The official silver bullion issued by the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Silver Panda comes in a weight of 1/2 troy ounce to a special 1 kilogram design. The face value of the base coin (1 troy ounce) is 10 Yuan, with the value adjusting proportional to the silver weight.
The coins began production in the 1980s at a variety of regional mints, producing a variety of collectible coins. The Panda design variety each year and is distributed in a variety of formats, including proofs, un-circulated designs, special coloration and various weights.
The basic reverse design features the Temple of Heaven and symbolizes the roots of the modern Republic government. At 99.9% pure silver, the Panda series are highly valued collectible coins which are also distributed in general currency circulation. As the government has expanded over the past decade, it has introduced a number of specialized coins and centralized the distribution from the national Chinese Mint.
The Silver Maple leaf is the official silver bullion coin of Canada. Containing a single troy ounce of silver, the coins come in a variety of designs and sizes, ranging from 1/20 ounce to a full ounce. The coins have a face value of $5 Canadian, which stems from their high 99.99% level of silver purity.
The coins marked their 20th anniversary in 1999 with a special design from the Royal Canadian Mint. Collectors have taken kindly to these special limited distribution editions, owing to their high quality. One special edition included a 2006 Four Seasons coin, with a face value of $50 and a limited distribution.
The design on the coins features a maple leaf, as well as a young version of Queen Elizabeth II, showing the dual heritage of Canada. Special editions include variations on the basic design, which has been consistent over the past few decades. The Mint produces a Sugar Maple limited distribution design each year for proofs and collectors to supplement the several million that enter mainstream currency circulation. Additionally, a hologram design has been utilized to feature commemorations on an annual basis.
Produced by the Mexican government Mint, Libertad silver coins are sold in a variety of denominations, ranging from 1/20 to a complete silver ounce. Special edition include a 2.5 ounce and 1 kilogram edition, which are designed for collectors.
Similar to the American Silver Eagle, the coins are 99.9% pure silver, making them a great choice for investors and coin collectors alike. Limited distribution makes the coins an attractive alternative to standard silver investments, while the Mint also produces gold versions of the same coins.
The designs on the coin reflect Mexican Independence (hence the name, Libertad) by demonstrated a Winged Victoria, while the back of the coin demonstrates the country’s national heritage, including coasts of arms for the various state, which reflect the various regions of the country. In 2008, the design underwent a revision, which resulted in improved visibility and clarity of the design. As a result, coin collectors have enjoyed improved returns on Mexican silver coins over the last decade.
For over a decade, the British Royal Mint has issued the Brittania bullion silver coin. The coin contains standard Brittania silver, which is measured as 95.8% pure silver, and is available in a variety of denominations, ranging from 1/10 ounce to a full ounce.
The Royal Mint issues the £2 coins each year in proof formats, as well as for standard currency circulation. Collectors pay close attention to the variations in the coins, including the Brittania graphics, which have been slightly modified over the years to reflect a unique perspective.
While not as high grade or purity of silver as the American Silver Eagle, coin collectors still look to the Royal Mint as a quality producer of precious metals. The Mint has been producing proof gold coins for decades and even backing its currency with gold denominations dating back to the Bretton Woods monetary conference in the wake of the Second World War, when the major world banks switched from the Gold Standard.
As the official silver bullion of the United States Mint, the Silver Eagle has been produce for over two decades. The coin is scaled to one troy ounce and is 99.9% pure silver. Today, consumers can utilize the coins for standard transactions, as well as investing in the underlying value of the coins themselves.
The Mint produces bullion for collectors (proof coins), as well as for general distribution (Liberty coins.) The coins are produced at the Philadelphia, San Francisco and New York mints. The date designs back to the Liberty design from artist Adolph Weinman, which once represented the design on the half-dollar (before the Second World War).
Today, the coins sell based upon the value of silver underlying the coin, as well as the distribution of the particular coin. Special edition range from a 20th Anniversary coin to a special limited circulation coin, which are worth more than the precious metal value. Standard silver Eagles are generally worth their weight in the precious metal, although the special editions have collectible value which extends well beyond the standard edition.
