National Coin Week Celebrates Pop Culture and Money

Above, a proposed design for the Superman coin.

Other nations have featured pop culture characters in coins over the years.

A couple of years ago, I picked up Godzilla and King Kong silver coins issued from the island nation of Niue. 

This year, several DC Comics super-heroes will be featured on coins to be issued by the U.S. Mint.

According to EIN Presswire:

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, UNITED STATES, April 7, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- What do Homer Simpson, the Olympic games, Elvis Presley, and Superman have in common? They've all been featured or will soon be featured on coins. This year’s annual National Coin Week, April 20-26, 2025, explores the fascinating ways pop culture influences money.

The nonprofit American Numismatic Association (www.money.org), based in Colorado Springs, Colo., has sponsored National Coin Week since 1924. This year’s theme is “Iconic Change: Pop Culture & Coins Unite!”

“Coins are not just money,” explained Thomas J. Uram of Pennsylvania, president of the American Numismatic Association. “They're pop culture time capsules. From superheroes to sci-fi, sports legends to blockbuster movies, coins have captured the icons we love. National Coin Week 2025 celebrates the surprising ways money and pop culture come together.”

This year, the United States Mint will begin producing collectible coins and medals featuring three iconic DC superheroes “who reflect American values and culture,” according to the Mint. Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman will be the first characters featured.

To read more, go here. 

Could Silver Price Really Hit US$100 per Ounce?

Above, Niue silver Kong coin at the National Money Show. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's an interesting (and tantalizing) thought: silver at $100/toz.

That's what one silver commodity CEO thinks might happen. So far, silver has stayed in the twenty dollar range.

If silver does actually reach $100/toz, I'd definitely consider selling. 

An article in Investing News Network discusses this.

They begin with:

What’s in store for silver in the future? Keith Neumeyer of First Majestic Silver has said he sees the white metal reaching US$100 per ounce.

The silver price made waves in 2020 when it rose above US$20 per ounce for the first time in four years, and the precious metal has largely stayed above that level since, even reaching US$29.59 in 2021.

The metal has repeatedly tested the high US$20s since, including a high of US$29.59, and passed the US$26 mark again as recently as May of this year. However, it has yet to break through the US$30 mark.

Nonetheless, well-known figure Keith Neumeyer, CEO of First Majestic Silver (TSX:FR,NYSE:AG), has frequently said he believes the white metal could climb even higher, eventually reaching into the triple digits.

To read more, go here. 

Superman 85th Anniversary Coins

Jeepers!

This year marks 85 years since Superman first appeared in the national (and international) culture in Action Comics no. 1. 

To commemorate the Man of Steel's 85th Anniversary, the New Zealand Mint is putting out anniversary silver coins for the island nation of Niue.

From the Superman Homepage:

The New Zealand Mint is now taking orders for the Superman 85th Anniversary 1oz Silver Coin.

Up, up, and away! Made from 1oz of pure silver, this stunning coin celebrates 85 years of the one and only, SUPERMAN.

Fully engraved, it shows a close-up look of the Man of Steel along with a prominent display of his emblem. Surrounding the coin are the words “Celebrating 85 years of Superman” to further commemorate the special anniversary. Some relief and a mirror finish have been added to give him a striking and dynamic appearance.

Priced at US$109, order your Superman 85th Anniversary 1oz Silver Coin today! The Superman 85th Anniversary Silver Coin is also available in a 3oz silver version (US$299) and as a special 1/4oz Gold Coin (US$800).

To read more and for ordering links, go here. 

G-FAN #139

Above, G-FAN #139.

G-FAN #139 arrived in the mailbox the other day.

It has a striking cover of the Heisei Godzilla, which happens to be one of my favorite Godzilla suit designs.

My little contribution to the issue is on the Niue Godzilla vs. Kong silver coins. Even though the coins were minted in 2021, it seems that many Godzilla fans were unaware they even existed (including me). I discovered and blogged about them late last year.

