Saturday, July 11, 2015

2015 Guy Harvey The Old Man and the Sea 10 oz 999 silver bar

Introducing the 2015 Guy Harvey "The Old Man and the Sea" 10 oz silver bar.


Famed marine artist and photographer Guy Harvey© has brought his artwork to a new medium - silver! Harvey was working on his PhD in marine biology when his one-man exhibition of sketches based on "The Old Man and the Sea" propelled him to international attention in 1985.




Captivated by Hemingway's timeless story, the Jamaican native returns to the subject with this scene of the old man Santiago battling the blue marlin. The front of this .999 fine silver bar depicts Santiago standing in his rowboat as the majestic blue marlin catapults into the air near him. The back features another Guy Harvey© design, of an antique Spanish map of Florida.

Both sides contain the Guy Harvey© logo, while the front includes the title "The Old Man and The Sea" and the weight and purity of 10 oz .999 fine silver.



This is a silver bar like no other, authorized by Guy Harvey© himself. Bring home this treasure for yourself, a Hemingway fan, or a lover of marine artwork. The Guy Harvey© "The Old Man and The Sea" 10 oz silver bar is sure to stand out!

As Silver Prices Fall, U.S. Mint’s Silver Bullion Coins Sell Out



Investors still like silver—so much so that the U.S. Mint sold out of its American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins.

The Mint announced the temporary sellout on Tuesday. It said that the U.S. Mint facility at West Point, N.Y., continues to produce the coins and resumption of sales is expected in about two weeks.




The shortages comes at a time when silver futures prices SIU5, +1.49% are falling.On Tuesday, they sank 5% to $14.969 an ounce, the lowest settlement for a most-active contract since 2009. They recovered a bit on Wednesday, though year to date prices have lost more than 3%.

“Silver demand has really come back in the last two weeks, on the break below $16 per ounce,” Adrian Ash, head of research at BullionVault, told MarketWatch.

BullionVault’s Silver Investor Index released Tuesday rose to 56.7 in June from below 50 in May, as the number of private investors buying silver climbed to its highest level in 9 months, while the number of sellers fell to its lowest level in 3 years. The index shows the balance of net buyers over net sellers.

In a note Wednesday, Capital Economics’s Julian Jessop, pointed out that silver has been a “notable casualty of the selloff in commodity markets in the last few days.”

That usually happens when prices of other metals, especially gold but also industrials, are falling, he said. But “assuming metals in general recovery over the remainder of the year, as we expect, silver could now be set to shine."

Monday, June 29, 2015

Silver Prices About to Hit $50.00 Per Ounce?


Silver is one of the most under appreciated commodities around. Back in 2011, an ounce of gold was worth 32 ounces of silver. Today, that same ounce of gold translates to 74 ounces of the grey metal. Does that mean gold has gotten more valuable or that silver has gotten cheaper? 

Since its peak a few years ago, silver prices have dropped nearly 70%. Gold prices have also fallen by an astonishing 35% during the same period, which convinces me that investors got overly pessimistic about silver during the pullback. 

So, what should the true price of silver be? 

In order to properly value silver, we need the silver-to-gold ratio. Historically, silver shadows the movement of gold prices. When gold drops, silver prices are close behind. 

Over the last 40 years, the conversion averages out to 42.8 ounces of silver for one ounce of gold. But the relationship fluctuates and sometimes one of the metals will become significantly undervalued.



When the ratio drifts too far from the historical average, it usually foreshadows a big run. This has happened three times in the last 20 years; in 1995, 2003, and 2011. The respective gains for silver prices were 70%, 200%, and 420%. 

If we assume the same gold price and use the 2011 conversion rate, silver should be around $36.60. Right now, the price of silver is hovering around $15.90, with a conversion rate of 74.0. 

That being said, how can silver possibly go to $50.00? 

Well, despite its apparent cheapness, silver is simply not as abundant a metal as investors seem to think. When you compare the actual deposits of silver and gold in the earth, the natural multiple is 17.0. Ideally, the physical relationship between silver and gold deposits should dictate the price relationship. 

In order for silver to hit $50.00, the ratio would have to drop to 23.0, assuming that gold stays at its current price of $1,170. 

However, if the stock market bubble finally bursts, investors may flee to gold and silver as a safe haven. Under those circumstances, silver could rise to $50.00 much quicker. 
Follow the Smart Money 

I’m not the first person to notice this amazing buying opportunity. 

In the first quarter of 2015, billionaire investor Ray Dalio loaded up on more shares of Silver Wheaton Corp. (NYSE/SLW). The hedge fund manager now owns 510,000 shares valued at roughly $9.0 million. 

If you want to cash in on a huge silver run, but are hesitant to own silver directly, Silver Wheaton may be a wise choice. The company finances smaller mining firms and pays for any silver they find, thus limiting the downside risks associated with managing a mine. 

