World Numismatic News

The second redesigned Lincoln 1c coin from the United States for 2009 is being released today, May 14 2009, by the U.S. Mint. The second coin in a series of four circulating commemoratives celebrating the live of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, scheduled for release this year represents Lincoln’s “formative years” spent largely in Indiana.

The coin has been dubbed as the “Rail Splitter penny” by the collecting community at large due to it’s design that depicts a young Lincoln reading a book while taking a break from working as a rail splitter in Indiana.

In the Fall of 1816 a young Lincoln(now 7 years old) moved from his native Kentucky to Perry County, Indiana along with his parents, Thomas and Nancy Lincoln. Although the demands of frontier life left little time for formal education, of which Lincoln only ever gained about 18 month worth, his parents instilled in him a love for books and reading which Abraham embraced to educated himself through reading such works as “Life of Washington,” “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin,” “Robinson Crusoe and The Arabian Nights” all by the age of 11. It is said that he could often be seen carrying a book along with his axe.

In 1830 the Lincoln family relocated to Illinois, first to in Macon County and a year later to Coles County. It is here that Abraham, now 22 struck out on his own. He was a impressive figure at 6′ 4″ (app. 1.93 m) and soon garnered a reputation as a skilled local wrestler as well as being very handy with an axe.

The new coin is set to be officially released at a launch ceremony at Lincoln Amphitheatre situated at the Lincoln State Park within Lincoln City, Indiana after which bills may be exchanged for rolls of the coin at a special coin exchange. The coins will also be available at selected U.S. Mint centers in Washington D.C and (according to some sources)New York City throughout the day. A Minimum of two rolls will be made available per person and a reported maximum of 12 rolls could be obtained per person. This limit was instituted following the overwhelming response that was received for the first coin in the series.  The coins are also being made available for purchase through the U.S. Mint website.

The coins are available in a two roll set comprising of two 50 coin rolls, one each from the Denver and Philadelphia minting facilities. The set is priced at $8.95 and are presented in a special U.S. Mint wrapper depicting the coin. Sales via the website will be strictly limited to 5 sets per household and are handled in a first-come first-serve basis. Sales open at 12 noon(E.T.) on 14 May 2009. Only a limited number of these sets will be released, and if sales of the first coin are anything to go by then it is set to sell out fairly quickly.

The coins can be viewed on the U.S. Mint’ product page

High resolution images of the coin may be viewed at the World Numismatic News Media Library

The Central bank of the Russian Federation has released four new silver commemorative coins this month. A 25 Ruble coin in the series entitled Architectural Monuments of Russia. As well as three new coins continuing the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation series.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation series is continued this year under the Air Force theme. Three coins are being released under this theme this year, all denominated as 1 Ruble coins struck from .925 fine silver and measuring 25 mm in diameter. The mintages will be strictly limited to 5000(five thousand) pieces per design. The coins feature a raised and rifled edge.

The first in the series has a reverse deign depicting the Emblem of the Air Force of the Russian Federation at it’s centre, with the inscription “ВОЕННО-ВОЗДУШНЫЕ СИЛЫ” (Air Force)along the top rim.

The second coin has a modern fighter jet as it’s design, along with the inscription of “ВОЕННО-ВОЗДУШНЫЕ СИЛЫ” (Air Force)along the top rim.

The third and last in the Air Force of the Russian Federation coins has the image of the famous airplane the “Il’ya Muromets”. The Il’ya Muromets (Russian: Илья Муромец) was a Russian aircraft created in 1912, based on the Bolshoi Baltiski. She was Russia’s and the world’s first four-engine strategic bomber and was used to form the first dedicated strategic bombing unit. The aircraft was named after Ilya Muromets, a hero from Russian mythology. As with the others this coin too has the inscription of “ВОЕННО-ВОЗДУШНЫЕ СИЛЫ” (Air Force)along the top rim.

All the 1 Ruble coins have a shared obverse design of the Emblem of the Bank of Russia  - the renowned two-headed eagle with wings spread and the semicircular inscription underneath of : “БАНК РОССИИ” (BANK OF RUSSIA).This emblem is flanked at the top by the words “ОДИН РУБЛЬ” (ONE RUBLE), and bu the date “2009″ at the bottom. The date is flanked on both sides by the mint mark of the Moscow Mint along with indicators of the  precious metal content and fineness.

The fourth commemorative coin to be released is from the series honoring Architectural Monuments of Russia and depicts the Manor and State Museum at “Arkhangelskoye”. Arkhangelskoye (Арха́нгельское) is a historical landmark from the 18th-19th centuries located around 20 kilometers from Moscow. The property was nationalized by the Bolsheviks after the revolution in 1917. Today Arkhangelskoye is a state museum and popular tourist destination.

The 25 Ruble coin is struck from .925 fine silver with a raised edge and rifled rim. It shares the same obverse design as the Air Force coins, with exception for the denomination and silver content inscriptions.