Above, the Niue Godzilla vs. Kong silver coins. Photo by Armand Vaquer

When I blogged about them, I received messages of thanks from people telling me that they were not even aware of them. One gal messaged me that thanks to my posting on Twitter, she was getting the coins for her boyfriend (or husband, I forgot which) for Christmas. 

Since I wrote the article (I only had the Godzilla coin at the time), I have since purchased the Kong silver coin at the National Money Show last month. They were licensed by Legendary Pictures.

Above, the Kong coin at the National Money Show. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

G-FAN is available by subscription or at your favorite comic book shop. If you don't have a comic book shop that carries it, just Google G-FAN 139 and it'll take you to many who have online ordering.

On the Godzilla vs. Kong coins, JM Bullion carries them.

It will be interesting to see if Niue mints Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire coins once the movie is released.

@ The National Money Show

At present,  I am currently at the National Money Show at the Phoenix Convention Center. 

When Will Silver Go Up?

Above, the Niue Godzilla vs. Kong silver coin. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Silver took a hit this past week. 

Depending upon the source, the spot price for silver has been around $22.95 to $22.01 toz. This is actually good for buyers. As the spot prices falls, there are more deals to be had. One just has to shop around to find them. That's why I am not concerned over the current spot price.

Some investors are now asking, When Will Silver Go Up? That is the topic of an article in Investing News Network. 

They begin it with:

Many investors are asking themselves “When will silver go up?” Are market conditions ripe for another run up in the silver price?

It’s no secret that the silver market can be incredibly volatile. From February 2022 to February 2023 alone, the white metal has seen price levels ranging from highs of US$26.39 in March to lows of below US$18 per ounce in September.

Many investors are confused by the precious metal’s movement. After all, silver is a safe-haven asset that generally fares well in times of turmoil, and the past year has been packed with tense geopolitical events alongside the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Russian-Ukraine war, increasing oil and gas prices and rising inflation have further heightened global economic uncertainty.

Unfortunately, answering the question, “When will silver go up?” is tricky. Even seasoned analysts can’t tell the future, and it’s difficult to find a consensus on the topic of when it will exit its bear market and enter a bull market.

Nevertheless, it’s definitely possible to track down different opinions on the topic. Market participants interested in investing in silver would do well to keep these ideas top of mind as they try to determine where the spot price may move in the future.

To read more, go here. 

2021 1 oz Colorized Niue Silver Godzilla vs Kong

A few minutes ago, I saw an ad for a Godzilla vs. Kong colorized coin from JM Bullion. 

I hadn't seen this one before (and a couple of others) from the island nation of Niue. I have a silver Godzilla coin from the country.

This is what I saw:

 

Here's the product details:

In 2021, fans of Godzilla and King Kong were treated to the ultimate movie showdown event with Godzilla vs. Kong. The build-up to this epic clash began in 2014 with the release of Godzilla. This was then followed by a sequel that introduced Kong, plus another Godzilla film. To celebrate this historic face-off, we are offering a stunning line of coins officially licensed by Legendary Entertainment and Toho. Today, 2021 1 oz Colorized Niue Silver Godzilla vs Kong – Godzilla Coins are available to you online from JM Bullion.

If you are a Godzilla and coin collector, this is the best of both worlds.

For more, go here. 

The Difference Between Ounce and Troy Ounce

Above, reverse side of the Niue Godzilla vs. Kong coin. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Every so often, when posting about coins and bullion, the terms ounce and troy ounce pop up. 

One may ask, What is a troy ounce? To tell you the truth, I knew that each are used in measuring the weight of different things, but didn't know the weights of each. Are they the same?  Actually no. A troy ounce is heavier than the ounce we are familiar with.

The Epoch Times posted an article explaining the difference between an ounce and a troy ounce. 

They begin with:

Precious metals like gold and silver are excellent investments. Unlike most financial assets, they offer protection against inflation and don’t pose a risk to your credit. But what good is such an investment if you don’t know how to calculate its value?

