San Marino 2 euro 2015 - 25 years of German Unity By: AL No comments

New circulating bimetallic commemorative:

"25 years of German Unity"



LINK: San Marino Mint

Austria 2 euro 2015 - 30 years of the EU flag By: AL No comments

New bimetallic circulating commemorative:

"30 years of the European Union flag"



(news and image from www.numismatica-visual.es)

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
Mintage: 2.5 million
Release date: october 30th

Alderney 5 pounds 2015 - Remembrance Day By: AL No comments

New collector types in CuNi and silver proof:

"Remembrance Day 2015"



LINK: British Royal Mint

Georgia 20 lari 2015 - National Currency LARI By: AL No comments

New silver commemorative:

"20th Anniversary of National Currency LARI"



(news from David Mikeladze, Wolfgang Schuster and Pabitra Saha)
(image taken from www.nbg.gov.ge)

LINK: National Bank of Georgia

SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: Silver .925
Weight: 28.28 g
Diameter: 38.61 mm
Edge: plain
Designer: Bacha Malazonia
Mint: Mennica Polska (Poland)
Mintage: 1,500

Russia 5 roubles 2015 - Russian Geographical Society By: AL No comments

New circulating commemorative:

"170 years of the Russian Geographical Society"



(news by Pabitra Saha)

LINK: Bank of Russia

Peru 1 nuevo sol 2015 - Mariano Melgar By: AL No comments

New silver commemorative:

"Bicentenary of the birth of Mariano Melgar"



(news and image by Pabitra Saha)

LINK: Peru Central Bank

Russia 10 roubles 2015 - Grozny By: AL No comments

New circulating commemorative:

"Cities of military glory: Grozny"



(news by Sergey Sichkarev)

LINK: Bank of Russia

Iran 5000 rials 2015 (SH1394) - Holy Shrine of Imam Reza By: AL No comments

New commemorative:



Information from Wolfgang Schuster: this new Iranian coin has been issued on 27-08-2015 and commemorates the birthday of Imam Reza (the 8th Imam of Shia). It shows the holy shrine in Mashad, where he has his tomb.

(image from www.sekeha.com)

Off-Topic: Can you identify this item? By: AL No comments

A friend of mine asked me about this piece that needs identification. Can you help?



Comments from Wolfgang Schuster's sources: it is absolutely clear that the piece was fabricated quite recently, either as a souvenir for tourists or a fake for cheating collectors. Its legends representing wildly distorted kufic style a certain 'dinar struck at Miknasah (?) in year 497 (or 499)', crudely copying the popular gold issues of Almoravid 'Ali b. Tashufin (compare with http://www.zeno.ru/showgallery.php?cat=927), so both the style and technique features obviously betray a modern hand, perhaps diligent and accurate but absolutely illiterate in medieval arabic writing.

Finland 10 euro 2015 - Akseli Gallen-Kallela By: AL No comments

New silver commemorative planned for october:

'150th Anniversary of the Birth of painter Akseli Gallen-Kallela'



(news and image by Pabitra Saha)

SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: Silver .500
Diameter: 28.50 mm
Weight: 10.00 g
Mintage: 10,000
Designer: Hannu Veijalainen
Issue date: october 22nd

LINK: Bank of Finland
LINK: Mint of Finland

Transnistria 1 rouble 2015 - 25 years of the Transnistrian Statehood By: AL No comments

New commemorative:

"25 years of the Transnistrian Statehood"



SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: Nickel plated steel
Weight: 4.65 g
Diameter: 22.00 mm
Mintage: 50,000

(image from eBay seller andrey.p53)

LINK: Trans-Dniester Republican Bank

Belgium 2 euro 2015 - European Year for Development By: AL No comments

New bimetallic circulating commemorative:

"European Year for Development"



(news 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

Turkey 20 lira 2015 - Esma Deniz By: AL No comments

New silver collectors' issue released by the Turkish State Mint:

"The first woman nurses of Turkey: Esma Deniz"



(news and image by Pabitra Saha)

