The coin was named after the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra, which has been a part of Austria’s capital city for over 160 years. The orchestra travels all over the world such as Germany, France and Japan. The Vienna Philharmonic coin is made of pure gold (24 Karat). In 1989, the first Vienna Philharmonic cold bullion coin was made. It is also the largest diameter one ounce pure gold coin in the world.

This Vienna Philharmonic coin is the only coins to ever have been featured on the side of an airplane. The coin features images of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. On the opposite side of the coin, you will see the words, “Wiener Philharmonic” (in German) which is the name of the German Orchestra. The coin pictures a variety of orchestra instruments such as cells, bass, bassoon, harp, string bass and Viennese Horn. These instruments are a representation of Austria’s musical heritage.

Some interesting facts of Vienna Philharmonic coins are:

• They have been minted in half, quarter and 1/10 ounce sizes
• Measure in 37mm diameter
• The face value equals 100 Euros or 2,000 Shillings
• The silver Vienna Philharmonic coins are exempt from the IRS 1099 Brokerage-this is ideal for private investors
• Can be used in legal contracts that have a face value of 1.5 Euros
• In February of 2008, the coin had been minted in silver too

Through the years of 1989-2001, the Vienna Philharmonic was traded as Austrian’s shillings. Since the year 2001, it is now measured as Euros. A commemorative coin was created in October of 2004, and weighed 1,000 ounces. It was given the nick-name “Big Phil” and dedicated as an anniversary issue. Only 15 of these coins were minted. The coin was worth 100,000 euros. Since then, most of the coins have been sold and are a rare collector’s item.

Because of their creative design and rare quality, Vienna Philharmonic coins are one of the most searched for coins. Collectors can purchase the coins in either a hardwood or velvet case to showcase them in. Coins may be purchased a single or as a set of four. With the beauty and value of the Vienna Philharmonic coin, they are some of the most sought after by coin collector’s all over. If you have received the chance to add this rare beautiful coin to your collection, take special care so that it can be a family heirloom for years to come.

The obverse face of the new coin features the image of Queen Elizabeth II, with a magnificently crafted design featuring the Canadian Grizzly bear set in a native Canadian arctic landscape. Nature and wildlife themes are always popular with coin collectors, especially those with an interest in collectible coins from the Royal Canadian Mint and the 2011 Silver Canadian Grizzly one ounce coin definitely does not disappoint avid collectors of Canadian coins as well as wildlife enthusiasts.

This coin is the follow up to last September’s release of the incredibly popular 2011 Silver Wolf coin, which has proven to be wildly popular with silver investors and coin collectors alike. Like other silver bullion coins, the Silver Wolf and Silver Canadian Grizzly coins are solid investments which will only increase in value over time. Even in a tough economy where other investments decline in value, precious metals tend to actually become more valuable; and silver historically outperforms other precious metals by a significant amount.

It is of course the design which is really getting the attention of collectors, since the level of craftsmanship represented by this coin is of the highest order. This majestic Canadian predator with a background of water and a starkly beautiful Canadian landscape is an incredible design; and the obverse portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Canadian artist Susanna Blunt is acknowledged as some of the finest artwork ever to grace a Royal Canadian Mint coin.

With that in mind, there are more people than ever before who eagerly watch the market for collectible coins in search of new and interesting silver coins to collect. One of the most exciting new releases of the year in the world of collector coins is the 2011 one ounce Somalian Silver Elephant coin, a part of the African Wildlife series. The series is minted by the Bavarian State Mint in Germany and features tone of the most interesting animals on the African continent and indeed, the world – the African elephant. These noble, intelligent and unfortunately endangered animals are featured on this new one ounce, .999 silver coin with a face value of 100 shillings.

The reverse of the coin features the African elephant in all its glory, truly capturing the size and magnificence of these gentle giants. The obverse is equally stunning, featuring the heraldic design of the Somali republic; two leopards, a shield and a five pointed star; below this design are two crossed lances and two crossed palm fronds draped with a ribbon.

