarded as lucky. During the Reign of Terror in the mid-1790s, the coin’s designer, Augustus Dupré, claimed to have been saved from the guillotine by the lucky Angel gold coin in his pocket. Dupré is said to make a quick prayer as he knelt beneath the deadly blade. A bolt of lightning then struck nearby, igniting a panic and halting his execution. Within six months Dupré was released, after which he always remained thankful for protective the coin’s protection.
The Angel’s reputation for good luck stuck. Mid-19th century Captains seldom went to sea without one. French pilots in World War I rarely took flight without a gold Angel coin in their pocket. During World War II, the chief of Hitler’s Luftwaffe, Hermann Goering, presented them to ace German fighter pilots as rewards for every fifth Allied plane shot down.
These lovely coins are an excellent choice for coin collectors and gold bullion investors alike. Minted from 1871 to 1898, “Angels” remain a high value for the price.

Serbian 1882 gold coin

In 1882, Serbia was proclaimed Kingdom, and King Milan its king. To mark that, and with a view to showing the new status of the state and its ruler on money as well, gold coins in 10- and 20-dinar denominations were issued the same year. At that time, in the absence of their own mint, the Obrenovićs used the services of the Royal Mint in Vienna. The 20-dinar gold coin, which in its production technique, appearance and value corresponded to the gold “Napoleon d’or” French coins, is popularly called “Milan’s coin” or “milandor” (Milan d’or). The recto features the King’s portrait with the inscription MILAN I KING OF SERBIA and the signature of A. Scharff, the engraver, whereas the verso bears the inscription of the value (20 dinars), year of issue (1882) and a wreath of laurel and oak leaves, with the Serbian royal crown on top. GOD SAVES SERBIA is inscribed on the rim of the coin.

Russia 200 Rubles Gold coin

The gold coin of 200 Rubles denomination "Figure-Skating" (fine precious metal content 31.1 g, fineness 999/1000, catalogue number 5219-0015, diameter 33.0 mm, mintage 500 pcs.).
The rim is raised on both sides of the coin.
The obverse: the relief picture of the Emblem of the Bank of Russia - the two headed eagle with wings down, and the semicircular inscription under it – "БАНК РОССИИ" (BANK OF RUSSIA). The inscriptions along the rim divided by dots indicate the denomination of the coin "ДВЕСТИ РУБЛЕЙ" (TWO HUNDRED RUBLES) and the year of issue "2009", between them – the indication of the metal sign in accordance with the D.I. Mendeleyev Periodic System of Chemical Elements, the fineness, the trade mark of the St. Petersburg Mint and the fine precious metal content.
The reverse: stylized relief image of a female figure-skater.

The edge of the coin is corrugated.

Source National Bank of Russia

Romanian 500 Lei gold coin

The 170th anniversary of the birth of King Carol I
Gold Coin
Face Value: 500 LEI;
Type of Metal: Gold 999/1000;
Weight: 31.1030 grams;
Dimension: Diameter 35 mm;
Edge: smooth;
Quality: proof;
Issue volume: 250 ;
The coat-of-arms of Romania; the year of issue - 2009 and the face value of the gold coin - 500 LEI; Peleş Castle in a laurel garland and the inscription "ROMANIA" engraved circularly.

At the centre, the portrait of King Carol I and the great coat-of-arms of the Kingdom of Romania; to the left and to the right, the years 1839 and 2009; on the outer ring, the circular inscriptions "NIHIL SINE DEO" above and "CAROL I REGE" down.

Source National Bank of Romania

Jamaica 250 $ gold coin

The Bank of Jamaica has authorised the Pob Joy Mint to manufacture a limited number of superb Gold Proof $250 coins as a tribute to Jamaica’s outstanding performance at the 29th Olympiad of the modern era. The Olympic Games of 2008 were held in Beijing, China and millions of spectators around the world watched the very best of the world’s sportsmen and sportswomen win a deserved place in sporting history.
Jamaican athletes once again displayed excellence in track and field by winning 6 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals at the same time establishing three World and two Olympic records.
The reverse of this exquisite proof Commemorative Gold Coin, modelled by PobJoy Mint engraver, Barry Stanton, displays Jamaica’s seven gold medal winners, cum record breakers, Usain Bolt, Michael Frater, Asafa Powell, Nesta Carter (4 x 100m relay), Veronica Campbell-Brown (200m), Melaine Walker (400m hurdles) and Shelley-Ann Fraser (100m).
The obverse bears the Jamaica Coat of Arms.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Denomination: $250
Alloy: 0.916 AU ( 22 Carat Gold)
Diameter: 38.61 mm
Weight: 31.103 gms
Shape: Round
Edge: Milled
Minting Limit: 2,000

Source: Bank of Jamaica

1 Deutsche mark 2001 gold coin

Germany has recently released 1 million gold one mark coins to commemorate the retirement of the mark currency. This used 12 tonnes of gold. Apparently the whole issue sold out within an hour. We are currently trying to get more details, and will publish them here when we get further news.

Specifications

Diameter 23.5 mms.
Weight 11.85 grams
Alloy .999 Gold
Issue Limit 100,000