India 5 rupees 2015 - Golden Jubilee of 1965 Operations By: AL No comments

New circulating commemorative:

"Golden Jubilee of 1965 Operations"



(news by Pabitra Saha)

Papua New Guinea 1 kina 2015 - XVth Pacific Games By: AL No comments

New CuNi commemorative:

"XVth Pacific Games"



SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: CuNi
Diameter: 38.74 mm
Weight: 27.22 g
Designer: Daniel Neale
Mint: Royal Australian Mint

(news and images from Shamik Biswas)

Netherlands 2 euro 2015 - 30 years of the EU flag By: AL No comments

New bimetallic circulating commemorative:

'30 years of the European Union flag'



(news 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
Release date: october 13th

LINK: Dutch Mint

Ireland 2 euro 2016 - 1916 Rising By: AL No comments

New bimetallic circulating commemorative announced:

"Centenary of the 1916 Rising"

The coin mark the first time Ireland will issue its own commemorative €2 circulation coin. The design depicts the statue of Hibernia, the historic personification of Ireland, on top of Dublin's GPO which was the headquarters of the provisional government during the Rising.



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
Designer: Emmet Mullins
Mintage: 4.5 million
Release date: january 2016

Proof silver and gold collector coins with a different design (by Michael Guilfoyle) will be available by march 2016.

(news from Pabitra Saha and Aidan Work)

Ukraine 2 & 5 hryvnia 2015 - National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy By: AL No comments

New low mintage commemoratives:

"Higher educational establishments of Ukraine: National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy"



(news from Gijs Vlothuizen and Pabitra Saha)

SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: CuNiZn
Weight: 12.80 g
Diameter: 31.00 mm
Mintage: 35,000

A silver 5 hryvnia coin is available also.

LINK: National Bank of Ukraine

Ukraine 2 hryvnia 2015 - Ivan Karpenko-Kary By: AL No comments

New low mintage commemorative:

"Outstanding Personalities of Ukraine: Ivan Karpenko-Kary"



(news from Gijs Vlothuizen and Pabitra Saha)

SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: CuNiZn
Weight: 12.80 g
Diameter: 31.00 mm
Mintage: 30,000

LINK: National Bank of Ukraine

Ukraine 2 hryvnia 2015 - Oleksandr Murashko By: AL No comments

New low mintage commemorative:

"140 anniversary of the birth of painter Oleksandr Murashko"



(news from Gijs Vlothuizen and Pabitra Saha)
(image from Gijs Vlothuizen)

SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: CuNiZn
Weight: 12.80 g
Diameter: 31.00 mm
Mintage: 30,000

LINK: National Bank of Ukraine

Hungary 50 forint 2015 - National and Historical Memorial Sites By: AL No comments

New circulating commemorative:

"National and Historical Memorial Sites"



SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: CuNi
Weight: 7.70 g
Diameter: 27.40 mm
Mintage: 2 million
Artist: István Kósa

(news from Wolfgang Schuster)
(image taken from www.mnb.hu)

LINK: Central Bank of Hungary

Paraguay 1 guarani 2015 - Pope Francis Visit By: AL No comments

New silver commemorative:

"Pope Francis visits Paraguay"



SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: Silver .925
Weight: 27.00 g
Diameter: 40.00 mm
Mintage: 1,025
Mint: Spanish FNMT

(news and image from Pabitra Saha)

United Kingdom 20 pounds 2015 - Longest Reigning Monarch By: AL No comments

New silver commemorative:

"Longest Reigning Monarch"



LINK: British Royal Mint

South Africa 2 rand 2014 - Centenary of the Union Buildings By: AL No comments

New circulating commemorative:

"100th Anniversary of the Union Buildings"

As seen in the image, the country names for both years are different:



(news and 2014 scan by Dato Mikeladze)
(2013 image taken from en.numista.com)

LINK: South Africa Mint

Morocco 250 dirhams 2013 - 50 years of the Parliament By: AL No comments

Unlisted silver commemorative:

"50 years of the Parliament"



(news and image by Wolfgang Schuster)

Morocco 250 dirhams 2010 - 90 years of the foundation of OCP By: AL No comments

Unlisted silver commemorative:

"90 years of the foundation of OCP"



(news and image by Wolfgang Schuster)

Isle of Man 1 crown 2015 - Longest Reigning Commonwealth Monarch By: AL No comments

New CuNi and silver commemoratives:

"Longest Reigning Commonwealth Monarch"



(news from Pabitra Saha)

LINK: The Pobjoy Mint

Australia 50 cents & 1 dollar 2016 - Year of the Monkey By: AL No comments

New commemoratives:

'Lunar Series: Year of the Monkey'



(news Peter Kaminsky and Nicolas Quentin)

LINK: Royal Australian Mint

Australia 50 cents 2015 - Longest Reigning Commonwealth Monarch By: AL No comments

New commemorative:

"Longest Reigning Commonwealth Monarch"



SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: CuNi
Weight: 15.55 g
Diameter: 31.51 mm
Mintage: 50,000

(news from Pabitra Saha, Peter Kaminsky and Nicolas Quentin)

LINK: Royal Australian Mint

Australia 50 cents 2015 - War in the Pacific By: AL No comments

New commemorative:

'Australia at War Series: War in the Pacific'



SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: CuNi
Weight: 15.55 g
Diameter: 31.51 mm
Mintage: 50,000

(news from Peter Kaminsky and Nicolas Quentin)

LINK: Royal Australian Mint

Australia 50 cents 2015 - Tobruk By: AL No comments

New commemorative:

'Australia at War Series: Tobruk'



SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: CuNi
Weight: 15.55 g
Diameter: 31.51 mm
Mintage: 50,000

(news from Peter Kaminsky and Nicolas Quentin)

LINK: Royal Australian Mint

Australia 50 cents 2015 - Empire Air Training By: AL No comments

New commemorative:

'Australia at War Series: Empire Air Training Scheme'



SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: CuNi
Weight: 15.55 g
Diameter: 31.51 mm
Mintage: 50,000

(news from Peter Kaminsky and Nicolas Quentin)

LINK: Royal Australian Mint

Burundi 5 francs 2014 - Birds types By: AL No comments

New circulating Aluminium set with birds:



(news and images from Fran Pascual from www.worldbcnews.com)

LINK: Banque de la République du Burundi

Kazakhstan 50 tenge 2015 - Shymkent By: AL No comments

New commemorative:

"Cities: Shymkent"



(news by Taigawirbel, Sergey Sichkarev, Shamik Biswas, Pabitra Saha and Gijs Vlothuizen)

SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 4.71 g
Diameter: 23.00 mm
Edge: grooved
Mintage: 50 000

LINK: National Bank of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan 50 tenge 2015 - Kokshetau By: AL No comments

New commemorative:

"Cities: Kokshetau"



(news by Taigawirbel, Sergey Sichkarev, Shamik Biswas, Pabitra Saha and Gijs Vlothuizen)

SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 4.71 g
Diameter: 23.00 mm
Edge: grooved
Mintage: 50 000

LINK: National Bank of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan 50 tenge 2015 - Almaty By: AL No comments

New commemorative:

"Cities: Almaty"



(news by Taigawirbel, Sergey Sichkarev, Shamik Biswas, Pabitra Saha and Gijs Vlothuizen)

SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 4.71 g
Diameter: 23.00 mm
Edge: grooved
Mintage: 50 000

LINK: National Bank of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan 50 tenge 2015 - Astana By: AL No comments

New commemorative:

"Cities: Astana"



(news by Taigawirbel, Sergey Sichkarev, Shamik Biswas, Pabitra Saha and Gijs Vlothuizen)

SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 4.71 g
Diameter: 23.00 mm
Edge: grooved
Mintage: 50 000

LINK: National Bank of Kazakhstan

Albania 1 lek 2013 - New type By: AL No comments

New circulating type:

This 2013 new item is magnetic like 2008, same weight and same size. But it has a wider round border, quite different typography and flowers and number "1" are much closer to the edge.

I guess these are enough design changes for considering it a fully new type.



(image by Lidian Beba)

LINK: Bank of Albania

Latvia 5 euro 2015 - Rainis and Aspazija By: AL No comments

New silver collectors issue:

"150th anniversary of Rainis and Aspazija"



(news by Pabitra Saha)

SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: Silver .925
Shape: round, of two detachable halves
Diameter: 38.61 mm
Weight: 31.47 g
Mintage: 7,000
Mint: UAB Lietuvos monetu kalykla (Lithuania)
Artists: Arta Ozola-Jaunaraja (graphic design) and Ligita Franckevica (plaster model)

LINK: Bank of Latvia

Samoa 50 sene 2015 - Commonwealth Youth Games By: AL No comments

New commemorative:

"V Commonwealth Youth Games



There are nine different credit-card-type packs to collect, each representing the nine sports at the 2015 Games: aquatics, athletics, rugby 7s, archery, boxing, weightlifting, tennis, lawn bowls and squash.

(news and image by Pabitra Saha)

SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: Ni plated steel
Diameter: 24.20 mm
Weight: 5.47 g
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
Mintage 2,700

Link: Central Bank of Samoa

Nepal 2000 rupees 2014 - Bhanu Bhakta Acharya By: AL No comments

New silver commemorative:

"Nepalese poet Bhanu Bhakta Acharya"



(information and image from Pabitra Saha, Wolfgang Schuster, Shamik Biswas, Shankar Shrestha, Egon Conti and Gijs Vlothuizen)

LINK: Central Bank of Nepal

Off-Topic: Can you give me info about this Iranian coin? By: AL No comments

I have this piece in my coin collection that needs identification. Can you help?

It is Iran/Persia silver. Weights 0.75 grams. Diameter is 16 mm.



Information from Wolfgang Schuster: Iran, Nasir al-Din Shah, Shahi Sefid, KM#889 (Y#7a), no date, Tehran mint.

Georgia 10 lari 2015 - European Youth Olympic Festival By: AL No comments

New silver commemorative:

"European Youth Olympic Festival – Tbilisi 2015"



(information and image taken from en.numista.com)

LINK: National Bank of Georgia

SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: Silver .925
Weight: 15.50 g
Diameter: 33.00 mm
Designer: Mamuka Gongadze
Mint: Mennica Polska (Poland)

Finland 5 euros 2015 - Sports: Volleyball By: AL No comments

New bimetallic commemorative:

"Sports Finnish people love" series: Volleyball



SPECIFICATIONS
Core composition: CuNi
Ring composition: Nordic Gold
Diameter: 27.25 mm
Weight: 9.80 g
Designer: Nora Tapper
Mintage 10,000 (proof) and 50,000 (unc)
Issue date: 5th october

Link: Mint of Finland

Uruguay 10 & 2,000 pesos 2015 - Lands Law By: AL No comments

New bimetallic and silver commemoratives:

"Bicentenary of the Lands Law (Reglamento de Tierras) of 1815"



The silver item:



(news from Pabitra Saha)

Macedonia 2 denari 2014 - without dots By: AL No comments

New circulation variety:

The 2014 issue of the Macedonian 2 denari has no dots, as you can see here compared to 2006:



You can order this coin from Egon Conti (egoncontirossini@hotmail.com) or from his eBay lists: www.ebay.com/usr/ecr64

(news and image from Egon Conti)

Finland 5 euros 2015 - Sports: Figure Skating By: AL No comments

New bimetallic commemorative:

"Sports Finnish people love" series: Figure Skating



(news by Pabitra Saha)

SPECIFICATIONS
Core composition: CuNi
Ring composition: Nordic Gold
Diameter: 27.25 mm
Weight: 9.80 g
Designer: Nora Tapper
Mintage 10,000 (proof) and 50,000 (unc)
Issue date: 21st september

Link: Mint of Finland