The coin was originally minted by the Bavarian State Mint in 2004 and has been highly sought after ever since. Due to the immense demand for this highly collectible silver coin and the rest of the African Wildlife Series, the mint has decided to re-release the Somalian Silver Elephant coin in this breathtaking 2011 edition. The new release of this 2004 favorite silver coin is as solid of an investment as the original and is in great demand by both collectors and investors interested in diversifying their portfolio with the secure investment that is silver bullion coins.

The coin has recently been made available and if the success of the rest of the Bavarian State Mint African Wildlife Series is any guide, it’s likely to sell out before you know it. This will soon become a rare and sought after coin just like the original 2004 minting, so collectors interested in this series of coins as well as investors who want an investment which is guaranteed to grow in value may want to seek this coin out before it’s too late.

The coin features the image of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse, with the reverse featuring Britannia seated with a trident and shield with the stripes of the Union Jack in the background. It’s a truly stunning design which is sure to appeal to collectors of Silver Britannia coins as well as anyone else with even a casual interest in coins or silver coins as investment vehicles. As is traditional for Silver Britannia coins going all the way back to the 1600s, the 2011 Silver Britannia is minted as a 95.8% silver coin (the remainder of the alloy is copper, in case you’re curious), contains one Troy ounce of silver and is of a size which is somewhat larger than a US Silver Dollar.

The 2011 Britannia has a face value of 2 Pounds, has a diameter of 40 millimeters and weighs in at 32.45 grams, making this the heaviest one ounce silver coin in the world. Collectors and investors may also be interested in the Proof 2011 Silver Britannia, which will be especially popular with collectors due to its very limited mintage of just 10,000 (2,500 of which are part of a limited edition release); like the regular 2011 Silver Britannia, the Proof edition features the seated Britannia on the reverse with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse.

The coin has another advantage for collectors and investors, which is that it is not only easily convertible to hard currency if needed – the 2011 Silver Britannia is actually legal tender in the United Kingdom, so collectors there do not even have to convert their coins first, since this is already a liquid asset.

Ever since being introduced in 1997, the 2 Pound Silver Britannia coin has been a favorite with UK citizens as well as collectors of silver coins the world over. Classic and modern at the same time, this coin is produced with the highest of artistic standards and craftsmanship, offering a respectful update of the iconic image of Britannia which has been a part of coins in the United Kingdom since the reign of Charles II. The 2011 Silver Britannia presents investors and collectors with a one of a kind chance to add a quintessential piece of British life and culture to their very own collections and is sure to become one of the year’s most coveted silver coins among collectors.

With the new 2011 New Zealand $2 Fiji Taku 1 oz Silver Coin, the Commonwealth of Fiji pays tribute to these large and increasingly rare turtles. These coins were minted and issued by the New Zealand Mint and are made from .999 fine silver with gilding, along with a stunning level of craftsmanship and artistic accomplishment which are certain to endear them to collectors and investors, the value of the coins as silver bullion entirely aside.

The design of the coin is what makes it really special. The obverse of the coin features Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, sovereign of Fiji and of course the entire Commonwealth in an effigy style portrait by the artist Raphael Maklouf. On the reverse of the coin is a gilded Taku, featuring a stylized shell design, seen here swimming in its native habitat of the Pacific Ocean. The reverse also features an engraved heading as well as the weight and metal quality of the coin.

The 2011 New Zealand $2 Fiji Taku 1 oz Silver Coin was produced in a very small mintage, with only 5,000 of these breathtaking collectible fine silver coins being available on the market. Collectors who have an interest in the work of the New Zealand Mint, exotic silver coins, marine wildlife or simply appreciate a solid investment in precious metals which also happens to be a striking work of art in its own right will want to sit up and take note. With supplies being so limited and the coin of such incredibly high quality, it is certain to become a coin which sits high on the “most wanted” list of collectors and investors around the world.

A popular coin in 2011 is the Canadian Maple Leaf Gold Bullion Coin, as this coin is legal tender all over the world and is known for its quality. The Canadian government guarantees that these coins are made from 99.99% pure gold, making them the first ever investment coins to reach this level of purity. This means that these coins will likely increase in value at a faster pace than many other coins, due to their higher gold content. In addition, these coins look great, as they have been masterfully designed and will make a great centerpiece to your investment portfolio.

