2014 Hawksbill Turtle 1 oz Silver New Zealand Mint $2 Niue

This coin is a continuation of the silver Taku series from the New Zealand Mint that has grown tremendously in popularity in its brief existence. 

The coin combines the appeal of 1 oz of pure Silver with an elegant design that captures the beauty of the ocean! With a sleeker design and low mintages for bullion, these coins move very quickly. 

Coin Highlights:

• Contains 1 oz of .999 fine Silver.
• Coins come packaged in protective plastic flips.
• Strict limited mintage of only 200,000 coins.
• Brilliant Uncirculated condition.
• Obverse: New stylized design of a Hawksbill turtle, also known as the Taku, swimming in shallow waters amidst tiny bubbles.
• Reverse: Effigy of Queen Elizabth II and 2014 date.
• Multiples of 20 will come in plastic tubes; individual coins will come in protective slips.
• Produced by the New Zealand Mint.

The Story:


Hawksbill turtles are found throughout the tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Named for their narrow, pointed beak, they are also recognizable by a distinctive pattern of overlapping scales on their exquisitely colored and patterned shells. 

This species typically avoids deep waters, preferring coastlines and coral reefs where they can find sponges, a primary food source for these omnivores. Beautiful creatures, they make incredible migrations in order to move from feeding sites to tropical beaches that often serve as nesting grounds. 

Hawksbill turtles come to New Zealand every year from Fiji; although they’ve been sighted as far south as Cook Strait, they are mostly seen in the upper North Island of New Zealand in the clear, shallow waters of the island shelve. 


Like many sea turtles, hawksbills are a critically endangered species due mostly to human impact. Hawksbill eggs are still eaten around the world despite the turtle’s international protected status, and they are often killed for their flesh and their stunning shells that are highly valuable in some marketplaces. 


A fantastically designed bullion item, this product has grown tremendously in popularity among investors in each of the four years that it’s been produced because of its intricate design.

New Zealand Mint:

The New Zealand Mint is a privately owned company in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the only privately owned mint in New Zealand, purchasing refined gold from international sources to produce coins. They have established their reputation over the past four decades for their high quality design as exhibited by their innovative commemorative gold and silver bullion products. 

The only precious metal mint in New Zealand, the mint uses the tag-line “Minters of the South Pacific” and produces collector and bullion coins for a number of pacific nations, including Fiji, the Cook Islands, Niue and Tuvalu.

Easter Island Silver CombiCoin 1gram x100 'Cook Islands' Legal Tender Silver Block

1gram silver divisble block of 100 each 10c Cook Island's Legal Tender

Valcambi's innovative, divisible bar format turned heads in the bullion market when the first 1g x 50 gold bar was released, giving investors an accessible and flexible option for managing their physical gold holdings.

Valcambi's latest version of the CombiBar is the CombiCoin; the famous snap-apart bar made from pure silver and issued as legal tender of the Cook Islands.

Legal tender status can offer significant benefits when transporting or trading. Classified by many tax authorities around the world as "currency" rather than "valuables", investors may have the option of declaring legal tender bullion products at face value rather than market (metal) value. 

In addition to extra privacy, legal tender status can reduce or eliminate liabilities for sales tax (VAT) in many jurisdictions - recognition that money is essential to travel and commerce.

Breaking up the CombiCoin is a simple matter of bending the strips along their break lines until the weakened metal gives way and snaps apart. The predefined breaking points ensuring that there is no loss of metal.

Located in Balerna, Switzerland, Valcambi is certified by the London Bullion Market Association as a Good Delivery Refiner and serves the LBMA's wholesale clients including banks, investment firms and governments across the globe.

Technical Specifications:

Denomination:	NZD/COK $0.10 (x 100)
Minimum Gross Weight:	1g (x 100)
Dimensions (mm):	74 mm x 105 mm x 1.5 mm
Fineness:	99.9%
Packaging:	Single - sealed hard plastic pouch

Australian Outback 2014 Koala Kookaburra Kangaroo 1/2oz Silver Coloured 3 Coin Set

These stunning coloured coins celebrate the kangaroo, koala and kookaburra – three of Australia’s most iconic and loved bush creatures.

99.9% PURE SILVER

Each coin is struck from 1/2oz of 99.9% pure silver.

NEW 2014 DESIGNS
The reverse of the kangaroo coin portrays a vivid image of a kangaroo amid a rural scene of everlasting wildflowers framed by hills and trees. The design includes the inscription AUSTRALIAN KANGAROO, The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark, and the 2014 year-date.

The koala coin’s reverse depicts a close-up coloured portrait of a koala with a spray of eucalyptus leaves.  The design includes the inscription AUSTRALIAN KOALA, The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark, and the 2014 year-date.

The reverse of the kookaburra coin features a vibrant image of a young kookaburra perched on a tree branch sheltered by leaves.  The design includes the inscription AUSTRALIAN KOOKABURRA, The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark, and the 2014 year-date.

AUSTRALIAN LEGAL TENDER

Each coin is issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965, and features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the monetary denomination on the obverse.

