Like the Brilliant Uncirculated version released a few months ago, the coins have been designed by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS to celebrate a regal achievement matched only by Queen Victoria, The Queen’s great-great- grandmother. The portraits encapsulate The Queen’s 60 years on the throne, and will appear exclusively on the Diamond Jubilee £5 coins, now available in Silver Proof, Silver Piedfort, Gold-Plated Silver Proof, Gold Proof and Platinum Piedfort.

The first of the new portraits shows a contemporary image of Her Majesty dressed in formal Garter Robes with gravitas and stately bearing. The other portrait is a tribute to Mary Gillick’s youthful 1953 effigy; a classical depiction of a young monarch wearing a laurel wreath alongside the Latin words Dirige Deus Gressus Meos – May God Guide My Steps.

Combined, both portraits tell a celebratory story of a rich, historic reign, from the fresh and optimistic beginning of a new Elizabethan era to the gravitas of an assured and dignified Head of State 60 years on.

Commenting on the new coin, Kevin Clancy, Director of the Royal Mint Museum, said: “Ian’s new portraits tell the story of The Queen’s long reign with beauty and elegance and his artistry combines with the fine quality of these precious metals to create five beautiful coins that truly honour this remarkable occasion. The coins offer collectors a chance to mark this momentous achievement with an individual and treasured piece of history.”

The official UK £5 precious metal coins to commemorate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee are available now from The Royal Mint’s website www.royalmint.com.

The obverse of the coin depicts the Lindworm fountain and the statue of Hercules in the central square of the “Neuer Platz” in Klagenfurt. The Hercules statue represents the strength of the men who slew the Lindworm, a small dragon with tiny wings. To the left of the Lindworm fountain in the background are two towers, which are located on the provincial administration building of the province of Carinthia.  Between the fountain and the Hercules statue is another tower, which is part of a hotel located on this square. The country of issue, “Republik Oesterreich” Republic of Austria, is located in a semi-circle in the upper left quadrant and the face value of 10 euros is in the lower half, integrated into the base of the fountain. The scroll above the design reads “Lindwurm” or Lindworm. The mint’s chief engraver Thomas Pesendorfer designed this side of the coin.

The reverse depicts the capture of the Lindworm. On the left-hand side is the tower built to capture the Lindworm. Two men protect themselves behind the solid stonewall, while through the small window a heavy chain is stretched and the hooked barb is entangled in the mouth of the angry Lindworm. Mint engraver Helmut Andexlinger designed the reverse.

The 10-euro silver coin is struck in sterling silver and is available in either of two finishes: proof with a maximum mintage of 40,000 pieces, or in special uncirculated finish, with a maximum mintage of 30,000 coins. The proof version comes in an attractive box with a numbered certificate of authenticity. The special uncirculated coin is sold in a colorful and informative bilingual (German and English) blister pack.

A collector album resembling a “classic” book of tales is also available for separate purchase. It is designed to accommodate the complete “Legends and Tales of Austria” series. The interior of the album will hold all six proof coins in capsules on the right side and the certificates of authenticity and promotional brochure on the left.

The sixth and final coin of “Tales and Legends in Austria” will be issued in October, remembering the merry song of “Der Liebe Augustin” or Dear Augustin.

Collectors in the United States and Canada may purchase the “Lindworm” coin for $62.50 U.S. for the proof edition and $57.50 U.S. for the special uncirculated variation by calling Euro Collections International toll-free at 1-877-897-7696. The coin may also be ordered on-line at www.eurocollections.com.

Pay tribute, remember, and NEVER FORGET the many who were murdered and injured on this day– with this elongated coin!

This unique design is being rolled on cents, and a special limited edition of only 100 sets that will be rolled on three state quarters –New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania (you can clearly see the state on the high-relief reverse of the coin).

Please hand these coins out to your family, friends, co-workers, and especially to those who have served and are still serving in the military, so everyone remembers what occurred on that day.

Oded Paz intends to have these coins given out to the men and women who serve, so he is offering reduced prices for quantities, as follows:

1 Elongated Cent @ $1.50
5 Elongated Cents @ $6 ($1.20 per coin)
10Elongated Cents @ $10 ($1.00 per coin)
25 Elongated Cents @ $17 ($0.68 per coin)
50 Elongated Cents @ $23 ($0.46 per coin)
100 Elongated Cents @ $30 ($0.30 per coin)
250 Elongated Cents @ $55 (0.22 per coin)
500 Elongated Cents @ $100 ($0.20 per coin)

Set of three quarters:
1 Elongated Quarters Set @ $5
2 Elongated Quarters Sets @ $9
5 Elongated Quarters Sets @ $40
10 Elongated Quarters Sets @ $65

The Royal Hawaiian Mint has served coin collectors worldwide with unique Hawaiian commemoratives for over 36 years. The Mint is renowned for its dedication to preserving Hawaiiana in precious metals. Learn more about Hawaii’s unique cultural heritage through the Royal Hawaiian Mint’s extensive collection of Hawaiian commemoratives.  Visit the Mint at the Waikiki Trade Center, 2255 Kuhio Avenue, Suite 711, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815 from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday, with free validated parking on the sixth floor of the Office Tower.  Phone:  808.922.6468.

In a video, courtesy Telegraph.co.uk, Matt Hunt from the Royal Mint London 2012 Team, unveils the new coins. He describes how the coins were designed by the public and discusses the mint’s expectations to release about 87 million of them into circulation.

Well now that option has passed. Yesterday afternoon the U.S. Mint removed the uncirculated dollar from its online store, officially moving it to its “No Longer Available” list. You can still order the proof coins at www.usmint.gov, or through the Mint’s toll-free number 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).

As of Sunday, April 25, 107,292 uncirculated coins were purchased, but collectors will have to wait until the middle of next week to learn how many were sold. That number is likely to shift—up or down—by several thousand by then.

In fact, it’s possible there won’t be any left by the time this is posted.

But that’s OK. A very quick search of one of the most utilized online auction sites shows 613 results listed for “2010 boy scouts.” Those results include certified coins, coins in Mint packaging, coins in “custom” covers, sellers with multiple coins and so on.

So don’t worry. There are at least 613 Boy Scouts coins available—if you’re the lucky bidder.

First it was about the design. The words “Continuing the Journey” are arced across the top of the obverse. Below them are a Cub Scout, a Boy Scout and a female Venturer. The motto and the Venturer represent how the Boy Scouts organization has evolved over the last 100 years to serve America’s youth, including girls.

Then, it was the special introductory discount prices. From the March 23 on-sale date until 5 p.m. April 21, the silver dollars were being offered at $39.95 for the proof and $33.95 for the uncirculated. The prices will go up $4 and $2, respectively.

Maybe complaints about the price came first, but it doesn’t matter. All the grumblings, including a few from COINage readers, haven’t slowed the coins’ sales. The proof Boy Scouts of America Centennial silver dollar is outselling the uncirculated version by a more than 2-1 margin.

And it has already reached 83 percent of its maximum authorization in the first three weeks they were offered. One report stated that as of April 11, the U.S. Mint recorded sales of 196,400 of the proof and 93,992 of the uncirculated.

Apparently collectors aren’t that offended by the continuing journey.