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silversword

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  1. Like
    silversword got a reaction from Heirlooms in Today I Received.....   
    New Royal Mint £20 coins. 

     
     

  2. Like
    silversword got a reaction from PapaLazarou in Heroes of Silver: The Kookaburra   
    Part 6 in the series, and now that the mere bullion is out of the way, it's time to get classy. Oh no, wait, we're off to Australia. Just kidding of course; the Perth mint certainly don't muck about when it comes to producing top quality silver coins and arguably the most famous is their long-running Kookaburra series.


    2014 Kookaburra - designer unknown. Note the P Mintmark on the reverse.

    Despite once being a subsidiary of Britain's Royal Mint, the Perth Mint has been fully independent to produce investment bullion since 1987 and could teach it's elderly relative (and others) a thing or two about producing coins. You'll not see too many milk spots or production damage like scratches on these little beauties. Each "kook" features crisp proof-like frosting contrasting with mirror-finished detail, and comes in it's own flush-fitting capsule as well. So, they're nicely made and well presented, but that isn't what has made it such a special collectible.

    Since it's introduction in 1990 this coin has featured a new reverse design every single year. Many other coins claim to have changing designs but have sometimes re-used a previous one. Not so the Kookaburra. although no individual artist is credited with the ever-changing sculptures, each year's design is totally unique, showing the distinctive Australian bird either in flight or in it's natural habitat. The obverse has only seen one major change, with the original Raphael Maklouf portait of Queen Elizabeth II replaced by Ian Rank-Broadley's updated and familiar design in 1999.

    Production has been especially limited, with maximum mintages (for the 1oz coin) of 300,000 each year, until a generous increase to 500,000 in 2010 which will likely continue for the foreseeable future. This is still dwarfed by the mintages on other popular bullion issues: Half a million Kookaburras still pales in comparison to 40m US Eagles. One year that became slightly easier to get hold of was 1992. The initial production had been some 100,000 coins short of the stated limit, and so (based on dealer demand) it was decided to re-mint up to the 300,000 maximum, which predictably caused quite a controversy amongst collectors worried about their precious premiums. Allegedly such re-minting happened for other years as well, but never exceeding the overall mintage limits, which are quite strict as it is.

    In addition to the relative scarcity, the other aspect that makes these coins sought after is the ability to create interesting sets: the coins come in a range of sizes in addition to the standard 1oz, (2oz, 5oz, 10oz and 1kg, minted according to demand) and shapes. Yes thats right, different shapes. Coins are generally round, but a limited number of Kooks in the shape of a map of Australia were produced in 2012 as part of the very rare (and imaginatively named) "Australian Map Shaped Coin" range which has featured a different animal each year.

    Then there are various finishes (either proof, high-relief, colourised or gilded) and a spread of years in which a limited number carried privy marks for special commemorations - in fact Perth Mint's first privy-marked coin was a 2oz proof Kookaburra. Collecting every single variation and size would be a challenge to test even the most ardent collector and the stoutest of wallets. If you think you're up to it, just try getting hold of the limited edition 2009 20th anniversary set with it's distinctive "P20" mintmark for starters.

    So, apart from the contentious re-minting issue (which at least gives a few more people the chance to own a Kook), this is a truly classic coin series, one that dares to walk the line between bullion and numismatic and arguably succeeds. If £/oz is all you care about, you are catered for elsewhere frankly - this is not for you. But for those who want something a little bit special, something you can enjoy and admire, you could do a lot worse than pick up a Kook next time you are shopping.


     
  3. Like
    silversword got a reaction from Bruce06 in Heroes of Silver: The Kookaburra   
    Special bonus: Kookaburras 1990 - 2013 (the 2014 one is in the OP)
     

  4. Like
    silversword got a reaction from calandlew1 in Heroes of Silver: The Kookaburra   
    Part 6 in the series, and now that the mere bullion is out of the way, it's time to get classy. Oh no, wait, we're off to Australia. Just kidding of course; the Perth mint certainly don't muck about when it comes to producing top quality silver coins and arguably the most famous is their long-running Kookaburra series.


    2014 Kookaburra - designer unknown. Note the P Mintmark on the reverse.

    Despite once being a subsidiary of Britain's Royal Mint, the Perth Mint has been fully independent to produce investment bullion since 1987 and could teach it's elderly relative (and others) a thing or two about producing coins. You'll not see too many milk spots or production damage like scratches on these little beauties. Each "kook" features crisp proof-like frosting contrasting with mirror-finished detail, and comes in it's own flush-fitting capsule as well. So, they're nicely made and well presented, but that isn't what has made it such a special collectible.