The stock is down almost 34% over the last year because of depressed commodity prices, but Ray Dalio and I both think that will change. 

Low interest rates from the Federal Reserve have been propping up the stock market, but a rate hike later this year is virtually guaranteed. And when the market loses support from the Fed, a flight to safety will mean huge gains for silver.

Monday, June 22, 2015

Marco Polo 2oz Silver Coin - Journeys Of Discovery

Marco Polo 2oz Silver Coin - Journeys Of Discovery

The Marco Polo 2 oz Silver Coin marks the first release in our new Journeys of Discovery Coin Collection, which celebrates exploration and discovery of the unknown. 

This proof quality, fully engraved and high-relief coin captures the moment of Marco Polo meeting the great Kublai Khan. The scene is set in a stronghold of the powerful Mongol Empire which Polo marvelled so much at discovering. The packaging of a protective draw string sack has been designed to model the transport materials to trade around the globe at that time.

With a limited mintage of only 2,000 coins worldwide, this would make a special gift for coin collectors and inspire intrepid travellers on their own Journeys of Discovery.









*Please note that the image shown on the website is artwork and may differ slightly from the final product.



Marco Polo:

Marco Polo (1254 - 1324) was an Italian merchant traveller from Venice, who recorded his travels in Livres des Merveilles du Monde (Book of the Marvels of the World, also known as The Travels of Marco Polo). This account did much to introduce Europe to Central Asia and Chinese culture.

Marco Polo learned the mercantile trade from his father and uncle, who travelled through Asia and met Kublai Khan. In 1271, the three embarked on a journey which would lead to 17 years spent in China. From his travels, Polo amassed great knowledge of the Mongol Empire. He marvelled at the use of paper money, and was in awe of its economy and scale of production.

Soon after returning to Venice in 1295, war broke out with the rival city of Genoa. While in command of a ship, Polo was captured and imprisoned. It was during this period of time that he dictated stories of his travels to a cellmate. In 1299 he was released, and went on to become a wealthy merchant. While his writings were published in French, Italian, and Latin, few readers allowed themselves to believe his tales of strange lands far away.

Although he was not the first European to reach China, Marco Polo’s detailed account of his experiences was ground breaking for its time. These writings went on to inspire Christopher Columbus and many other travellers. In the centuries since his death Marco Polo has received recognition that was not given during his lifetime, as much of his journey of discovery has been verified.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS


  • Coin Metal: 999 Fine Silver
  • Coin Weight: 2 oz
  • Coin Finish: Proof
  • Coin Diameter: 40mm (Nominal)
  • Coin Edge: Milled
  • Coin Denomination: $5
  • Year of Issue: 2015
  • Coin Mintage: 2,000
  • Effigy : Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
  • Country of Issue : Niue
Purchase at the NZMint

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

2015 Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagle 1oz Silver Bullion Coin

2015 Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagle 1oz Silver Bullion Coin from the Perth Mint
The Perth Mint is delighted to offer investors a new bullion coin featuring this majestic bird which is known to soar to dizzying heights.
The coin’s reverse depicts an impressive Wedge-tailed Eagle in mid-flight as it prepares to land on a tree branch. The design also includes the inscription AUSTRALIAN WEDGE-TAILED EAGLE, the 2015 year-date and The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark.
Each bullion coin is presented in an acrylic capsule, from an unlimited mintage.
2015 Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagle 1oz Silver Bullion Coin

One of our favourite silver bullion coins of 2014, indeed of modern times, the Wedge-Tailed Eagle coin designed by John Mercanti for the Perth Mint had its debut last year. First released as high-relief silver and gold coins with mintages of 10,000 and 1,000 respectively back in January 2014, they followed up with a standard silver proof and a fantastic five-ounce high relief coin last May. This year will almost certainly see new releases of most, or all of those.
The bullion coin, while not as impressive as the completely sublime High-Relief versions, remains a beautiful piece, and if last years mintage limit is repeated, a relatively rare one by bullion standards.

COIN Specifications

Metal Content (Troy oz)1.000
Fineness (% purity)99.90
Minimum Gross Weight (g)31.135
Monetary Denomination (AUD)1.00
Maximum Diameter (mm)40.600
Maximum Thickness (mm)4.000

About the Wedge-Tailed Eagle
The Wedge-tailed Eagle is Australia’s largest bird of prey and one of the biggest eagles in the world. Found throughout mainland Australia, Tasmania and southern New Guinea, the Wedge-tailed Eagle has a wingspan of up to 2.7 metres, and displays a long, wedge-shaped tail and feathered legs.
Last year, 10% of the 50,000 mintage was sold by Australian dealer Ainslie Bullion but we’re currently unsure when or if they will be the dealer selling them this year. We understand that any Australian issued coin has to have 10% of its mintage sold in Australia, thus explaining why GovMint don’t get all the coins to themselves. This would indicate that the same would be the case this year, but GovMint do not list a mintage for the 2015 release, so how many an Australian dealer would get is unclear at present.

