The Silver Fix!

Commodity prices including that of silver are constantly in flux but one thing is certain: The cost of bread has been remarkably constant in silver terms over the last 150+ years

The old-time daily “Silver Fix” of the London Metal Exchange is gone. Established in 1897 to facilitate the exchange of metal between buyers and sellers, it had received some bad press in recent years. 

 

Hues of undue manipulations surfaced, rightly or wrongly and the old-time system finally gave way to a new electronic system of matching supply and demand.

Time will tell if the new system is any better or not. If it is sound, the new method will be applied to other commodities as well.

You may wonder though, why is the price of silver so important?

Use of Silver:
Historically the major silver use was mostly for jewelry and coinage. Artisans like silver smiths created bowls, baskets, chalices, cutlery and numerous other objects from silver. 

In medieval times many guilds were established throughout Europe (including the UK) that controlled standards of craftsmanship and material quality. Most such items were not made from pure metal but an alloy with copper containing 60-80% silver. 

They are preserved in museums, sought after by collectors and still are common heirlooms in the western world like the basket pictured below, made from 80% silver in Germany, approximately 100 years ago.


Silver basket with 800 hall-mark, probably early 20th century

In modern times silver has found many industrial uses. The metal and its alloys have a number of unique and desirable properties such as superior electrical conductivity. That is important for electronic devices like your TV or cell phone. 

Silver also has the highest optical reflectivity and is the metal behind the glass in your mirrors. During most of the 20th century, a large portion of silver went into photographic films, a use that has declined with modern electronic cameras. 

However there are many other industrial uses for this element; even stainless steel solder is silver-based as it readily binds with that material at a relatively low temperature.

Silver amalgam, a mixture of silver and mercury is the most widely used filler for dental cavities. When the components are freshly mixed they form a paste that is easy to work with. It hardens rapidly into hard and durable fillings. 

Dental amalgam has been a major use of silver metal for many decades; some records indicate its use well over a thousand years ago in China. Silver derivatives are also used in medical applications like antiviral eye drops, wound dressings and the like.

Silver Coinage:
Coins made from silver and gold have been are around for well over two thousand years. In ancient Greece, a silver Drachma (containing 1/8 oz. of silver) was the pay for a day of common labor. In Queen Victoria’s time when the daily Silver Fix was established, 2/3 oz. of silver paid for three days of labor, not all that different from old Greece.

Prior to the mid 1900’s or so, many higher value coins were made from a high silver-content alloy as well. For example, common U.S. “silver dollars” were made from metal containing mostly silver until 1935 and up to 40% silver as late as 1974. 

Canadian common silver dollars were minted with 80% silver until 1967. Pretty much all of such coins have been collected by people realizing that the metal value now exceeds the coins’ face value. Currently an ounce of (pure) silver goes for about $20, a far cry from the face value of $1 of an old silver dollar.

The Fix:
As you can surmise, the price of silver is of importance for all consumers and users of which there are many. Like other materials produced and consumed in large amounts, the price of the metal is subject to fluctuations on the world market. 

It can rise or fall severely in mere seconds. Any problems with a major mine or other potential supply interruptions are immediately noticed by the markets with consumers or speculators buying ahead of the actual requirement and the price adjusts accordingly, up or down.

Whether you like it or not, commodity prices including that of silver are constantly in flux but one thing is certain: The cost of bread has been remarkably constant in silver terms over the last 150+ years, about one tenths of an ounce for a loaf or roughly the amount of silver in an old dime.

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/65585

Niue “The Power Of The Pyramid” Pyramid-Shaped Gold And Silver Coins!

The Government & Treasury of Niue have launched a new set of coins which feature the extraordinary and mythical designs of ancient on a unique pyramid-shaped coin to enhance those designs. 

The technology utilized in the production of these four-sided, pyramid-shaped coins is that of a similar process used for the well-known Fortuna Redux coins produced by the Mint last year.
Niue Pyramid Shaped Coin

For thousands of years people have been aware of positive, healing properties of pyramid-shaped objects. In the interiors of such objects magnificent energy of space is concentrated. 

Several studies have suggested that a positive effect that even scale model replicas of pyramids have on their surroundings when placed in accordance to magnetic cardinal directions.

The Great Pyramids of Giza are one of the largest works of architecture made by humankind. Built for pharaohs Khufu, Khafra and Menkaure, the pyramids fascinate us with their perfect design, position and purpose resulting in thousands of years of marvel at the incredible skills and knowledge of its designers for nearly five millennia. 

Although these out-of-the-ordinary treasures of Egyptian architecture have been subjected to wind, dampness, sand storms, deconstruction and pillaging for centuries, they have remained almost intact becoming a symbol of the highly developed civilization and, an immortal symbol of pharaoh’s divinity. 

The craftsmanship evident on these coins is the result of merging the skill of designers from two far-distant epochs of contemporary and ancient times as well as those of two very different elements of artistry – one in stone, the other in precious metal. 

The coins exquisitely detail the ancient Egyptian characteristic for that period – a faithful replication of images of three great pharaohs as well as decorative motifs taken from the tomb of Queen Hetepheres and the statue of Nofret of Meidum.

The coins, which have a weight of three troy ounces of pure silver each are designed by Urszula Walerzak and produced by the Mint of Poland on behalf of the Treasury of Niue. 

Three sides of the reverse depict effigies of three great pharaohs of the fourth dynasty – Khufu, Khafra and Menkaure. The forth side shows decorative elements characteristic of the era, taken from the tomb of Queen Hetepheres (Khufu’s mother) and the statue of Nofret.

The obverse or bottom side includes the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II which was created by sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley and used on commemorative & circulation coins of many commonwealth countries since 1998.

On the right of the Queen’s portrait is a mint mark (m/w). Along the rim are the inscriptions “NIUE ISLAND” along with “2014” and the coin’s face value of “15 DOLLARS”. Also included in the text is the hallmark of “Ag 999” and the name of the coin’s series “THE GREAT PYRAMIDS”.

Denomination           Metal                 Weight           Dimensions       Quality       

15 Dollars            .999 silver            93.3 grams    35 / 35 / 22 mm     Proof        
15 Dollars            .999 silver            93.3 grams    35 / 35 / 22 mm    Antique      
15 Dollars         Gold plated .999     93.3 grams    35 / 35 / 22 mm       BU          
                                 silver

http://news.coinupdate.com/niue-the-power-of-the-pyramid-pyramid-shaped-gold-and-silver-coins-4437/            

2014 1 oz Canadian Silver Woolly Mammoth Proof Coin!

The 2014 Canadian Silver Woolly Mammoth Coin is available in proof condition and is the newest offering from the Royal Canadian Mint. 

The mint has recently created these coins as the first addition to a new series called the “Prehistoric Animal Series.” Each coin is made up of .9999 pure silver and weighs one troy ounce. Aside from the silver purity, the coins carry a legal tender value of $20 CAD.

The 2014 Canadian Silver Woolly Mammoth coins are being minted in very limited numbers and only 7,500 coins are scheduled to be released. Accompanied with a display box and COA, these coins can make for a fine addition to any coin collection. 

The obverse side of the coin features a woolly mammoth; an animal that is believed to have gone extinct around 10,000 years ago. 

The ancient animal is featured walking through a mountainous landscape. Above this scene is the coin’s minting year and face value which reads “20 DOLLARS 2014.” 

Below the animal are the coin’s silver content and purity which read “FINE SILVER 1 OZ ARGENT PUR.”

http://www.jmbullion.com/2014-canadian-silver-woolly-mammoth-proof/

When It Comes To Wedding Traditions, Coins Remain At The Forefront!

Will you be participating in one of the many rituals associated with wedding coins if you’re off to share in the marriage of friends or family in the near future?

When it comes to some of the many wedding traditions that are commonly observed, coins are seen as symbolic of some of the qualities associated with a happy marriage. As such, coins are prominent in ceremonies for different reasons all round the world.

UK Wedding Traditions:

Ever since the reign of Elizabeth I, coins have been associated with weddings. As time evolved, it became the custom for the bride’s parent to give the coin as a dowry gift. Then, from Victorian times onwards until the modern era, the notion that a silver sixpence is a lucky charm came into being.

Symbolising prosperity, love and unity, the giving of coins to newlyweds in these shores is linked to the rhyme: ‘Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe’. Such tradition often subsequently adopted is when the father of the bride places a sixpence in the bride’s shoe wishing her prosperity, love and happiness in her marriage.

Another tradition in this country when it comes to the use of coins at weddings is when silver coins are inserted into the popped champagne or wine corks and then given to the bride and groom as one of the many mementos they can keep and cherish forever.

Less popular, yet nonetheless a superstition still sometimes practiced is that whereby a groom should give a coin to the first person he sees on his journey to the church for good luck.

Overseas Wedding Traditions:

Looking further afield, and in many countries it is common for newlyweds to receive thirteen coins representing Jesus and the twelve disciples.

Specifically in Indian ceremonies, the bride frequently scatters coins as she leaves her parents’ house to go and live with her new husband. Whilst in Sweden, before a wedding, the bride’s mother gives her a gold coin to insert in her right shoe and the bride’s father presents her with a silver coin to put in her left shoe.

Meanwhile in Poland, wedding tradition dictates that coins are tossed over the newlyweds straight after the conclusion of the ceremony itself leaving the happy couple to pick up all the coins together as a sign of their newly acquired unity.

http://blog.postofficeshop.co.uk/wedding-traditions-coins-remain-forefront/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wedding-traditions-coins-remain-forefront

New Perth Mint Coin Releases for August 2014!

The Perth Mint is pleased to present a vast new range of products………

2014 Mother’s Love Half Ounce Silver:

The fourth release in the five coin Mother’s Love series features a reverse design of a mother brown bear and her cub; Queen Elizabeth II graces the obverse.  

The 1/2 ounce coin is being issued as a proof and struck on 99.9% pure silver planchets. Carrying a face value of fifty cents, this colorized commemorative coin is legal tender of the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu. 

The Perth Mint has set an issue limit of 4,500 examples and a maximum mintage of 6,000 pieces. Ing Ing Jong is the coin’s designer. 

The 2014 Mother’s Love Brown Bear coin has an issue price of AUS$63.50 and will be released on August 4.

http://www.coinweek.com/australia/five-new-perth-mint-releases-for-august-2014/

Silver Bar from Shipwreck Fetches Big Bucks at Auction!

In the winter of 1740, a merchant ship sank in the English Channel just miles from the coast of England. The Rooswijk fell victim to the Goodwin Sands, an area of the English Channel that is highly trafficked and is constantly changing depths with the tides.

With more than 2,000 shipwrecks in the region, it takes a lot for one to stick out. But the Rooswijk is no ordinary shipwreck.

The Rooswijk served as an important vessel for Asian and European trade. Asia had fabric and spices Europeans wanted, and the Dutch had gold and silver, which was in high demand in Asia. 

Owned by the Dutch East India Company, the Rooswijk was on its second voyage from Amsterdam to the Dutch East Indies when it went down.

Captained by Daniel Ronzieres, the Rooswijk carried two hundred passengers on its second voyage, none of whom survived. In addition to the passengers, the Rooswijk was carrying all kinds of treasure. Ten chests of silver coins—and an unknown number of silver bars and gold coins—were on board.

Though the shipwreck occurred well over two hundred years ago, that was not the end of the Rooswijk's story. Twenty years ago, an amateur diver located the shipwreck. 

The next year, a treasure hunting team began salvaging some of the treasure on board. Among the loot recovered were one thousand bars of silver and gold coins.

Last month at Schulman b.v.'s auction in Amsterdam, a silver bar from the wreck—weighing 75.45 troy ounces—was sold. Before the auction, it was estimated at $3,349. The silver bar sold for $6,201, almost $3,000 more than expected.

http://www.kgw.com/story/life/shopping/goldcoins/2014/08/11/silver-bar-shipwreck-fetches-big-auction-bucks/13920801/

Silver: Investing Essentials!

Mankind has been mining silver for more than 5,000 years. It is believed to have first been mined in what is now Turkey. 

Through the centuries it became an important trading component especially along the Asian spice routes. Today, silver is not only important for the value it holds but for the vast array of usages derived from its versatility.

What is silver and why is it important?

Silver is a soft and shiny metal that has the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of all the metals, as well as being the most reflective.

Because of its physical properties silver has a range of industrial usages. It's used to make coils, solar panels, water filtrations, electrical contacts and conductors, specialize mirrors, window coatings as well as being used in photographic film and X-rays. In 2012 44% of the world's silver supplies were used in industrial application while another 5% was used for photography. 

In addition to those uses silver's natural beauty is why it is used to make jewelry, ornaments as well as high-value tableware and utensils, hence the name silverware. Jewelry making consumed 17% of the silver supply in 2012 while 4% of the silver supply was used to make silverware.

On top of that silver has value as a precious metal. As an investment it's found in coins or bullion bars as a storage of value. In 2012 nearly 9% of the silver supply was used to make coins and metals while investors scooped up 15% of supply as it was turned into physical bars to store wealth and act as an inflation hedge.

What is the history of silver?

Silver was an important metal to the ancients. Greece mined silver and used it to grow its empire. Later the Romans mined it and used to for trade. But silver really took off in 1492 when the New World was discovered as it was loaded with the precious metal. 

The Spanish found more silver in the Americas than they could have ever imagined. Between 1500 and 1800, Bolivia, Peru, and Mexico accounted for 85% of the world's silver production and trade.

Since then new silver discoveries have been made around the world along with new uses for the versatile metal. Currently Mexico leads the world in silver production as it produced 169.7 million ounces of it in 2013. It was followed by Peru, China, Australia, and Russia.

Silver's price is largely a result of supply and demand because more than half of the world's silver supplies are either for industrial uses or for other practical purposes. 

But because it is a tangible asset and recognized as a store of value its price can be affected by other factors such as inflation, currencies, interest rates, and global economic fears. This has caused its price to have notable peaks as investor demand has pushed its price higher at times of fear and inflation as noted on the following chart.

How many ways are there to invest in silver?

While buying bars of silver and having them locked in a vault is one way to invest in silver it's not the most practical investment method for the average investor. Buying items made of silver like silverware, tableware, ornaments, or jewelry, for example, are very practical purchases that also act as an investment in silver.

In addition to that buying silver coins is another way to invest in silver in small doses. In Canada, for example, the Silver Maple Leaf coin is legal tender, while in Utah silver is also legal tender and can be used to pay debts.

Silver coin. Flickr user Sprott Money

In addition to that investors can buy Exchange Traded Funds that are invested in physical silver. This saves an investor from the inconvenience of storing physical silver bars as well as providing them with daily liquidity to easily sell their silver holdings when the need arises. 

Silver exchange-traded funds have become popular with investors because of the ease of buying and selling.

Finally, investors can also invest in the stocks of silver mining companies. These companies typically mine silver and other metals like gold, copper, and zinc so there is some added diversification. But there is also added risk as these companies might not trade lock step with the price of silver as miss management or higher costs could impact the investment.

Why invest in silver?

In some ways silver is seen as an alternative to investing in gold because both store value. In fact, since the Roman times the price ratio between silver and gold has been closely watched to determine which investment is a better value. 