You might have difficulty determining how traders measure gold if you’ve recently started investing and collecting gold and silver. Understanding Troy ounce versus ounce is the first step in getting started in this field. Even when dealing with small amounts of gold and silver, using the wrong unit of measure causes complications.

What Is a Troy Ounce?

You’ve probably heard of “Troy ounce” in advertisements or marketing materials for precious metals like silver and gold. Typically, individuals familiar with the Troy ounce thoroughly understand its role in determining the value of metals in the bullion industry.

A Troy ounce is a unit of weight commonly used to measure the mass of precious metals. Since medieval times, goldsmiths and other metalworkers have used the Troy weight system. Today, traders worldwide use Troy ounces when calculating the value of silver and gold bars or coins. The abbreviation for Troy ounces is “oz t.”

Due to their high value, precious metals are often bought and sold in large quantities and need a specialized measurement scale. Investors tend to use Troy ounces over regular ounces because the former offers more precision than the latter.

The Troy ounce is the only measurement unit used by the Troy weight system, and this is the standard at sovereign and private mints because it ensures consistency in purity and weight. In addition to weighing precious metals, historically, manufacturers used Troy ounces to weigh gunpowder and pharmaceuticals.

 To read more, go here.

Gold and Silver Prices Surging

Above, Niue Godzilla vs. Kong silver two dollar coin. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Thanks to the weakness of the U.S. dollar, gold and silver prices have been surging. 

This is good news for sellers, but not for buyers.

According to Coin News:

Precious metals finished higher, across-the-board, for a second straight session Thursday. Gold’s increase was its third in a row. The yellow metal ended above $1,800 an ounce for the first time since Friday.

Gold for February delivery tacked on $3.50, or 0.2%, to settle at $1,801.50 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Gold futures traded between $1,793.20 and $1,806.90. They climbed 0.9% on Wednesday, they edged up 0.06% on Tuesday, and they fell 1.6% on Monday.

Silver for March delivery settled up 32.4 cents, or 1.4%, to $23.246 an ounce. Silver futures ranged from $22.72 and $23.43. They jumped 2.6% on Wednesday, they shed 0.4% on Tuesday, and they dropped 3.6% on Monday.

To read more, go here. 

Godzilla Coin Arrived

The Godzilla Godzilla vs. Kong 2021 silver two dollar coin from the island nation of Niue has arrived.

It came pretty fast after ordering from JM Bullion. For collectors of coins and Godzilla/kaiju items, this is the best of both worlds. It is my understanding that only 25,000 were minted.

Here's the front and back of the coin:

2021 Niue Godzilla Silver Coin

If one is a coin collector and a Godzilla/kaiju collector, there is at least one essential coin they should include in their collections.

That is a 1 troy ounce Godzilla $2.00 silver coin from the island nation of Niue. It is a licensed coin that commemorates Godzilla vs. Kong.

Today's silver price is at $22.46 per troy ounce.

According to Silver Gold Bull:

The 1 oz 2021 Niue Silver $2 Godzilla Coin is the perfect addition to your coin collection. With only 25,000 coins minted worldwide, this Godzilla vs. Kong collectible coin is a limited release that you do not want to miss. This silver coin celebrates the popular Godzilla vs. Kong film currently leading the box office during the pandemic.

The reverse features an officially licensed depiction of Godzilla, shown in profile, above the inscription “GODZILLA”.

The obverse features an officially licensed depiction of Godzilla vs. Kong in action around the Public Seal of Niue. Also included on the obverse are the coin’s year of issue, the unique legal tender value, the Legendary Pictures stamp and details of metal content, weight and purity.

The epic clash of Godzilla vs. Kong serves as the Godzilla franchise’s 36th film and King Kong’s 12th further assuring this coin’s collectible appeal.

There is also a King Kong silver coin.

I ordered a Godzilla coin the other day and it is expected to be delivered tomorrow.