    Since it's introduction in 1990 this coin has featured a new reverse design every single year. Many other coins claim to have changing designs but have sometimes re-used a previous one. Not so the Kookaburra. although no individual artist is credited with the ever-changing sculptures, each year's design is totally unique, showing the distinctive Australian bird either in flight or in it's natural habitat. The obverse has only seen one major change, with the original Raphael Maklouf portait of Queen Elizabeth II replaced by Ian Rank-Broadley's updated and familiar design in 1999.

    Production has been especially limited, with maximum mintages (for the 1oz coin) of 300,000 each year, until a generous increase to 500,000 in 2010 which will likely continue for the foreseeable future. This is still dwarfed by the mintages on other popular bullion issues: Half a million Kookaburras still pales in comparison to 40m US Eagles. One year that became slightly easier to get hold of was 1992. The initial production had been some 100,000 coins short of the stated limit, and so (based on dealer demand) it was decided to re-mint up to the 300,000 maximum, which predictably caused quite a controversy amongst collectors worried about their precious premiums. Allegedly such re-minting happened for other years as well, but never exceeding the overall mintage limits, which are quite strict as it is.

    In addition to the relative scarcity, the other aspect that makes these coins sought after is the ability to create interesting sets: the coins come in a range of sizes in addition to the standard 1oz, (2oz, 5oz, 10oz and 1kg, minted according to demand) and shapes. Yes thats right, different shapes. Coins are generally round, but a limited number of Kooks in the shape of a map of Australia were produced in 2012 as part of the very rare (and imaginatively named) "Australian Map Shaped Coin" range which has featured a different animal each year.

    Then there are various finishes (either proof, high-relief, colourised or gilded) and a spread of years in which a limited number carried privy marks for special commemorations - in fact Perth Mint's first privy-marked coin was a 2oz proof Kookaburra. Collecting every single variation and size would be a challenge to test even the most ardent collector and the stoutest of wallets. If you think you're up to it, just try getting hold of the limited edition 2009 20th anniversary set with it's distinctive "P20" mintmark for starters.

    So, apart from the contentious re-minting issue (which at least gives a few more people the chance to own a Kook), this is a truly classic coin series, one that dares to walk the line between bullion and numismatic and arguably succeeds. If £/oz is all you care about, you are catered for elsewhere frankly - this is not for you. But for those who want something a little bit special, something you can enjoy and admire, you could do a lot worse than pick up a Kook next time you are shopping.


     
  5. Like
    silversword reacted to KDave in Silver Monitoring Thread £ (GBP) only.   
    Silver appears to be falling in sympathy with the other industrial commodities so far. My strategy of buying into the stock market two weeks ago to cause a crash has worked so far. Perhaps if I buy into silver you will get your monster box? 
     
    I will make a purchase tomorrow
  6. Like
    silversword reacted to KDave in Silver Monitoring Thread £ (GBP) only.   
    Silver fell below that magic £10 an ounce this morning. Very tempting to jump in on the STG bullion for a punt!
  7. Like
    silversword got a reaction from rob121 in Gold stacker   
    Always good to know these things
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    ...he says while posting on open internet forums
  8. Like
    silversword reacted to mr-dead in Gold stacker   
    Got another 6 1/2 sovs on the way + a 10g bar so the existing quadrum coin case is no longer big enough.
     
    Solution - buy some treasure chests, 1 for gold and 1 for silver
     

     
    Up to 33.24 oz and counting.
  9. Like
    silversword reacted to Abbotssilvercoins in Silver Monitoring Thread £ (GBP) only.   
    Well no surprise in the meeting notes from the latest Federal Reserve Meeting yesterday.  Whilst the PR machine still spits out an insistence on their plan to raise interest rates, this time around they finally removed "June" as their timing and actually omitted to provide a new target month.
     
    To me, this is a big softening on their policy to raise rates.  Whilst no surprise, because to have raised rates would have been financial suicide in an economy which is weakening, this could prove helpful to silver prices over the coming months....a lot will still depend of course on JP Morgan and their shorting activities (whilst allegedly building up a stock in their vaults of, depending on who you believe, between 50 million and 135 million ounces)
     
    My eyes now are turned to the increasing crisis over Greece.  Banks across Europe are leveraged beyond their capital means on insurance policies sold to each other all backing Greece to be able to pay back its sovereign debt.  The potential for a crisis worse than 2007 continues to exist and whilst the headline events for it being triggered might be a "Grexit" or a "Yellen Reversal", it will again be the fundamentall flaws of a central banking systems that will be at its heart......
  10. Like
    silversword reacted to sovereignsteve in Today I Received.....   
    A little off-piste this one. Not strictly PM (silvered bronze) but I liked it.
    Wish it was silver at over 20oz.
     