Because of this the same factors that drive investors into gold -- namely concerns about inflation -- also drive investors to silver. But because of its industrial value silver's price is affected by economic expansion, which is why the case can be made that it's a better hedge against inflation during times of expansion because of the increased demand for silver from industrial users.

Whether as a hedge against inflation or to profit from an economic recovery silver holds a lot of value for investors. But the combination of silver's industrial value with its value as an inflation hedge still creates a lot of volatility within the price of silver, especially in today's fast paced exchange-traded funds marketplace. 

That's why in many ways one of the best ways to invest in silver is to simply enjoy its beauty through practical long-term investments like jewelry, which is an investment that loved ones can treasure for years to come.

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/08/11/silver-investing-essentials.aspx

Fifty Years of the Kennedy Half-Dollar!

Over 50 years ago, an event took place that changed American history. In its wake, a special coin was issued: the Kennedy half-dollar. 

This year marks the coin’s 50th anniversary, and on Tuesday, August 5th, a new Kennedy half-dollar coin was revealed at the American Numismatic Association’s (ANA) World’s Fair of Money in Rosemont, Illinois. The .9999 fine gold proofs were debuted following much fanfare in the coin world.

Its obvious historical and numismatic value aren’t the only things the coin has going for it. One attribute that makes this coin so sought after is its limited mintage. Buyers at the ANA World’s Fair of Money were limited to one coin per household. 

The coins will be minted according to demand. As of now, only 40,000 gold coins have been issued. More orders for the coins will be made based on the first week’s sales. An unknown final mint amount usually drives the price higher.

Commemorative coins are generally issued to honor the anniversary of a major event. The Kennedy anniversary half-dollar marks the first time a commemorative coin has been issued to honor a coin. 

Many numismatic experts thought it was an interesting choice to strike the coin in 2014, rather than last year, which marked the 50th anniversary of the beloved president’s passing. The somewhat unconventional choice only adds to the coin’s appeal.

The U.S. Mint’s constitutional right to issue a gold half-dollar coin isn’t exactly clear. Congress has previously stated that the Mint didn’t have the constitutional authority to mint a gold dollar coin in reference to the Mint’s attempt to issue a gold Sacajawea dollar coin.

The total Kennedy anniversary set includes seven coins. As of now, the gold coin and the 2014 Anniversary Kennedy Two-Coin Clad Set are the only coins to be released. 

The clad set also has no mint limit, and buyers are allowed up to five of each product per household. The rest of the Kennedy anniversary coins are scheduled for release in the fall. 

The last coins in the series will be the 50th Anniversary Kennedy Half-Dollar Silver Coin Collection containing four silver coins that are 90% silver.

http://www.kirotv.com/news/lifestyles/shopping/fifty-years-kennedy-half-dollar/ngzTS/

The Royal Canadian Mint has announced the second issue of the “Birds of Prey” silver bullion & collector coin series featuring one of the most recognized and synonymous species of wildlife associated with the North American continent, that of the Bald eagle.

Revered in both Canada and the United States, this raptor, once included on the endangered species list, has made a remarkable recovery, thanks to the vigilance of many wildlife associations and public education leading to the protection of their environments enabling them to reach greater numbers.

When it comes to hunting, the bald eagle’s most important assets are its eyes, its talons, and its exceptional diving speed. Eagle vision is about six times stronger than that of humans.

In addition, transparent nictitating membranes on their eyes allow eagles to “blink” without losing sight of prey for even a moment. The eagle’s claws are its key tool for hunting, nest building and more. Composed of three front toes and one back toe, all tipped with long keratinous talons.

Its claws are connected to tendons in the eagle’s legs and feet that allow it to clamp down on captured prey with crushing force. Once the hunter has spotted the day’s catch, it will dive at speeds in excess of 120 kilometers per hour, snatching its prey from the water or ground with lightning speed.