The reverse of this rather stunning coin depicts several of the architechtural highlights and monuments that can be found on the Arkhangelskoye estate. The top legend reads”УСАДЬБА “АРХАНГЕЛЬСКОЕ” (The Manor at ARKHANGELSKOYE), with the sunken relief inscription of “XVIII-XIX вв.” (the XVIIIth-XIXth centuries) at the bottom.

These are all issued as legal tender commemorative coins.

For higher resolution images of these coins please visit the World Numismatic News Media Library

All images were provided curtasy of the The Central bank of the Russian Federation

The The Perth Mint has issued the first Australian ANZAC $1 coin from a new annual program honouring all men and women who have served their country since the Gallipoli campaign of 1915.

The 2009 design symbolizes the importance of remembering the sacrifices of Australian diggers and the preservation of their memories by each succeeding generation with a depiction of a former serviceman and a young child. The coin also shows the image of a silhouetted bugler, the words ‘Lest We Forget’ and the date of ANZAC Day – April25 – on which the lives of all Australians lost in war time are remembered.

The coin’s obverse portrays the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II. Along with the words “Elizabeth II * Australia 2009 * 1 Dollar”

Perth Mint Chief Executive Officer Ed Harbuz said that there was significant interest in previous coins commemorating Australia’s servicemen and women. Major Perth Mint releases in recent years include the limited Australians at War Coin & Medallion Tribute Set, the 90th Anniversary of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps Series, and the Australian SAS 50th anniversary silver coin.

“Like our previous releases, the 2009 ANZAC $1 coin expresses the extraordinary pride that Australians have in their defence forces,” Mr Harbuz said. “With an unrestricted mintage, the new coin provides as many people as possible with the opportunity to acquire an official Australian numismatic tribute.”

This coin is the first in a new annual series that will continue with a new design released each year for the ANZAC day celebrations. The first release is housed in an illustrated presentation card featuring a fold-out stand for upright display. The card depicts a proud young Australian honouring the service of a relative by wearing his medals on the right breast.

The coin bears the ‘P’ mintmark and is a legal tender issue one dollar coin. The coin is weighted at 13.8 grams measures 30.2 mm and is 3.1 mm thick.

For better sesolution Images of this coin go to the WNN media library

All images provided courtesy of the The Perth Mint, Australia

The Royal Australian Mint has released a new coin series titled Australia Remembers ahead of ANZAC Day which pays tribute to past and present Australians who played important roles during times of war, conflict and peacekeeping.

“It is fitting to release this new series today as the nation takes the time to reflect on and commemorate the enormous sacrifices made by our diggers and those people who have served and died for Australia,” said Graham Smith, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Australian Mint.

The first coin released in the Australia Remembers series honors past and present Australian Service nurses.

“This series will acknowledge and recognise the efforts made by everyday Australians during times of war, conflict and peacekeeping. Along with our servicemen and women who played such an important role, so too did many other Australians, whether on our soil or abroad, such as Australian Service nurses. Since the time of the Boer War, service nurses have contributed by caring for the sick and wounded in every conflict to which Australia has committed troops,” said Mr Smith.

Packaging for the Commemorative 20c Coin

“In releasing this series, Australians have the opportunity to give a gift or collect a keepsake which recognizes the efforts and participation made by everyday Australians who played important roles in shaping our country’s history and contributing to its protection and development,” said Mr Smith.

The 20c coin depicts a service nurse comforting a wounded ‘Aussie Digger’ in her care whilst upholding the highest traditions of the nursing fraternity. This is a copro-nickel coin measuring 28.52mm, weighing in at 11.30 grams with a face value of 20c.

Higher resolution images of the coin may be viewed at the World Numismatic News media library

All Images are courtesy of the Royal Australian Mint.

The year 1809 was an important one for Austria in her fight against Napoleon and revolutionary France. On 21st to 22nd May the emperor’s brother, Archduke Charles, became the first general ever to defeat Napoleon in open battle, and in April a folk uprising in Tyrol against its occupation by Bavarian and French troops had begun. In recognition of the anniversary, the Austrian Mint is issuing a silver 5 Euro commemorative coin on 6th May, 2009.

The nine-sided coin shows a portrait of Andreas Hofer after one of the best known depictions of the Tyrolean hero from the mid19th century. Behind him stands a determined woman holding high the flag of Tyrol. She is Giuseppina Negrelli from South Tyrol. She represents the often forgotten role played by heroic women alongside the fighting men of the resistance. The design was devised by chief engraver Thomas Pesendorfer. The second side is by Helmut Andexlinger and has the standard ring of nine provincial shields with the face value of five Euros together with the legend “REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH”.

100,000 pieces of the 5 Euro coin are available in special uncirculated quality in an informative and colourful blisterpack. Another 250,000 circulation pieces will be released at face value through the Austrian banks. The “Tyrolean Resistance Fighters” coin goes on sale on Wednesday, 6th May, 2009.

For more images of this coin visit the WNN Media library

In order to celebrate the 2009 Year of Astronomy the Austrian Mint is set to release a bi-metallic 25 Euro Silver-niobium coin on 11 March 2009.