Australia also has the 2011 Australian Kangaroo Gold Coin, which is a legal tender in Australia, despite being extremely limited in production. This means that this is an extremely valuable coin to have, especially when you factor in the fact that it changes in appearance every year. Since each year features a once in a lifetime coin, these coins hold a great deal of value. The Australian government guarantees that these coins are 99.99% pure gold, putting them on par with many other gold coins. What puts these coins on a different level is that each year is different and if you happen to resell to a collector who missed a year, you could be looking at a rather substantial resale value.

Silver coins are also very popular, starting with the 2011 Silver Maple Leaf coin. These coins are some of the more popular in the world and have increase in popularity as silver prices have gone up. All of these coins are crafted at the Royal Canadian Mint and are made from 99.9% pure silver. In addition, these coins are legal tender, so they are easy to trade anywhere in the world. These coins even have a higher face value than any other silver coins, as they are worth $5 guaranteed. Of course, the coin will end up being worth much more than that, but it is nice to know that its value can never drop below that level.

The 2011 Australian Silver Koala are made from 99.9%  pure silver and have a larger surface area than many silver coins. These coins are extremely high in quality and the mint has done a great job of putting a great deal of detail into the actual picture on the coin. These coins are redesigned very year, so you will find that the 2011 is unique.

Any of these coins would be a great gift for the coin collector in your family, as they will likely not depreciate in value and will give that person a solid investment in the future. Now is the time to invest in precious metals because they keep their value during economic downturns, since they are not linked to the face value on the coin.

I have personally bought some of these coins (Silver American Eagles and Canadian Maple Leaf Coins) from APMEX along with holiday season gift coin holders to use as stocking stuffers this Christmas.

US junk silver coins are usually sold as 40% or 90% silver content, as well as the “wartime” nickles with 35% silver. Some of the most popular are the pre-1965 Morgan and Peace dollars, Jefferson “wartime” nickels, Franklin and Kennedy half dollars, Roosevelt dimes, and Washington quarters.

There are several reasons to buy junk silver coins. One is that they are easily recognizable around the world and are easily traded. This makes them very popular among survivalists as “doomsday” currency. In addition, small trades could be done with the silver dimes and nickles. Silver bullion is almost always made in 1 ounce coins only, and therefore not as suitable for small trades as junk silver. Another reason to buy junk silver is that they have legal tender and real face falue…..althought the silver market would have to crash spectacularly for this to be a real benefit. These coins also sell for little or no premium over silver spot prices.

Junk silver coins are commonly sold as “junk silver bags” of different sizes and price. Typically these are sold as containing a “face value” of between $100 and $10,000. Of course the actually purchase price is much higher as dictated by silver spot prices. They are also commonly sold as junk silver rolls as well, containg 20-50 coins each.

Other popular junk silver coins come from the UK (50% and 92.5% silver), Canada (50% and 80% silver), and Australia (50% and 80% silver).

The most popular way to buy and sell these coins is through and reputable online coin retailers such as APMEX.

US Junk Silver Coins

Although the historical mint date for the French Rooster is 1901, some were released in 1899. After the initial mint date of 1901, the coins continued to be minted up until the First World War in the year 1914. The traditional Rooster coin features the Gallic Rooster, a French symbol dating back to at least the Middle Ages.

The rooster was also the symbol of the army during the French Revolution, and for a short time, it was also France’s national emblem. In the 1830′s, Napoleon III saw fit to change it. Even today, the rooster is used by many sports teams and other organizations as an insignia representing liberty and independence.

You should not have to pay a high premium for a French Rooster gold coin. The coin should seldom cost more than its gold bullion weight equivalent because it is 90% gold, 20 to 22 carat, although it does have value other than just its age and design. The French Rooster is also exempt from confiscation, unlike modern gold bullion coins that must be reported.

The coin’s face side is the Republic Lady, and the words “Republique Franaise” encircle her head. The reverse side has the Gallic Rooster and the French words that translate into “Liberty, Equality, and Brotherhood.”

French coin collectors most always seek out the French Rooster coin at the start of their coin hobby. Many choose it because of its affordability for a rare coin piece. Other international collectors also use the French Rooster as a starter coin in their collections.