Eagles can live up to 30 years in the wild and will as circumstances allow, mate for life. It is the male who predominantly builds the nest and invites the female to share a new home.

Eagle couples will raise their young, usually two or three eggs, together, taking it in turns to incubate and after their young are hatched, will both hunt and share in their feeding and protection.

Eagle parents will continue to feed their juvenile eaglets even after they fledge and pass on their survival skills of hunting and until they fly away to live their life of soaring the skies and beginning the cycle of life once again in safer ecological conditions.

The coin, designed by Emily Damstra depicts a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) just having caught a fish. The eagle dominates the image, its stunning wings spread wide in flight as it is viewed in full-body profile from its left side.

The bald eagle’s characteristic dark body and wings, white head and tail, and powerful legs and talons are prominently featured. The obverse includes the current portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II as designed by Susanna Blunt and in use on all circulation and most commemorative Canadian coins since 2003.

Denomination    Metal           Weight          Dimensions    Quality    Mintage

5 Dollars           .999 silver    31.3 grams    38 mm.           Proof       7500 pieces

5 Dollars           .999 silver    31.3 grams    38 mm.           Bullion    1,000,000

This coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded maroon clamshell with black beauty box. The first coin in this series, featuring the Peregrine Falcon and launched in February 2014, is now approaching a sell-out of its mintage of one million bullion-strike coins.

This issue also includes a mintage of one million pieces struck as a bullion-related item which is available for purchase through retail channels.

http://news.coinupdate.com/canadas-birds-of-prey-series-features-bald-eagle-4414/

Numismatic Silver Coin Sales Slow, Bullion Sales Surge!

In the weekly United States Mint sales stats report, sales cooled for most silver coins and sets. Only one collector and one bullion coin were able to out-sell their previous week’s gains among silver products.

It is probably not surprising that they were the Proof Silver Eagle and bullion Silver Eagle.

Stacks of American Eagle Silver Coins

Sales of bullion Silver Eagles are the strongest in three months. One reason for general sales pull back may be attributed to the high selling activity during the previous week, and another is the typical slowness of the summer season.

This round’s best collectible silver coin seller was the 2014-W Proof Silver Eagle, which jumped by 6,063. Its prior growth was 5,893.

Following in the Silver Eagle’s shadow, the 2014 Silver Proof Set added 4,585 compared to 6,860 previously, and the 2014-Uncirculated Silver Eagle advanced by 1,166 versus 2,293 previously.

Demand for bullion American Silver Eagles soared to start of the month. After adding just 285,000 in the previous week, U.S.

Mint authorized purchasers placed orders for 1,005,000 over these last few days. This week’s sales are the strongest in three months. Year-to-date sales total 27,058,500.

http://www.silvercoinstoday.com/numismatic-silver-coin-sales-slow-bullion-sales-surge/1010389/

2014 Australian Stockman Silver Coin in Land Down Under Series!

The Perth Mint of Australia’s introduces its newest Land Down Under series release with the 2014 Proof Australian Stockman Silver Coin.

                           2014 Australian Stockman Silver Coin - Reverse

Mintage of the one-ounce, 99.9% fine silver coin is limited to 5,000. As expected by the name, its reverse offers a design emblematic of an Australian Stockman.

"Lured by the mesmerizing yet harsh Australian outback, these early stockmen were instrumental in opening up the untamed wilderness of inland Australia as they drove their livestock through the untouched bush and scrublands," describes the Perth Mint in a release for the Australian Stockman Silver Coin. "The Australian stockman was a courageous and highly skilled rider, at one with his horse."

Previously issued Land Down Under series of silver coins depict the Great Barrier Reef and the Australian Gold Rush.

Australian Stockman Silver Coin Specifications:

2014 Proof Australian Stockman 1 Oz Silver Coins portray a single stockman astride his horse as completed by Perth artist In Ing Jong. 

