The Somalian Elephant Series of African Wildlife coins from the Bavarian State Mint is one of the world’s most coveted programs today. From humble origins in 2004, the Somalian Elephant coins have grown into one of the most diverse offerings in the precious metals industry today. After numerous years of growth over the last 14 years, 2017 marks one of the most significant releases for the Somalian Elephant in recent years! Come with us as we explore the new 2017 Somalian Elephant Series of precious metal coins.
What’s New in 2017?
It might be easier to ask what’s not new for the Somalian Elephant Series in 2017! Prior to 2017, the Somalian Elephant Series featured just two weights in the popular silver coin (1 oz and 1 Kilo) and a handful of gold options ranging from 1 Kilo down to 1/50 oz. However, the Bavarian State Mint aggressively expanded the variety of coins in both stables, but none more so than the Silver Elephant.
For the release of 2017 Somalian Silver Elephant Coins, the mint added an astonishing six new weights to the coin program. For the first time ever, the silver bullion coin is available in fractional weights, with the addition of a 1/10 oz, ¼ oz, and ½ oz coin to the 1 oz and 1 Kilo offering. However, the mint didn’t stop there, adding three other weights with a 2 oz, 5 oz, and 10 oz option for investors as well.
The Silver Elephant wasn’t the only coin in the program to see some growth either. The Gold Elephant, already boasting fractional weights in addition to the 1 oz, and 1 Kilo coins, saw the addition of two more fractional weight coins with a new ¼ oz and ½ oz coin.
Another New Design
Of course, one of the reasons the Somalian Elephant Series is so popular in the first place is the new designs released annually. For 2017, the Bavarian State Mint continued with its single-elephant design theme and the inclusion of the sun/moon in the design. On the obverse side of all 2017 Somalian Elephant Coins you’ll find the new design.
This new release depicts the same motif, that of an African elephant on the open plains of the African Serengeti. In this particular design, the single elephant is shown standing among the grasses of the Savannah, with a small grass-roof hut in the background field that has a single palm tree growing out around it.
A key to the background design in recent releases is the inclusion of the sun, or moon, in the background. This allowed for the release of brilliant, colorized coins in the past depicting contrasting daylight/nighttime scenes on the coin. Differently colored to mimic night and day on the African Serengeti, you can expect to see the Daytime/Nighttime two-coin set again for the 2017 release.
A History of Change
Since its 2004 introduction, the Somalian Elephant coins have undergone a number of small changes and expansions that have only increased the demand for these products. For example, in 2007 the mint adjusted the 1 oz Silver Elephant face value down from the original 1,000 Shillings to just 100 Shillings.
In 2016, the mint add the first-ever Platinum Elephant coin to the collection. Now, with the expansion of the series to include so many additional weights, it is positioned as one of the most diverse coin programs in the world. There are now three precious metal contents (silver, gold, and platinum), with eight weights in silver, seven in gold, and one in platinum, not to mention bullion and proof versions of the coin.
Brief Background on the Bavarian State Mint
Founded in 1158 in the capital of Germany’s Bavarian region, Munich, the Bavarian State Mint is the oldest operating company in the city, and one of the oldest operating mint facilities in Germany and the whole of Europe. Today, the Bavarian State Mint is a state-owned entity of the government in the Free State of Bavaria, and operates as one of the five German government mints. Its history is one that is rich with coinage controversies, both past and present.
In the modern era, the Bavarian State Mint is one of the five national facilities controlled by the German government. Once authorized to print and strike German Deutschemark coins, it is now one of a handful of facilities in the Eurozone authorized to produce the common currency used by members of the economic bloc, the Euro (€). Even in the modern era though, the Bavarian State Mint is no stranger to currency controversies.
Turn to JM Bullion
As the new 2017 Somalian Elephant Coins begin to arrive, you can turn to JM Bullion’s online catalog for access to all of the new coin designs and weights for this exciting release year of African Wildlife Series elephant coins. