Captain, I think you're onto something. You seem to actually have first hand experience with noticing such a difference. Am I correct to assume that in 2011, that was a different run with different dies or presses than the 2008 run? Thanks for your insight.
Perth mint stated they used original hobs & dies to complete mintage. Hobs are used to make dies. Ive read that china mints have a slight artistic ability to modify & this shows up because they have 3 mints. I assume pm does the same but we don't notice until years later when the mint to quota. It's a work of art & very hard to mimic the original craftsmans flair?
STC, you eased what little worry I had left that one coin was a fake because of your mentioning the difficulty of mimicking or duplicating the original design. Has anyone here noticed similar finishing differences on any other Lunar coins?
Variables: Press Press Pressure Planchette Dies - originals vs new (from original hob) If any of these are different to 2008 then we have a possible variation. Someone with a big stack needs to compare.
Well I just took a look at my 1 oz mice and if anything, they look closer to your left-hand (single) coin than the right-hand one. The straw isn't particularly shiny on mine. Mine are definitely ones that were minted in 2008, not the 2011 run, btw. I honestly wouldn't worry too much - they are bullion coins at the end of the day and the pressings will change slightly as the dies get worn etc. Lunar coins also aren't known as having a lot of fakes in the wild, so I would just accept it as natural variation.
Interesting thread & possible answers. Surprised that no one has come up with the right answer. Mice & pumpkins........ Cinderella anyone? Just need a glass slipper & the clock hitting midnight..... I will now go away.
Ditto....mine are more like the left hand coin. Ditto on the "Natural Variation" too. Put it down to different run of minting as mentioned and .. Buy them cheap...bury them deep!
Thank you for going away boneyard. I was unfamiliar with the possibility of a natural variation but it seems to make sense; also because several members here are alluding to it I will settle on that for now. BTW, fake Lunars, believe it or not, are around from what I have read. That was the initial thing that caused my scare. I don't know if either or any of these were minted in 2008 or not. Since I purchased the sleeve of coins just recently in what appears to be in an original Perth Mint box, I assumed that these were minted in the final batch that were released in 2011...but that's just a guess....and a novices' guess at that. Finally, Lunar bullions may be "just" bullion coins to some, but to others silver bullions are the future "bread and butter" which is the result of many, many, many, many hours of hard work today.
just checked my mouse was from when PM reminted to reach the limit Mine are matte (pumpkin and straws)
thanks for checking unfunkable So below is a picture I took of the label on the box that the sleeve of Lunar Mouse coins was shipped in from the seller.... QUESTION TO ANYONE WHO MIGHT KNOW: Is there a way of telling from the details on a Perth Mint label which year or run coins from that box were minted? Thanks for your input