Новости нумизматики и коллекционирования

A silver commemorative coin of the ‘Bulgarian Churches and Monasteries’ series. 

The obverse features on the left: a replica of the miraculous Virgin Mary Eleusa icon of the Bachkovo Monastery; on the right: the nominal value ‘10 ЛЕВА’ (10 levs), the year of issue ‘2013’, the BNB logo with the year ‘1879’ on the strip and the inscription ‘БЪЛГАРСКА НАРОДНА БАНКА’ (Bulgarian National Bank) in semicircle.

The reverse features the Bachkovo Monastery and two angels with a Virgin Mary icon of the fresco above the monastery gate; the inscription ‘БАЧКОВСКИ МАНАСТИР • УСПЕНИЕ БОГОРОДИЧНО’ (Bachkovo Monastery • The Assumption) in circumference.

Country: Bulgaria
Year of issue: 2013
Face value: 10 leves
Metal: Silver .925
Weight: 23,33 g
Diameter: 38,61 mm
Quality: Proof, mint stage
Mintage: 3000

Coin dedicated to the 20 anniversary since the introduction of the national currency in the Republic of Moldova.

Obverse: on the left side – the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Moldova, above which the inscription "REPUBLICA”; vertically, obliquely a national ornament; on the right side — the face value of "100 LEI”, year of issue "2013” and the logo "BNM”; on the bottom the inscription "MOLDOVA” is engraved.

Reverse: on the upper part the inscription "BANCA NAŢIONALĂ A MOLDOVEI” is engraved; on the left side — the head of Ştefan cel Mare şi Sfânt; vertically, obliquely a national ornament, on the bottom is the circle within which the victory token "V” and the text "PE-UN PICIOR DE PLAI, PE-O GURA DE RAI…” are engraved; on the right side the inscription "20 de ani de la introducerea monedei naţionale în Republica Moldova” is engraved.

Country: Moldova
Data of issue: 29.11.2013
Face value: 100 lei
Metal: Silver .999
Weight: 28,28 g
Size: 40 x 28 mm
Quality: Proof
Mintage: 2000

National Bank of Ukraine 26 November 2013 issued a coin "Mykola Amosov" in the series "Outstanding Personalities of Ukraine".

The coin is dedicated to Mykola Mykhailovych Amosov, a legend of the world science, distinguished scholar in the area of medicine and biocybernetics, public figure, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences and Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, the founder and director of the Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery. Mykola Amosov has saved thousands of people owing to his big love for them and sense of responsibility for their lives.

Obverse: above there is the Small Coat of Arms of Ukraine with the semicircular inscription "НАЦІОНАЛЬНИЙ БАНК УКРАЇНИ" (National Bank of Ukraine); in the centre there is depicted the heart surrounded by a conventionalized image of the electrocardiogram; to the right there is the coin issue year indication 2013 and below - the semicircular face value П`ЯТЬ ГРИВЕНЬ (five hryvnias).

Reverse: bears Mykola Amosov`s portrait; above there is the inscription "МИКОЛА АМОСОВ" (Mykola Amosov), to the left - years of his life 1913–2002.

Country: Ukraine
Data of issue: 26.11.2013
Face value: 5 Hryvnia
Metal: Silver .925
Weight: 15,55 g
Diameter: 33 mm
Quality: Special UNC
Mintage: 5000

Austria's most westerly province, Vorarlberg is bordered by Germany, Switzerland and Lichtenstein as well as by Lake Constance, one of Central Europe’s largest lakes. No tribute to Ländle, as Vorarlbergers affectionately call their native land, would be complete without der Bodensee, and so the lake fittingly features on both sides of the impressive fourth coin in our Austria Piece by Piece series. 

New coin released in the series "Federal Provinces".

So much more than a place of breathtaking natural beauty, Vorarlberg is also rich in ancient traditions, one of which, the Bodensee-Radhaube, a spectacular circular bonnet whose artisanal mode of production has been handed down from generation to generation, is considered an example of «intangible cultural heritage» by UNESCO. The bonnet is worn in its full glory on the coin’s obverse with Lake Constance and St. Martin's Tower in Bregenz, the provincial capital, in the background. The tower also features on the coin's reverse, as does the peak of the panoramic Pfänder and its cable car, in a highly original design by Alissa De Mori, a local schoolgirl who beat stiff opposition to win our competition to co-design the coin, which was supported by the Ministry of Education.

Struck in Special Uncirculated quality and Proof quality in silver, as well as Circulation quality in copper, each with magnificent piece comes with different packing.

Country: Austria
Data of issue: 16.10.2013
Face value: 10 Euro
Metal: Silver .925
Weight: 17,30 g
Diameter: 32 mm
Quality: Proof / Special UNC / UNC
Mintage: 30 000 / 40 000 / 130 000

Cook Islands released a new coin, may be one of the hottest coins on the planet – the 2014 $50 Mother of Pearl Nautilus!

Issued in tiny numbers, with a mere 750 of the Silver 5oz available worldwide, this dynamic coin pays homage to the famous submarine from the classic science fiction novel, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea, penned by Jules Verne and published in 1870. The Nautilus was described by Verne as 'a masterpiece containing masterpieces' – a description that can easily be applied to this spectacular coin!

Spanning a massive 65mm in diameter, and comprising FIVE TROY OUNCES of pure .999 SILVER, this stunning legal tender issue is highlighted by a core of genuine Mother of Pearl. A miniature work of art, depicting the Nautilus passing a giant octopus, the authentic Mother of Pearl insert adds the perfect finishing touch to a coin of the utmost quality, splendour and prestige.

With the first two coins of both the Gold 5oz and Silver 5oz Mother of Pearl Series – honouring the Titanic and the Zeppelin – sold out at super speed, Downies is delighted that our strong presence in the European numismatic market has enabled us to secure an allocation of this 5oz giant.

Country: Cook Islands
Year: 2014
Face value: 50 Dollars / 1000 Dollars
Metal: Silver .999 / Gold .999
Weight: 141,74 g
Diameter: 65 mm
Quality: Proof
Mintage: 750 pieces / 25 pieces

National Bank of Ukraine 22 November 2013 issued a coin "Borys Hrinchenko" in the series "Outstanding Personalities of Ukraine".

The commemorative coin is dedicated to the 150th anniversary of birth of Borys Dmytrovych HRINCHENKO, a poet and prose writer, translator and literary critic, the author of basic research works in ethnography, linguistics, study of literature and pedagogy, historical sketches, first textbooks of Ukrainian language and literature, compiler of the explanatory dictionary of Ukrainian language in 4 volumes, one of the organizers and leaders of the Prosvita Society.

Obverse: above there is the Small Coat of Arms of Ukraine with the semicircular inscription НАЦІОНАЛЬНИЙ БАНК УКРАЇНИ (National Bank of Ukraine); in the centre there is a book image decorated with flower ornament; on the book pages there are the writer`s statement "…УКРАЇНА. В ЦЬОМУ СЛОВІ ДЛЯ МЕНЕ ВСЕ" (…Ukraine. In this word (there is) for me everything.) and a pen; below there are the coin face value 2 ГРИВНІ (2 hryvnias), coin issue year indication 2013 (to the right) and the mark of the National Bank of Ukraine Mint.

Reverse: there is a portrait of Borys Hrinchenko to the left and right of which within the flower ornament there are indicated the years of his life 1863 and 1910; below there is the inscription "БОРИС ГРІНЧЕНКО" (Borys Hrinchenko).

Country: Ukraine
Year: 2013
Face value: 2 Hryvnia
Metal: nickel silver
Weight: 12,8 g
Diameter: 31 mm
Quality: special uncirculated
Mintage: 20 000 pieces

It is one of the few days celebrated almost throughout the world by couples in love. A finely wrought heart-shaped coin symbolizes the love and appreciation of your partner.

About 1800 years ago, when Christians were still being persecuted under the Roman Empire, Bishop Valentine of Terni defied the imperial decree and performed Christian weddings. It is said that every couple received flowers from the Bishop’s garden at the ceremony and that the man of God’s benediction promised a happy future. When Emperor Claudius II. heard about the Bishop’s actions he was livid about the continuation of Christianity and had Valentine executed on 14 February AD 269.

Since the 14th century the custom of Valentine’s day has spread worldwide and after eventually became popular in Central Europe after World War II. Even today couples express their love on the "day of lover" by presenting flowers like as Bishop Valentine of Terni once did.

Country: Cook Islands
Year: 2014
Face value: 5 Dollars
Metal: Silver .925
Weight:  20 g
Size: 37x37 mm
Quality: Proof
Mintage: 2014 pieces

Brazilian artist and designer Andre Levy has developed an interesting, playful new pastime: painting coins. In the series, which he calls Tales You Lose, Levy uses the mini-structures of the coin’s portraits or figures to create his own, partially or fully obscuring the faces of presidents and kings to recreated the likenesses of superheroes and pop-culture icons.

This is what the artist had to say about his work on Facebook: «Coins are actually massively-reproduced little sculptures. This project brings individual character to each replica, and makes us think: Are we able to like one cent more than others, just by injecting new stories in it?”

I’ve written up the names of the characters on the coins, but how many of them did you know before reading them?