There are some other French coins commonly sought by collectors, many of them rarer than the French Rooster. The artwork of French coins is considered to be unsurpassed by coins from any other part of the world.

The French Rooster starts at around $200 for circulated coins to over $500 for uncirculated pieces. The value of this coin stays in line closely with the market bullion rate. French Roosters in mint condition are valued even more.

The French Rooster seems to remain in good supply with no expected shortage in the near future. As more collectors continue to add the coin to their collections, the value might increase but it is not expected to do so by any great percentage any time soon.

The French Rooster is considered a good investment for a collector planning to hold their collection long term because its value will closely follow the market value of precious metals in general. Most who purchase a French Rooster coin for their collection plan to hold theirs for some time, so the future value is not of much consequence to them early on in their acquisition.

Why is it that these coins have become so extremely rare? There are a number of reasons and these reasons are all worth a closer look:

Early Canadian coins were made of pure silver and gold. As such, many of these coins were melted down to acquire their precious metals. Precious metals rise in value on the open trading market every day. In some instances, five cent silver or gold coins are actually worth much more when melted down into silver or gold bars. While this definitely allowed some people the ability to earn revenues, it also greatly depleted rare coins that were taken out of circulation. Today, the remaining gold and silver coins of previous generations (and centuries) have much collectible value as a result.

Reverse of 1985 Canadian Silver Dollar

In some cases, limited edition coins were released to the public and these coins certainly will have collectible value. By their very nature, such coins are scarce and their scarcity definitely adds to their value. Since many of these rare coins have been lost or destroyed over the years, the remaining coins end up increasing in value. Those looking to collect such coins would definitely benefit from looking into procuring such coins since they almost always provide a return on the initial investment.

Human beings are not always perfect and they can sometimes make mistakes. This is true even when molding or pressing coins. So, there have been instances where errors have turned up on a number of rare Canadian coins. While this may have ruffled a number of feathers during the original days of circulation, these error laden coins now have high collectible value. In fact, some of these coins may even have the potential to increase even more in value since they are such oddities and anomalies.

Commemorative coins are also popular rare Canadian coins that many collectors seek. There are scores of rare commemorative coins available on the collector’s market and many of them host some truly inspiring images. These images range from the Maple Leaf to the Royal Mounted Police to the nation’s flag and other uniquely Canadian images. A great deal of artistry and craftsmanship goes into commemorative coins and that is why the collectible demand is so high. This, of course, means these coins increase dramatically in value over time.

Some may be surprised at the sheer volume of categories for rare Canadian coins. Yes, it is most definitely true that there is great variety to these coins in terms of their category.  However, many of these actually coins are small in numbers. That is why they are both rare and highly collectible.

Because of the sheer volume of coins that have been produced there are a number of different spheres of interest one could examine through collecting. For example, one could be interested in collecting world silver coins from particular time periods and regions. For example, many of the silver coins produced in Great Britain during the 19th century were spectacular in their design and have high value in collector’s circles. For those who are serious coin collectors a number of the very rare coins from antiquity and the cradle of civilization come with much interest and value. Granted, these may come with somewhat of a high price tag the beauty of collecting world silver coins is that the sheer volume of those coins that have been produced means that there are coins one can collect to fit any budget or interest. For example, some silver coins perk interest due to their outright oddness.

1902 British Silver Coin

Some of the silver coins of the world have collectible value based on for lack of a better description their outright oddness. Now, there is run of the mill odd such as the triangular silver coin that was produced by Bermuda. While even the most novice collector will get the inside joke (the shape of the coin is an obvious play on the Bermuda Triangle) one has to really shake their head as a coin that simply can not be used in a vending machine! Oh well, it is a cool looking coin and that is why many collectors prize it. Then, there is the extremely uniquely designed silver coin produced by the region of Naru where the coin was reproduced in the shape of the European Union. This particular coin may very well be the oddest silver coin ever produced and that adds to its collectible value.

When it comes to the subject of silver coins from around the world, there is enough information on the subject that can fill a book. (Actually, there have been a number of books written on the subject!) What is presented here is a brief look at silver coins in general and if there was a brief assessment that could sum the subject of silver coins up it would be there is such uniqueness and diversity within the realm of silver coins they are a among the most fun coins to collect.