Friday, May 8, 2015

Yamaguchi Silver 1oz Proof Coloured Coin 2015 - Prefectures of Japan

Yamaguchi Silver 1oz Proof Coloured Coin 2015 - Prefectures of Japan

The Mint of Japan have announced their latest prefecture silver coin which features a well-known landmark or structure as its obverse design. 

This coin features the Kintaikyo Bridge, in the prefecture of Yamaguchi which is a historical wooden structure that consists of a series of five wooden arches and spans the Nishiki River in Iwakuni City. Built in 1673 by Kikkawa Hiroyoshi, the third lord of the Iwakuni domain, this bridge is known as one of the three most beautiful or unique bridges in Japan and was designated as a place of scenic beauty by the national government.

The obverse design includes a depiction of the Kintaikyo Bridge and the Akiyoshidai Plateau, which is the largest area of karst topography in Japan, located almost at the center of Yamaguchi Prefecture, and designated as a Quasi-National Park and a Special Natural Monument.





The common reverse design of 1000 yen silver coin: Snow crystals, moon and cherry blossoms. Latent image technology is applied to the center of the largest snow crystal to show the numerals of “47” representing the number of prefectures in Japan, and “60” representing the 60th Anniversary of Enforcement of the Local Autonomy Law appear alternately when viewed from different angles.

Coin Specifications:



DenominationMetalWeightDiameterQualityMintage
1000 ¥en.999 silver31.1 grams40 mm.Proof & Colour100,000
The coin, which is the 39th consecutive issue within the series, will be available to order from now until the 30th June when the coin will officially be issued. A 500 Yen bi-metallic coin intended for circulation with the same design though not colorized is also to be issued at the same instance as the silver coin.
For more information on this and other coins available from the Mint of Japan, please visit their website at:http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/buy-eng/eng_coin_international_index.html 
For international distributors of Mint of Japan coins, please visit: http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/qa-eng/eng_qa_overseasqa_contract.html Information offered in English and Japanese

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

2015 Agro Junior 1oz Silver $5 Proof Coin


The Mint’s collaboration with Australia Zoo, the sixth coin in the popular Australian Saltwater Crocodiles series features our favourite crocodile of the moment, Agro Junior.
Becoming fearfully lifelike on the newest coin, the meticulous high relief technique has allowed our coin designer to provide much more depth to the design.
Appearing like a scene captured from Australia Zoo’s Crocoseum, Agro Junior lies eagerly in wait on a creek bed. With an extremely low mintage of only 1500 and an unheard-of price for a strictly limited edition product, this stunning coin will not be lurking around for long.
2015-Silver-Agro-Junior-royal-australia-mint-silver-$5-coin

2015 Agro Junior Silver $5 Proof Coin
Product Information:
  • Issue Mint: The Royal Australian Mint
  • Legal Tender: Australian $5
  • Mintage: 1,500
  • Material: 99.9% Silver
  • Condition: Brand New in original issue condition.
  • Issue Price: $100.00 AUD
2015-Silver-Agro-Junior-royal-australia-mint-silver-$5-coin-packaging
HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE:
Whether you call it the saltwater crocodile, the estuarine crocodile or crocodylus porosus, it is the largest reptile roaming the earth today. Lurking in dark and murky waters around the northern areas of Australia, they can surprise and terrify a wide range of prey. Anything that flies, swims or roams in its watery region is fair game for this formidable creature.
Since 1988, 37 year-old Agro has lived in the comfort of Australia Zoo’s Crocoseum. This 15 foot wonder was captured from the wild to protect him from the hunters who were stalking his Cattle Creek home. Not only did he find a new home, but he found love with Cookie, a ten-foot lady crocodile who is the calmest and gentlest of crocs in the enclosure.
Agro and Cookie raised a son, Agro Junior, the star of this new collectable coin.
FEATURES AND DESIGN:
• A new coin in the Australian Saltwater Crocodile series, continuing a proud collaboration with Australia Zoo
• High relief coin captures Agro Junior in stunning detail, to the Royal Australian Mint’s exacting proof standards
• Strictly limited edition of 1500
• The coin and packaging features images of one of Australia Zoo’s beloved crocodiles, Agro Junior
• Minted in precious silver
• Packaged in an attractive presentation case with outer box
• numbered certificate of authenticity
• Obverse features Queen Elizabeth II effigy sculpted by Ian Rank-Broadley
• Australian legal tender
Coin Specifications:
  • Denomination: $5
  • Metal : 999 Fine Silver
  • Diameter: 32.00 mm
  • Mass: 1 oz
  • Finish: Proof
  • Mintage: 1500