Behind the rider and mount, a colored rural image of grazing sheep within a paddock are seen. The colored scene is bordered inside an outline of the Australian continent. Inscriptions on the reverse include THE LAND DOWN UNDER, AUSTRALIAN STOCKMAN, 1 oz 999 SILVER and the Perth Mint’s mintmark of ‘P’.

Ian Rank-Broadley’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II graces the obverse. Inscriptions shown are ELIZABETH II, AUSTRALIA, 2014 and the legal tender face value of 1 DOLLAR.
Each coin is struck to proof quality with a diameter of 40.60 mm and a maximum thickness of 4.00 mm.

As with other Land Down Under series of silver coins, an Australian map-shaped latex display case is included with each purchase. A certificate of authenticity and illustrated shipper also accompany the coin.

Pricing is AUS $99, or US $83.84. Orders may be placed directly from The Perth Mint website at http://www.perthmint.com.au. An affiliate link to new Perth Mint silver coins follows:
Ad Banner to Perth Mint Website for New Silver Coins

The Perth also offers a one-fourth ounce Australian Stockman Gold Coin. Struck in 99.99% fine gold and limited to 1,000, it depicts a working stockman on his horse and his whip in hand.

http://www.silvercoinstoday.com/2014-australian-stockman-silver-coin-in-land-down-under-series/1010386/ 

Perth Mint Lunar 2015 Lunar Goat Coin Launch Draws Near!

We are only 1 month away from Perth Mint launching their 2015 Year of the Goat Lunar Coins. Arguably the most sought after of all lunar releases.

Public images may only be available from the day of the launch, but if you read my post from several months ago you would be aware the description of the designs are as follows:

Perth Mint 2015 Australian Lunar – Year of the Goat Gold Coin design

"...a representation of a goat, and a landscape featuring rocky ground, grass and stylised mountains in the background."

Perth Mint 2015 Australian Lunar – Year of the Goat Silver Coin design

"...a representation of three goats, and a landscape featuring grass and leafy trees."

The Perth Mint will be releasing the new bullion lunar coins (along with other 2015 bullion series coins) on September 1st, 2014.

The numismatic coins, such as the proof series will be released the following morning, September 2nd, 2014.

For those in Perth or anyone who can make it to Perth for the release date I'd highly recommend attending the Silver Stackers exclusive launch event which includes early entry to the Perth Mint and an exclusive presentation, this year including a Gold pour. 

You can view the details in the thread -> Click Here (you need to register your interest in attending & provide your details and I suggest you do so ASAP if interested).

I made it to one of these events a couple of years ago (for the 2013 Lunar Snake), which you can read about here.

I think demand for these Perth Mint coins could set the sentiment for how well other 2015 lunar goat coins will sell in general this year and next. 

It's not the most exciting animal (compared with a dragon, snake or horse for example), but looking back at Perth Mint's Series 1 bullion coins, the 1oz silver lunar goat mintage shows it outsold the horse and snake in the years before it, though the 1oz gold lunar goat mintage did not fare as well selling only around half the maximum while the horse and snake before it sold out.

http://www.silverlunar.com/2014/08/perth-mint-2015-lunar-goat-coin-launch.html?m=0

What Is Coin Grading!

Simply put, Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) provides collectors with maximum value, maximum liquidity and maximum security for their rare and collectible coins. 

In this short video, PCGS President Don Willis, as well as industry fixtures from companies like Heritage Auctions and AU Capital Management, reveal how PCGS contributes these critical benefits to the coin market.

Maximum Value - No other company delivers higher prices in the secondary market than PCGS.

Maximum Liquidity - PCGS coins can be found in more auctions and are trusted by more buyers and sellers than any other grading company.

Maximum Security - PCGS offers cutting edge security features, including an ultra-clear, sonically-sealed acrylic holder and a security hologram developed by DuPont.

http://youtu.be/haTkwuFOB6o