The 34 mm coin depicts the dark side of the moon being orbited by a satellite with the sun and earth on either sides, on its reverse. The obverse in turn shows a portrait of the great mathematician, physicist and astronomer Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) and his telescope set over Galelei’s first drawings of the surface of the moon. This is surrounded by Newton’s telescope, the observatory in Kremsmünster, a modern telescope, a radio telescope and an orbiting telescope.

This beautifully designed coin is limited to a mintage of 65 000 in a high quality uncirculated condition.

The Royal Mint, London, earlier this year released commemorative £2(2 Pound) coins celebrating the births of Robert Burns and Charles Darwin. This has now been followed by the release of precious metal versions of both these coins, in gold and silver.

The coins feature the same designs as the previous coins, with each design now being released in both a gold and silver version.

The two gold coins will be made from 22ct gold and have a limited mintage of only a 1000 coins each. These will be sold for £525 each, and be displayed in a beautiful walnut-veneer presentation case along with certificate of authenticity. Yellow and red gold will be used to maintain the bi-metallic design of the coin.

The silver versions of both coins will again be presented in a black presentation case with a certificate of authenticity. They will be struck from .925 sterling silver. The Darwin coin is limited to only 5000 coins and a strike limit of 20 000 has been placed on the Robert Burns silver coin. The silver coins are priced at £32.50 on the Royal Mint website. All the coins are struck to proof quality.

The newest coin in the Polar Series has been released by the Royal Australian Mint. The holographic coin was developed with the Royal Society of Victoria, and commemorates Australia’s involvement in the Antarctic region

The $5 silver proof hologram coin shows a silhouette of a sailing ship surrounded by the amazing colours of the Aurora Australis. The colour of the hologram changes to represent this celestial phenomenon. Depending on the angle of the coin, you will experience an array of vibrant colours which illustrate charged particles streaming from the sun towards the South Pole.

The location details of several key scientific base camps, the Antarctic Skua in flight and the first Australians to reach the South Magnetic Pole from the Ernest Shackleton expedition have all been included in the design details. Intricate laser frosting revealing concentric patterns on the land mass map.

The coin is minted from 99.9 pure silver, measures 38.74mm and has a mintage limit of only 12 500 coins.

* - information and images courtasy of the Royal Australin Mint.

Bank Negara Malaysia(The Central Bank of Malaysia) has announced the issuance of three special commemorative coins to mark the 50th anniversary of Bank Negara Malaysia.

The commemorative coins were launched by The Honorable Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center. The legal tender coins are minted from Gold, Silver and Nordic Gold with face values of 50, 10 and 1 Malaysian Ringit respectively.

The obverse of the coin depicts the silhouette of the skyline of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya reflecting the progress and economic development of Malaysia since its independence.The logo of the Bank appears in the center, within the outline of the star anise (bunga lawang). The star anise represents the significance of the spice trade which brought economic growth and prosperity to this region during the period of the Malay Sultanate. This star anise was depicted on the Dinar Matahari coin that was used during the Malay Sultanate. The words “Ulang Tahun ke-50 Bank Negara Malaysia” and the years “1959 - 2009″ appear as the rim text.

The reverse has the words “Bank Negara Malaysia” written in Jawi. A “14 pointed star” representing the 14 states in Malaysia including the Federal Territory, is depicted in the centre within the outline of the star anise. The denomination is reflected at the lower circumference of the coin.

All the coins are available on their own as well as in a Set of 3 and a Set of 2. The Set of 3 consists of the gold, silver and Nordic gold proof coins. It will be sold at RM1,500 per set with only 200 sets available. The Set of 2 consists of the silver and Nordic gold proof coins. This set will be sold at RM200 per set.

The United States Mint will release its ninth Presidential $1 Coin into circulation on February 19, in honor of President William Henry Harrison.  Collectors can begin ordering 25-coin rolls of William Henry Harrison Presidential $1 Coins on the same day, February 19, at noon Eastern Time.

The rolls contain circulating William Henry Harrison Presidential $1 Coins, struck on the main production floors of the United States Mint facilities at Philadelphia and Denver.  President Harrison’s portrait graces the obverse (heads side), along with the inscriptions WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, IN GOD WE TRUST, 9TH PRESIDENT and 1841.  A striking image of the Statue of Liberty is on the reverse (tails side).  Incused on the coin’s edge are the inscriptions 2009, E PLURIBUS UNUM and the mint of origin (P or D).  Packaging for the rolls displays the mint of origin, the face value of the contents ($25) and the United States Mint logo.

President Harrison was born in 1773.  During a distinguished Army career, he gained national fame and the nickname “Old Tippecanoe.”  In 1840, the Whig Party tapped Harrison to run for President.  John Tyler was the vice presidential candidate that year.  “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too” became the first, and still one of the most memorable, presidential campaign slogans.  At age 68, Harrison became the oldest person to serve in the office until the 20th century.  He died from pneumonia just one month after his inauguration, the first president to die while in office.