LIMITED ISSUE

The Perth Mint will issue no more than 4,000 of the Australian Outback 2014 1/2oz Silver Coloured Coin Collection in this packaging, from a maximum mintage of 5,000 coins.

PRESENTATION PACKAGING AND NUMBERED CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY

The collection is individually housed in a prestigious grey display case and custom designed shipper, and accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

The Australia Outback 2014 1/2oz Silver Coloured 3 Coin Set from The Perth Mint, featuring:

• 99.9% Pure Silver
• New 2014 Designs
• Australian Legal Tender
• Issue Limit – 4,000
• Presentation Packaging
• Numbered Certificate of Authenticity

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

Silver Content (Troy oz)	0.5
Monetary Denomination (AUD)	0.5
Fineness (% purity)	99.9
Minimum Gross Weight (g)	15.591
Maximum Diameter (mm)	36.60
Maximum Thickness (mm)	2.30
Maximum Mintage	5,000
Designer	Tom Vaughan, Natasha Muhl, Michael Guilfoyle

Megalania 2014 1oz Silver Proof Coin Australian Megafauna

The final coin in the remarkable Australian Megafauna coin series takes you back in time to discover the larger-than-life animals that once roamed Australia.

The Megalania is a giant extinct goanna that was part of a range of megafaunal creatures, which inhabited Australia during the Pleistocene period.

PROOF QUALITY 99.9% PURE SILVER

Each coin is struck by The Perth Mint from 1oz of 99.9% pure silver in proof quality.

DESIGN BY PALEO-ARTIST PETER TRUSLER

The reverse of the coin features a design by paleo-artist Peter Trusler of a Megalania set against a coloured background. The inscription MEGALANIA and The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark are also incorporated into the design.

AUSTRALIAN LEGAL TENDER

Issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965, the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the 2014 year-date, and the monetary denomination are shown on the coin’s obverse.

LIMITED MINTAGE

The Perth Mint will release no more than 6,500 of the Australian Megafauna – Megalania coin.

WONDERFULLY ILLUSTRATED SHIPPER AND NUMBERED CERTIFICATE

The Australian Megafauna – Megalania coin is housed in a stylish case and themed shipper, and is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

FIVE-COIN PLASTIC DISPLAY BOX

A superb way to protect and present all Australian Megafauna series coins, this five-coin plastic display box comprises an easy-to-assemble polypropylene charcoal tray and transparent sleeve, and is complimentary with the delivery of the final coin release when purchased as a subscription.

Australian Megafauna – Megalania 2014 1oz Silver Proof Coin at The Perth Mint, featuring:

• Proof Quality 99.9% Pure Silver
• Design by Paleo-Artist Peter Trusler
• Australian Legal Tender
• Limited Mintage – 6,500
• Wonderfully Illustrated Shipper
• Numbered Certificate

ABOUT THIS SET:

Discover the larger-than-life animals that once roamed the Australian landscape, with the fifth and final release depicting the Megalania.

This incredible land lizard was the largest of its species to live in Australia and possibly the world.  It is related to modern goannas, notwithstanding its size, and had heavily built limbs, a long torso, large head, sharp serrated teeth and a small crest on its forehead.

Megalania was the largest carnivore to have lived in Australia during the last two million years.  Studies suggest that the animal is also likely to have possessed venom glands, possibly making this the largest venomous vertebrate to have ever existed.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Silver Content (Troy oz)	1
Monetary Denomination (AUD)	1
Fineness (% purity)	99.9
Minimum Gross Weight (g)	31.135
Maximum Diameter (mm)	40.60
Maximum Thickness (mm)	4.00
Maximum Mintage	6,500
Designer	Peter Trusler

Silver 1/2oz Australia America Alliance Coin Toning with Milk Spots

Below are images of Silver War of the Pacific 1/2oz Australia America Alliance Coin produced by the Perth Mint with Toning/Milk Spots that look as though they will eventually tone gold as a golden hue is appearing on many of them,

i have taken some close-ups of some particularly milk-spot effected coins.. as i have hypothised in early posts, we may find out that milk spots are one form of stage one silver toning.. this is certainly an optimistic outlook and only time will tell.. i will keep you posted.

These coins forming toning and milk spots may be considered anecdotial evidence that the recent line of Perth Mint uncapsuled Silver Bullion may all have similar problems namely

1/2oz Silver 999 Saltwater Crocidile
1/2oz Silver 999 War in the Pacific #2 release

Valcambi Suisse Divisible 1 Gram Block of 6 Silver 999 Bar Ingots

A block of 6 Valcambi Suisse Divisible 1 gram block of 6 silver 999 bar ingots

Maria Thaler Silver Crown Size Dollar with Heavy Toning

Maria Thaler Silver Crown Size Dollar with Heavy Toning, this coin is a restrike from the Vienna Mint in Austria

1993 PANDA CHINA SILVER 1oz 999 Bullion Round

A 1993 PANDA CHINA SILVER 1oz 999 Bullion Round with crimson toning around the rims.