China 1 yuan 2014 - Year of the horse

New circulating commemorative:

1 yuan: 2014 - Year of the Horse



(info and image by Pabitra Saha)

Tunisia 2013 - Two new circulating types

The Central Bank of Tunisia has released two new coins for circulation, a 200 millimes and a 2 dinar:



(news by Michel Guerin)

2 dinar SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: Copper-Nickel
Diameter: 29.40 mm
Width: 1.90 mm
Weight: 11.20 g

200 millime SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: Copper-Zinc
Diameter: 29.00 mm
Width: 1.80 mm
Weight: 9.40 g

LINK: The Huffington Post

Thailand 20 baht 2013 - Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency

New CuNi commemorative:

'60th Anniversary of the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency'



(information and image by Sesthawich and Pabitra Saha)

SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: CuNi
Diameter: 32.00 mm
Weight: 15.00 g
Mintage: 300 000

Thailand 20 baht 2012 - Department of Highways

New CuNi commemorative:

'100th Anniversary of the Department of Highways'



(information and image by Sesthawich and Pabitra Saha)

SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: CuNi
Diameter: 32.00 mm
Weight: 15.00 g
Mintage: 300 000

South Africa 2 rand 2013 - Centenary of the Union Buildings

New circulating commemorative:

'100th Anniversary of the Union Buildings'



(information and image by Pabitra Saha)

LINK: South Africa Mint

Greece 5 euro 2013 - Konstantinos Petrou Kavafis

New CuNi commemorative:

'150th anniversary of the birth of Konstantinos Petrou Kavafis'

Konstantinos Petrou Kavafis (1863-1933) was a Greek poet who lived in Alexandria and worked as a journalist and civil servant. He published 154 poems, and many more remained incomplete or in sketch form. His most important poetry was written after his fortieth birthday. He is considered a key artist in the revival and recognition of Greek poetry both at home and abroad.



(news and image from Pabitra Saha)
(biographical data from Wikipedia)

Gibraltar 50 pence 2013 - Christmas

New circulating type:



(information and image by Peter Kaminsky)

Philippines 10 piso 2013 - Andres Bonifacio

New circulating bimetallic:

'150th Anniversary of the Birth of Andres Bonifacio'



(information by Pabitra Saha and Adam Mrzyglod)
(image by Pabitra Saha)

LINK: Central Bank of Philippines

Ukraine 5 hryvnia 2013 - Mykola Amosov

New silver commemorative:

'Outstanding Personalities of Ukraine: Mykola Amosov'

Nikolai (Mykola) Amosov (1913-2002) was a Ukrainian doctor, heart surgeon, inventor, best-selling author, and exercise enthusiast, known for his inventions of several surgical procedures for treating heart defects.



(news from Gijs Vlothuizen and Pabitra Saha)

SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: Silver
Weight: 15.55 g
Diameter: 33.00 mm
Mintage: 5,000

LINK: National Bank of Ukraine

Latvia 2014 - Euro starter kits

Although the coins won't start circulating until 01/01/2014, the Latvian euro starter kits are available for general public already. They have a face value of 10 lats, or 14.23 euros.

I already got my own kits from my good friend Andrejs Pimejenko (cuhontuk@inbox.lv):





(original pictures by Andrejs Pimejenko)

LINK: Bank of Latvia

Libya 1/4 dinar 2014 - New series

The Central Bank of Libya has released images and information about the first coin of the new family, the 1/4 dinar:



(news by Pabitra Saha)
(scan by Wolfgang Schuster)

SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: nordic gold
Diameter: 26.00 mm
Width: 2.00 mm
Weight: 6.55 g

LINK: Central Bank of Libya

Luxembourg 2 euro 2014 - 175th Year of the Nation

New bimetallic circulating commemorative:

'175th Year of the Nation'

Next year, Luxembourg will celebrate the 175th anniversary of their fully independence (by the 1839 First Treaty of London) with this commemorative circulation coin:



