Sunday, June 10, 2012

TULIP LADYBUG Venetian Glass Murano Silver Coin $20 Canada Mint 2011


 This is the first coin ever to be embellished with Venetian glass, a world-renowned glass prized for its clarity and extremely vibrant colours.

Each glass ladybug was handcrafted by a master-glassmaker in Murano, Italy. They combined Venetian glass with a unique coloured design to deliver a coin that boasts new and unrivalled dimension. Crafted to perfection, each is an eye-catching work of art.

Ladybug

Coccinellidae is a family of beetles, known variously as ladybirds (UK, Ireland, Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Malta, some parts of Canada and the US), or ladybugs (North America). Scientists increasingly prefer the names ladybird beetles or lady beetles as these insects are not true bugs.

Lesser-used names include ladyclock, lady cow, and lady fly. Coccinellids are small insects, ranging from 1 mm to 10 mm (0.04 to 0.4 inches), and are commonly yellow, orange, or scarlet with small black spots on their wing covers, with black legs, head and antennae. A very large number of coccinellid species are mostly, or entirely, black, grey, or brown and may be difficult for non-entomologists to recognize as coccinellids.

Conversely, there are many small beetles that are easily mistaken for coccinellids, such as the tortoise beetles. Coccinellids are found worldwide, with over 5,000 species described, more than 450 native to North America alone. A few species are considered pests in North America and Europe, but they are generally considered useful insects as many species feed on aphids or scale insects, which are pests in gardens, agricultural fields, orchards, and similar places. Harmonia axyridis (or the Harlequin ladybug) was introduced into North America from Asia in 1988 to control aphids but is now the most common species as it is out-competing many of the native species. A common myth is that the number of spots on the insect's back indicates its age.


Tulip
The tulip is a perennial, bulbous plant with showy flowers in the genus Tulipa, which comprises 109 species. Tulips are spring-blooming perennials that grow from bulbs. The tulip's large flowers usually bloom on scapes or subscapose[further explanation needed] stems that lack bracts. Most tulips produce only one flower per stem, but a few species bear multiple flowers on their scapes. The showy, generally cup- or star-shaped tulip flower has three petals and three sepals, which are often termed tepals because they are nearly identical. These six tepals are often marked near the bases with darker colorings. Tulip flowers come in a wide variety of colors, except pure blue (several tulips with "blue" in the name have a faint violet hue).

Tulip stems have few leaves, with larger species tending to have multiple leaves. Plants typically have 2 to 6 leaves, with some species having up to 12. The tulip's leaf is strap-shaped, with a waxy coating, and leaves are alternately arranged on the stem. These fleshy blades are often bluish green in color. Although tulips are often associated with The Netherlands, commercial cultivation of the flower began in the Ottoman Empire.

The tulip, or lale as it is also called in Iran and Turkey, is a flower indigenous to a vast area encompassing arid parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe. The word tulip, which earlier appeared in English in forms such as tulipa or tulipant, entered the language by way of French tulipe and its obsolete form tulipan or by way of Modern Latin tulipa, from Ottoman Turkish tülbend ("muslin" or "gauze"), and is ultimately derived from Persian dulband ("turban").
  • Country Canada
  • Year 2011
  • Face Value 20 Dollars
  • Metal Silver
  • Fineness (purity) 999/1000
  • Weight (g) 31.39
  • Diameter (mm) 38
  • Quality Proof
  • Mintage (pcs) 5.000
  • Certificate (COA) Yes
  • Presentation case (box) Yes

Four Seasons Fine Silver Coins - Principat d`Andorra 5 Diners

A fancy presentation of the feeling of life in the different seasons on 4 coins of Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring
Country: Servei d` Emissions Principat d`Andorra
Issuing year: 2012
Face Value: 5 Diners
Metal: Pure Silver Ag.999
Special: UHR Ultra High Relief Minting
Diameter: 34.00 mm
Weight: 20.00 grams
Rim: Without border
Condition: Satined
Mintage: 2,000 pieces
Beautiful and very limited set.

Four Seasons Fine Silver Coins - Principat d`Andorra 5 Diners

MUSIC IS MY LIFE Bob Marley REGGAE Silver Coin $1 Fiji 2012


Music is an art in all of its facets—physical, emotional, mental, social, aesthetic, and spiritual. The Fiji has released a colorized coin series 'Music is My Life' and this coin is dedicated to the famous Reggae.

REGGAE

Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.

Reggae is most easily recognized by the rhythmic accents on the off-beat, usually played by guitar or piano (or both), known as the skank. This pattern accents the second and fourth beat in each bar (or the "and"s of each beat depending on how the music is counted) and combines with the drums emphasis on beat three to create a unique feel and sense of phrasing in contrast to most other popular genres focus on beat one, the "downbeat".

The tempo of reggae is usually felt as slower than the popular Jamaican forms, ska and rocksteady, which preceded it. It is this slower tempo, the guitar/piano offbeats, the emphasis on the third beat, and the use of syncopated, melodic bass lines that differentiates reggae from other music, although other musical styles have incorporated some of these innovations separately.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Coin American Silver Eagle and 5 Oz Bullion Sales Surge in May 2012

American Silver Eagle bullion coins have been in a repeating pattern when it comes to their monthly sales this year. One month will show a decline only to be followed the next month with an increase.
This pattern was followed yet again in May when United States Mint authorized purchasers ordered 2,875,000 of the silver coins, logging an increase of 1,355,000, or 89%, of the number delivered in the previous month.

Despite the large advance, sales were diminutive compared to January when U.S. Mint sent out 6,107,000, the second best monthly total of all-time. But still, May easily ranked above all of the other months this year.

