Ok, here's something I found in Armenian Weekly from August last year. Looks like they're made by a private mint in Germany. http://www.armenianweekly.com/2011/08/17/new-armenian-silver-coin-commemorates-noah’s-ark/#respond I guess that's one for the keeper. Edit: Legal curreny yet not available in Armenia?
Err. just a warning guys, I went to see the real thing at one of the LCS. Most of the 1oz-ers have stcratches on the sun. Probably because they come in a tube and the sun is a little too high :|
Good question for them... but who cares the prices will be so close it does not matter. Bullion Bourse burnt my bridge with the '92 kookaburra issue
Took these pics myself this morning: [imgz=http://forums.silverstackers.com/uploads/90_photo1.jpg][/imgz] [imgz=http://forums.silverstackers.com/uploads/90_photo2.jpg][/imgz] [imgz=http://forums.silverstackers.com/uploads/90_photo4.jpg][/imgz] [imgz=http://forums.silverstackers.com/uploads/90_photo3.jpg][/imgz]
Going off the local distributor's fact sheet: 1/4 oz = 20 coins per tube, 25 tubes per box 1/2 oz = 20 coins per tube, 25 tubes per box 1oz = 20 coins per tube, 10 tubes per box/25 coins per box 5oz = 20 coins per box 10oz = 20 coins per box 1kg = 10 coins per box (might be a 5 coin box coming) 5kg - 1 coin per box The final mintages for 2011 are due to be released this week as well.
- Mintage of 2011 dated coins is now closed and no more Noah's Ark coins will be issued with this date. - 2011 dated coins were only produced for four months in late 2011. As such, the inaugural year's mintage is significantly lower than the expected mintages in future years. - The maximum mintages for 2011 dated coins are: 1/4 oz - 500,000 1/2 oz - 500,000 1oz - 8,000,000 - A statement on the final mintages for 2011 will be released shortly. - The "scratched sun" imperfection on some 2011 dated coins is the result of a production error at the mint where the sun area of the original, master die was cut too deep. The reverse of the 2011 1/4 oz, 1/2oz and 1oz coins were all created from the same master die, hence the higher relief area of the sun is present in all three sized coins and this can result in scratch marks of the surface area of the sun. - This production issue was identified by the mint and has been rectified during the process of cutting new dies for the new 2012 dated coins. - Not all 2011 dated coins are affected by the "scratched sun" imperfection. Investigations have revealed that one coin in every tube of 20 - the coin located at the very bottom of the tube - is significantly less likely to be affected by scratch marks on the sun area. Mint-sealed tubes may also contain more unscratched coins, however the nature of the imperfection means that further occurrences in the same tube are less likely. - In response to customer concerns, the mint's Australian agents will extend an offer to replace any 2011 Noah's Ark coins that, apart from a scratched sun area, are in as-new condition. As there are only very small numbers of mint-state 2011 coins, replacements will be issued in the form of the new 2012 dated Noah's Ark release. The 2012 release is scheduled for dispatch in the coming weeks. - Customers who wish to exchange 2011 dated coins should contact the distributor from where they originally purchased the coins and make arrangements for the exchange. - The mint is in the process of confirming the final mintages for 2011 dated coins. Coins which had not been shipped from the mint at the time the production issue was discovered were subsequently destroyed, therefore the total number of coins that were initially minted needs to be reconciled against the total number that were re-melted before being dispatched. Once the total of the number of coins that were released into circulation is established, the mint will declare this figure to be the final mintage of 2011 dated coins. - Customers should note that the Noah's Ark series is produced as a bullion coin range, sold at competitive premiums to the prevailing spot price. Scratches on the surface area of the coins do not affect the intrinsic value of the precious metal they are manufactured from.
Republic of Armenia's Noah's Ark Bullion Coin Series 2011 Final Mintage Figures 1 oz. Maximum authorized mintage: 8,000,000 Declared (final) mintage: 351,145 1/2 oz Maximum authorized mintage: 500,000 Declared (final) mintage: 33,965 1/4 oz Maximum authorized mintage: 500,000 Declared (final) mintage: 46,679 Note 1: Minting of 2011 dated coins is now closed and no further 2011 dated coins will be produced.
The 2012 1oz tubes have a new "High Quality Conservation System". The tubes are sealed a filled with gas. The system should avoid oxidation and milk spots. First step, build a vacuum inside the tube, second step filled with a special gas and in a third step the tubes are sealed. Only a german link, but pics show the process http://www.geiger-edelmetalle.de/sh...de/coID/539/content/Precious-metal-shop/nav/2