(news and image by Pabitra Saha)

SPECIFICATIONS
External ring: CuNi
Center disc: 3 layers, Ni-Brass, Ni, Ni-brass
Diameter: 25.75 mm
Width: 2.20 mm
Weight: 8.50 g

India 5 rupees 2007 Khadi Villages error types

New unlisted varieties have been discovered:

'Khadi Villages'

These two are the correct and already catalogued varieties, with diamond (KM#360.1) and M (KM#360.2) mint marks:



These two error types have been recently discovered, both of the diamond mint mark:



Both have a mistake in the English spelling (VIIIAGES instead of VILLAGES), and second one has also a mistake in the Devanagari legend.

(information and scans by Shamik Biswas and Wolfgang Schuster)

SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: Stainless Steel
Weight: 6.00 g
Diameter: 23.00 mm
Edge: security

Canada 25 cents 2013 - First Canadian Arctic Expedition

New commemorative quarters:

'100th Anniversary of the First Canadian Arctic Expedition'

The first coin was designed by Canadian artist Bonnie Ross. The coin depicts the Canadian Arctic Expedition, a group of three men aboard a dogsled, the waiting dog team before them listening for the command to move on across the Arctic tundra. The skyline and horizon in the background are filled with a stylized image of a compass.



Designed by renowned Inuit artist Tim Pitsiulak, this second coin includes a beautifully detailed design that combines animal and human imagery. A traditional whaling boat and three kayaks wrap around the image along the rim to depict a traditional bowhead whale hunt. Two beluga whales swim alongside a bowhead whale – animals that have long been a source of inspiration to the artist. The bowhead is adorned with several elements drawn from the Inuit culture. To honour the Tuniit people who first crossed the Bering Strait from Siberia, Dorset ivory masks adorn the bowhead's lower jaw and its back. A Thule ivory comb lies across the top of the whale's head, representing the Inuit expansion across Canada. The pattern on the whale's side mimics the walls of an igloo, while the amauti design that graces the whale's tale symbolizes the clothing worn by Inuit women.



As my friends Dan and Pabitra told me, there are 2 varieties of these 2 types, depending on the frosted features of the coins (please read Dan's commnents):



(news by Dan McIntyre and Pabitra Saha)
(frosted variations image from www.numicanada.com/)

LINK: Royal Canadian Mint

Oman 1 rial 2013 - 43rd National Day

New silver commemorative:

'First Mint in Oman - the Umayyad Dirham'

Coinciding with the celebration of the 43rd National Day, the Central Bank of Oman has issued a silver commemorative coin depicting a resemblance of the Umayyad Dirham, which was minted in Oman in 81H.



The Umayyad Dirham:



(news from Pabitra Saha)

SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: 0.999 silver
Diameter: 38.61 mm
Weight: 28.28 g

LINK: Central Bank of Oman

Russia 10 roubles 2013 - Russian Federation Constitution

New circulating commemorative:

'20th anniversary of the Russian Federation Constitution adoption'



(information by Gijs Vlothuizen and Taigawirbel)

LINK: Bank of Russia

Switzerland 10 francs 2014 - Gansabhauet

New bimetallic commemorative:

"Gansabhauet"

Gansabhauet is a traditional folk festival in the town of Sursee, Republic of Lucerne.



(news and image by Egon Conti Rossini)

LINK: Swiss Mint

Russia 25 roubles 2014 - Olympic Torch golden plated edition

Limited private edition of the circulating commemorative:

'The torch of the Sochi Olympics Games 2014'

Some pieces of this coin, that someone has golden plated for fun, can be seen already:



(news and image by Gijs Vlothuizen)

LINK: Bank of Russia
LINK: Sochi 2014

United Kingdom 2014 new types

New circulating commemoratives:

"50 pence Glasgow Commonwealth Games"


"1 pound Floral type Scotland"


"1 pound Floral type Northern Ireland"


