I've seen some really nice foreign coins like then animal series (from Australia?) and the Canadian maple on the forums and it makes me want to expand. Now not being a foreign guy I'm more in it for the artistry so I'm not sure if these would circulated or just comm coins. I also think there was a really nice animal series but the only one I can find is the Perth that is colored? I thought there was a nice "normal" set as well. All and all, any advice thoughts on some nice coinage like the maples and animals? just wanting to widen my hobby.
It's a big world. I'd suggest looking through a coin catalog or browsing the internet to see what's out there and what catches your interest. Just about every country in the world has put some kind of animal on their coins at some point, so you have a lot to choose from.
This post is spot-on. Here are some previous CT threads describing animals on coins: http://www.cointalk.com/t204587/ http://www.cointalk.com/t143829/ http://www.cointalk.com/t204843/ Interesting animals can be found on some ancient coins including winged-horses (Pegasos), Griffens, and Chimaeras. I would have mentioned the Sphinx but I don’t know the plural of Sphinx. One of my favorites is the Hippocampus (upper body of a horse, and the lower body of a fish or dolphin) depicted on the gold $2½. Here is another one of my favorites:
P.S. Several World coins include images of lions, eagles, and humans. They are probably the most common animals on coins. Here are some ancient coins with a zoo theme:
Canada’s polar bear Chile’s Condor Burmuda’s Hog Rwanda’s Lion Australia’s Kangaroo (along with Britain’s Lion)
OP, i guess I am still a little unclear. Are you wanting large silver coins like quasi bullion modern issues? Recommending "foreign" coins is a heck of a deal without a touch more clarity. There are literally millions of types. I mainly concentrate in ancients nowadays, (though they are also "foreign"), but have mini collections of Chinese cash, thai coins, mexican, etc. I am just thinking a little more clarity about what you are interested in might narrow down our suggestions. Do you like modern coins? Big silver? Colored or with other things on the coins? Price range per coin?
Hey medoraman, I see what you're saying. I've just seen some really nice coins, mostly do seem to be bullion and not really circulated. Things like the Canadian maple or Australian koo, they are just beautiful coins. I also remember seeing something about a nice animal set that one of the mint makes, creating one animal a year ect. However when I look, these sets seem to be colored (perth) which is not what I'm looking for, just normal silver with artistic flair. Does this help at all?
Well generically I would say get KM books and look at all of the modern world crowns. Thailand is an example. Every year they put out different large silver coins. This is just from something I am aware of, many other countries do the same. A person could just scour coin shows and Ebay for modern world silver crowns and find a huge variety to collect, most not much over spot. Then there are bullion series. The Australian mint makes Koalas and the like every year, and China makes Pandas, etc. Anything like that could form a cool collection. I would ask do you want just a series, do you want a series of DIFFERENT animals each year, or the same animal in different poses, or do you want completely different coins altogether for each example. Its hard for me since I am not a stereotypical hole filler, I lilke variety, so my choice may be different than yours. Personally, I would go with modern silver crowns from all over the world, just buying what pleases me for the price. That is just me though, YMMV. Sorry if not very specific. The one specific recommendation would be to go to a large coin show, and absent that look through the KM catalogs as to what is available. Maybe you find yourself drawn to a NCLT series, or a countries yearly series, or a theme like animals, ships, buildings, etc
If I were you I would stick to one country, and that way you can find out what they have. For example Canada has a lot of different animal series. There are the bullion animals, the mackerel dimes, the loonies and their silver dollars, which have all sorts of animals on them. Get yourself a Canadian book. If you want to collect all sorts of coins from all over the world it makes sense to get the Standard Catalog of World Coins. You might want to get the 1901-2000 version. If you can find one then you can buy coins from all over the place and have a general idea of what they are worth.
lol Ken. Soon I will change my name to gdestitute. tdog, I always like to push German coins as a great collectible, although the only animal involved is usually the Eagle. http://www.cointalk.com/t213908-2/#post1547800 http://www.cointalk.com/t210313/
Hello Fellow Floridian, If you're looking for "pretty" silver bullion, I would recommend the following: 1. Canada Wildlife Series -- there are a total of 6 coins being released, the next and last being the Wood Bison. The other 5 have been released over the last 2 and a half years. The last 4 can still be purchased at a minimal premium; the first 2 are more expensive. 2. Perth Mint -- every year, they release a Koala, a Kookaburra and a Kangaroo. Each year the designs change. The 2013 coins have been released and can be purchased now. The premium for the Koala and the Kookaburra is usually more than that of an ASE, but not that much more. The Kangaroo is more expensive. 3. China Panda -- released every year with a different design. This year's coin is currently available for purchase. The premium is higher than the Canadian Wildlife, ASE and Perth Mint coins, but not that much more. 4. Somalia Elephant -- released every year with a different design. This year's can be purchased now. The premium is similar to that of the China Panda. 5. Fiji Taku -- a turtle coin released every year, but with the same design. It is actually produced by the New Zealand Mint. The premium is similar to the ASE. These are the more common animal bullion coins of which I am aware that are released annually. There are "prettier" silver animal coins released by various world mints on a series basis, but they are considerably more expensive. For these, I would figure $100+ for a 1-ounce coin. I think the mints have caught on to the fact people like the animal theme and have begun to charge accordingly for some of them.
I just happened to think of another annual series that can loosely be considered having an animal theme. Each year, the Perth Mint releases a Lunar coin which depicts whatever the Chinese New Year animal is for that year. For 2013, it is the snake. Last year, it was the dragon, which is the only non-animal. The Snake coin can be purchased now. The premium for these is the highest of all of the "common" pretty silver coins.
I like the South African Mint silver coin series with different nature theme each year. BIG 5 top of the animal food chain.
Fully agree with Treehugger. I've been collecting the Canadian Wildlife Series and have the first 5. Just waiting to get the last one here shortly. Have all the Kooks and Silver Kangaroos. Really love those Silver Kangaroos. I started collecting those about 5 years ago and was getting them for $35-$40 ea. Prices have doubled now on many years. The 2007 is going for $250.00 and beyond. When the subject matter is animals, there's alot out there to chose from that's for certain.
