Foreign Silver Coins
Foreign Silver Coins at BGASC
The American Silver Eagle is the official silver bullion coin of the United States, and the most popular silver bullion coin in the world. However, there are several other popular silver bullion coin programs that are released annually and captivate investors and collectors alike. Learn about these Foreign Silver Coins right here, at BGASC.
Australian Silver Coins
The Perth Mint, and their annual releases of Australian Silver Coins, are among the most popular in the world. The Perth Mint has several coin programs, that are oftentimes named after endemic creatures of Australia. Coin programs such as the Australian Silver Emu, Australian Silver Koala, and the Australian Silver Kookaburra, are unique in that the reverse design changes with every new release.
Another popular coin program they have is the Australian Silver Kangaroo. These coins feature the same image of a kangaroo on the reverse. Notably, in 2016 this series became the first from the Perth Mint to have a purity of .9999 pure silver.
The obverse of these Australian Silver Coins depicts the effigy of the reigning British monarch. This has included several designs over the years, such as the following:
- 1985-1998: Queen Elizabeth II designed by Raphael Maklouf.
- 1999-2018: Queen Elizabeth II created by Ian Rank-Broadley.
- 2019-2023: Queen Elizabeth II designed by Jody Clark.
- 2024-Present: King Charles III created by Dan Thorne.
The Perth Mint also has released Lunar-themed coins based on the Chinese Zodiac, every year since 1996. Coins are available in sizes such as 1/2 oz, 1 oz, 2 oz, 5 oz, 1 kilogram, and 10 kilograms.
Austrian Silver Philharmonics
The Austrian Gold Philharmonic was first issued in 1989 and immediately became one of the top gold coins in the world. The popularity led to the creation of the Austrian Silver Philharmonic in 2008.
These coins are issued in just a 1 Troy oz option made from .999 pure silver, with a face value of 1.50 euros. These coins are designed by Thomas Pesendorfer and feature the same designs as their gold coin counterpart.
- Obverse: The pipe organ from the Golden Hall in the Musikverein is displayed on the obverse side. The face value, metal content, year of issue, and the country are inscribed on this field.
- Reverse: A collection of musical instruments played by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. A cello is seen front and center while being flanked by two violins on either side. Behind this line of 5 instruments, we can see a harp, bassoon, and a French horn.
British Silver Coins
The Royal Mint has a history that is over 1,100 years old. As such they create some of the most popular silver bullion coins on the market, most notably, the British Silver Britannia. This coin debuted in 1997 on the 10th anniversary of the British Gold Britannia. Coins issued from 2013 and on have a purity of .999 pure silver, whereas previous years have a purity of .958 silver.
Similar to Australian Silver Coins, these British Silver Coins display the image of the reigning British monarch on the obverse. Over the years, this has included the following:
- 1997: Queen Elizabeth II by Raphael Maklouf.
- 1998-2015: Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley.
- 2016-2022: Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark.
- 2023-Present: King Charles III by Martin Jennings.
The reverse of these coins displays the image of Britannia, the female personification of the country. The image has changed sporadically over the years, but Phillip Nathan’s design has been seen on the reverse every year since 2012.
Another popular coin program from the Royal Mint is the Queen’s Beasts series. These coins showcase the ten heraldic beasts that stood guard during the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II outside Westminster Abbey.
Canadian Silver Coins
The most well-known and popular Canadian Silver Coin is the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, the official silver bullion coin of Canada. These coins debuted in 1988, almost a decade after the debut of the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf. These coins have their name due to their reverse field which features the sugar maple leaf design of Walter Ott.
The obverse side of the coins displays the reigning British monarch. Over the years this has included the following:
- 1988-1989: Queen Elizabeth II at 39 by Arnold Machin.
- 1990-2003: Queen Elizabeth II at 64 by Dora de Pédery-Hunt.
- 2004-2023: Queen Elizabeth II at 79 by Susanna Blunt.
- 2024-Present: King Charles III by Steven Rosati.
Coins are issued in a 1 Troy oz size made from .9999 pure silver and have a face value of $5 (CAD). Coins with an issue date of 2014 and feature unique security features such as radial lines and a micro-engraving laser mark.
Other Popular Choices
- Chinese Silver Pandas: This series by the Chinese Mint debuted in 1983. After sporadic releases to start, these coins have been issued annually since 1989. The image of the panda on the reverse has changed every year, except for 2001-2002. In 2016, the series changed from Troy oz to grams.
- Mexican Silver Libertads: The silver series of this coin program has been issued annually since 1982, making it the world’s first annual-issue silver bullion coin. Winged Victory is displayed on the reverse, while the Mexican coat of arms is shown on the obverse. Coins are now issued in 8 unique weights, with proof and reverse proof strikes also available.
- South African Silver Coins: Another popular choice is the South African Krugerrand. These coins debuted on the 50th anniversary (2017) of their gold counterpart and have been every year since. Paul Kruger is on the obverse while the springbok antelope is on the reverse.
Purchasing Foreign Silver Coins at BGASC
Questions regarding Foreign Silver Coins? Contact the BGASC customer service team today at 888-992-4272. Our team can also be reached via email or through our online chat feature as well.