"2 pounds 500th Anniversary of Trinity House"


"2 pounds 100th Anniversary of the First World War - Outbreak"


LINK: British Royal Mint

Malta 10 euro 2013 - Sir Paul Boffa

New silver commemorative:

'Sir Paul Boffa'



(news and image from eurocoinland.wordpress.com)

SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: 0.925 silver
Diameter: 38.61 mm
Weight: 28.28 g
Mintage: 2,500
Mint: Royal Dutch Mint
Designer: Noel Galea Bason

LINK: Central Bank of Malta

Angola 2012 - Unknown copper-colour set

My friend Wolfgang Schuster sent me this image of a different set from Angola 2012. Discussion is open, as we don't know whether they are real circulating ones, trials, or just fakes. Even could be a normal set that someone has electroplated with copper:



(images from Wolfgang Schuster)

Help needed: If you have also seen them or have any further information, please post a comment!!

Morocco 250 dirhams 2012 - Rabat in UNESCO World Heritage List

New silver commemorative:

'Rabat enters UNESCO World Heritage List'



(news and image by Egon Conti)

Morocco 250 dirhams 2013 - 14 Years of Mohammed VI's Enthronement

New silver commemorative:

'14 Years of Mohammed VI's Enthronement'



(news and image by Egon Conti and Pabitra Saha)

Armenia 1000 drams 2013 - 20 Years of National Currency

New silver collectors issues:

'20 Years of Armenian National Currency'



(news and image by Pabitra Saha)

LINK: Central Bank of Armenia

Cyprus 5 & 20 euro 2013 - Central Bank Golden Jubilee

New silver and gold collectors issues:

'Central Bank of Cyprus Golden Jubilee'



(news by Pabitra Saha)

LINK: Central Bank of Cyprus

Austria 5 euro 2014 - New Year

New copper and silver commemoratives:

'New Year traditions in Austria'



LINK: Austrian Mint

Peru 1 nuevo sol 2013 - Tunanmarca

New circulating type:

'Tunanmarca'

This is the 15th coin of the series "Wealth and Pride of Peru":



LINK: Peru Central Bank

SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: CuNi
Diameter: 25.50 mm
Weight: 7.32 g
Mintage 10 million

(news by David Velarde)

The previous coins of the series:

1. Tumi de oro (2010)
2. Sarcofagos de Karajia (2010)
3. Estela de Raimondi (2010)
4. Chullpas de Sillustani (2011)
5. Monasterio de Santa Catalina (2011)
6. Machu Picchu (2011)
7. Gran Pajatén (2011)
8. Piedra de Saywite (2012)
9. Real Felipe Fortress (2012)
10. Templo del Sol de Vilcashuamán (2012)
11. Kuntur Wasi (2012)
12. Templo Inca Huaytará (2013)
13. Templo de Kotosh (2013)
14. Paracas textile culture (2013)

Ukraine 2 hryvnia 2013 - Boris Dmitrievich Grinchenko

New low mintage commemorative:

'150th anniversary of the Birth of Boris Dmitrievich Grinchenko'



(news and image from Gijs Vlothuizen and Pabitra Saha)

SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: CuNiZn
Weight: 12.80 g
Diameter: 31.00 mm
Artist: Natalie Fandikova
Sculptor: Volodymyr Demianenko & Volodymyr Atamanchuk
Mintage: 20 000

LINK: National Bank of Ukraine

India 5 & 20 rupees 2013 - Acharya Tulsi

New commemoratives:

'Birth centenary of Acharya Tulsi'

The circulating 5 rupees coin:



The non-circulating legal tender 20 rupees coin:



(news and images by Shamik Biswas)

Bulgaria 10 levs 2013 - Bachkovo Monastery

New silver collectors issue:

'Bulgarian Churches and Monasteries: Bachkovo Monastery'



(news and image by Pabitra Saha)

LINK: Bulgarian National Bank

Italy 2 euro 2013 - Giovanni Boccaccio

New bimetallic circulating commemorative:

