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!