American Silver Eagle Bullion Coin Sales in 2012

MonthSales Total% Change From Previous Month
January6,107,000+203.98%
February1,490,000-75.60%
March2,542,000+70.60%
April1,520,000-40.20%
May2,875,000+89.14%

Looking at the month of May in general finds 2012 had the third best one since the Silver Eagle first appeared in 1986. Figures come in behind May 2010 when 3,636,500 were sold and May 2011 — which currently holds the title as the best May ever — when 3,653,500 moved. The next closest May was in 2009 with sales of 1,904,500.

It is not too surprising that the American Silver Eagle bullion coin this year has had it tough against 2010 and 2011. These years currently hold the top two spots for annual sales. 2010 hit 34,662,500 only to be surpassed in 2011 with 39,868,500.

So far, 2012 is lagging. Annual sales are at 14,534,000. In comparison, January through May of 2010 saw 15,167,500 sold while January through May of 2011 reached 18,901,500.

America the Beautiful 5 Oz Silver Bullion Coins in May

The America the Beautiful 5 oz Silver Bullion Coin is also a bullion product currently available from the United States Mint. Each of these coins are struck from five ounces of .999 fine silver and, like the American Silver Eagle, are sold through the Mint’s authorized purchasers for a small premium above the current spot price of the silver contained within them.

America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins showed significant gains in May owed to the release of the 2012 El Yunque National Forest Silver Bullion Coin late in the month. It joined three other 2011-dated coins of the program which are still available. In total, 5,600 coins sold versus the 200 in the previous month.
The following chart shows the four ATB Bullion Coins and their performances through to the end of last month.

CoinTotal Sales# Sold in May
2011 Olympic National Park 5 oz. Silver Bullion Coin85,200100
2011 Vicksburg National Military Park 5 oz. Silver Bullion Coin38,400100
2011 Chickasaw National Recreation Area 5 oz. Silver Bullion Coin28,9000
2012 El Yunque National Forest 5 oz. Silver Bullion Coin5,4005,400


Four more America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins are expected to be issued later this year. They include the Chaco Culture National Historical Park Silver Bullion Coin, the Acadia National Park Silver Bullion Coin, the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Silver Bullion Coin and the Denali National Park Silver Bullion Coin.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Australian Map Shaped Kookaburra 2012 1oz Silver Coin


Just Released: Australian Map Shaped Coin Series – Kookaburra 2012 1oz Silver Coin at The Perth Mint, featuring:
  • Innovative New Shape
  • 99.9% Pure Silver in Proof Quality
  • Limited Mintage – 6,000
  • Australian Legal Tender
  • Presentation Packaging
  • Numbered Certificate of Authenticity
  • First Coin in Series
The native Australian kookaburra is the first animal featured in the Australian Map Shaped Coin Series. Purpose-built tooling and die design make this coin an exclusive and totally unique minting marvel!

99.9% Pure Silver in Proof Quality

The coin is struck by The Perth Mint from 99.9% pure silver in the distinctive shape of Australia.

Unique Coloured Design

The coin’s coloured reverse depicts a kookaburra resting on a fence, against the background of a bush scene.  The inscription KOOKABURRA also appears in the design with The Perth Mint’s traditional ‘P’ mintmark and year-date.

Limited Mintage

No more than 6,000 of these coins will be issued worldwide.

Australian Legal Tender

Issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965, the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the monetary denomination are depicted on the coin’s obverse.

Presentation Packaging

Accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity, the coin is housed in a display case and custom-designed shipper.



The stunning Australian kookaburra is the first design featured in the exciting new Australian Map Shaped Coin Series which highlights native Australian wildlife. Purpose-built tooling and die design make this coin an exclusive and totally unique minting marvel!

The kookaburra is a bird famous for its laughing call that can frequently be heard at dawn and dusk across Australia.  To hear the kookaburra can be a real experience, as the sound is uncannily human.

Forthcoming 2012 Release: Emu

Monday, June 4, 2012

MANTA RAY Australian Sea Life II The Reef Silver Coin 50c Australia 2012



Manta Ray:

The manta ray is one of the largest marine species on the Great Barrier Reef. This magnificent and graceful creature can grow to 5 metres in width and weigh several hundred kilograms.

Manta rays feed on plankton and fish larvae, filtered from the water passing through their gills as they swim. Manta rays display curiosity around humans, and swim among divers. It is still not known how long the manta ray lives.

The harmless rays have a short tail and no stinging spine. They are very acrobatic; they can even leap from the water. Remoras (Echeneida) are frequently seen with mantas, staying near the manta's mouth (even inside the gill cavities). The remoras probably feed on parasites on the manta's body and eat bits of the manta's food.

Mantas are dark brown to black on top with paler margins; they are mostly white underneath and they have no teeth; they sieve their food.

The stunning Sea Life II, The Reef series, has come to an end, with the release of the fifth, and final, coin featuring a spectacularly realistic portrayal of a manta ray.

Struck of 99.9% pure silver in proof quality, the coin is issued as legal tender under the authority of the Government of Australia.

  • Proof Quality 99.9% Pure Silver
  • Coloured Reverse Design
  • Australian Legal Tender
  • Limited Mintage – 10,000
  • Numbered Certificate of Authenticity
  • Stunning Illustrated Presentation Packaging

Five new inhabitants of Australia’s underwater wonder world are featured on Australian Sea Life II – The Reef series.
The colourful Surgeonfish is found along the coast of Western Australia and throughout the waters of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland to northern New South Wales. The most distinguishing characteristics of this marine species are its amazing ability to change colour and its extremely sharp scutes and fins – hence the name – Surgeonfish.