     
  11. Like
    silversword reacted to HighlandTiger in Silver Monitoring Thread £ (GBP) only.   
    I can't understand why anybody, especially stackers, will be happy with the price increases. None of us are intending to sell our stacks any time soon, so we want low prices for many many years to come.
     
    I'll still buy silver at whatever price it is, but it means I'll be buying less ounces, which in the long run is not a good thing.   
  12. Like
    silversword reacted to BaldyBob in Silver Monitoring Thread £ (GBP) only.   
    There is no way I am buying from abroad, or even the UK at this time of year. Hopefully will go low again in January.
  13. Like
    silversword reacted to Keithoil in Silver Monitoring Thread £ (GBP) only.   
    Maybe with the silver price we need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
     
    It is still really very very cheap at these prices. Not sure if we have seen the bottom though only time will tell.
     
    I think this is in part due to the plummeting oil price when it goes back up we may see this go back down again.

  14. Like
    silversword reacted to HighlandTiger in Silver Monitoring Thread £ (GBP) only.   
    I don't think anyone on here is thinking of selling. Although there seems to be a few wondering whether to buy or not. If you are in this for the long term then its not rocket science. Its buy buy buy
  15. Like
    silversword got a reaction from watchesandwhisky in Silver Monitoring Thread £ (GBP) only.   
    In situations like this, I want to understand the fundamentals behind the move. What caused such a sudden drop? Will it last? Is this a blip or a trend? Very difficult to know the answers or predict the future. The "buy now or wait" dilemma is always there, and we can't always be right.
     
    Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but at the start of the week it looked like prices were going sideways, or maybe preparing to recover some of the previous losses, so I made a call. I believe it was a good call at the time, and would have been a very good call if today's drastic movement had been up instead of down so I'm not upset at all. Still added to the stack at the cheapest prices I've ever got silver for - not too bad!
  16. Like
    silversword got a reaction from Cointreau in Silver Monitoring Thread £ (GBP) only.   
    Who cares if it drops more? I'd happily order now if I can afford to, because the price is cheap in my opinion. Many on here can remember much higher prices, so £10.56 is a comparative bargain regardless.

    If it falls after I buy, I don't care. I am not going to be selling next week, or even next year.
  17. Like
    silversword reacted to motorbikez in Today I Received.....   
    2012 1 Kilo Dragon Proof, sold out mintage 500
     

     
     


  18. Like
    silversword reacted to HighlandTiger in Silver Monitoring Thread £ (GBP) only.   
    Well, the Americans havn't been there, so it'll be all alone
     
    (sorry off thread private joke, but I couldn't resist    )
  19. Like
    silversword reacted to Kman in Today I Received.....   
    2002 half sovereign from ebay in perfect condition 
     

  20. Like
    silversword got a reaction from BaldyBob in Silver Monitoring Thread £ (GBP) only.   
    The only reason to be worried is if you are being forced to sell now, had planned to sell, or you actually produce/refine physical silver. For anyone looking to increase their holdings, falling prices are good. Just remember that this sort of thing can happen and don't go all-in on silver.
  21. Like
    silversword got a reaction from realbluegold in Silver Monitoring Thread £ (GBP) only.   
    The only reason to be worried is if you are being forced to sell now, had planned to sell, or you actually produce/refine physical silver. For anyone looking to increase their holdings, falling prices are good. Just remember that this sort of thing can happen and don't go all-in on silver.
  22. Like
    silversword got a reaction from Agpanda in Today I Received.....   
    I was reluctant to post because I was quite amused by sitting on 666 posts for a bit, however I'm quite excited because today I received a not only a 2006, but also a 2007 silver Britannia. Not much in the grand scheme of things but it does mean that I now have a complete run of BU Brits, 1998-2014 
  23. Like
    silversword got a reaction from realbluegold in Today I Received.....   
    I was reluctant to post because I was quite amused by sitting on 666 posts for a bit, however I'm quite excited because today I received a not only a 2006, but also a 2007 silver Britannia. Not much in the grand scheme of things but it does mean that I now have a complete run of BU Brits, 1998-2014 
  24. Like
    silversword reacted to HighlandTiger in Silver Monitoring Thread £ (GBP) only.   
    Who cares why it is falling, just use this time to.......................

  25. Like
    silversword got a reaction from woody65 in Heroes of Silver: The Kookaburra   
    Special bonus: Kookaburras 1990 - 2013 (the 2014 one is in the OP)
     

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