'700th Anniversary of the Birth of Giovanni Boccaccio'



(news by Pabitra Saha and Gijs Vlothuizen)

SPECIFICATIONS
External ring: CuNi
Center disc: 3 layers, Ni-Brass, Ni, Ni-brass
Diameter: 25.75 mm
Width: 2.20 mm
Weight: 8.50 g

Poland 2 zlotys 2013 - Agnieszka Osiecka

New circulating commemorative:

'History of Polish Popular Music: Agnieszka Osiecka'



(news by Taigawirbel)

SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: Nordic gold, CuAl5Zn5Sn1
Weight: 8.15 g
Diameter: 27.00 mm
Mintage: 800 000

LINK: National Bank of Poland
LINK: Polish State Mint

Latvia 1 lats 2013 - 365

New silver collectors issue:

'356'

Latvia is poised on the threshold of important change marked by its historic accession to the euro area. This 1 lats silver coin puts a symbolic full stop to the era of the renewed lats. This number '365' is particularly noteworthy among others, for it makes one recall the days of the year with their endless diversity of events and the flow of life.

The obverse features a circle symbolising 360 + 5 degrees, including also the time reference point. The year 2013 is placed on the circle at the top. The concentric lines within the circle represent 1 second, 1 minute, 1 hour, 1 day, 1 month and 1 year.

The reverse features an intricate pattern of lines which turn into circles; the diagram comprises a shiny sector resembling the form of the number 1.



SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: Silver .925
Diameter: 30.00 mm
Weight: 16.40 g
Mint: Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt (the Netherlands)
Artist: Paulis Liepa

(news and image from Pabitra Saha)

LINK: Bank of Latvia

Kazakhstan 50 and 500 tenge 2013 - Shurale

New CuNi and Silver commemorative:

'Tales of the people of Kazakhstan: Shurale'

Shurale is a mythical creature in Tatar fairy tales, the forest spirit. Usually he is described as a little creature with long fingers, long legs, beard and a small horn on his forehead. He can tickle people to death. He steals horses from the herd and rides them. You can catch Shurale if you smear the horse's back with tar. Shurale is afraid of water, so you can escape from him by jumping over the river or spring.



(news by Gijs Vlothuizen, Pabitra Saha and Taigawirbel)

LINK: National Bank of Kazakhstan

Sri Lanka 2 rupees 2013 - Steel type

New circulating type:

Sri Lanka 2 rupees coins from 2013 are stainless steel, and not Nickel clad steel like the earlier ones (KM#147a). Further reading about the new coins and Mints making them: HERE.



(news and image from Pabitra Saha and Wolfgang Schuster)

LINK: Central Bank of Sri Lanka

Bulgaria 10 levs 2013 - Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising

New collector's issue:

'110th Anniversary of the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising'

The Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising or simply the Ilinden Uprising of August 1903 was an organized revolt against the Ottoman Empire, which was prepared and carried out by the Secret Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization.



(news and image by Pabitra Saha)
(information taken from Wikipedia)

LINK: Bulgarian National Bank

Finland 10 euro 2013 - Eero Järnefelt

New silver collectors issue:

'Eero Järnefelt'



SPECIFICATIONS
Material: Silver 925
Diameter: 38.60 mm
Weight: 25.50 g
Designer: Petri Neuvonen
Mintage: 17 000

LINK: Bank of Finland
LINK: Mint of Finland

Off-topic: The Philippines need YOUR HELP!

Hello, please let me invite you to consider helping the Philippines after the devastating supertyphoon Yolanda:



You can check with your local NGOs to see how to donate some money.

Or you can use the Philippine Red Cross donations tool here:


Million thanks!

San Marino 5 euro 2013 - John Fitzgerald Kennedy

New silver commemorative:

"50th anniversary of the death of John Fitzgerald Kennedy"



(news and image from Pabitra Saha)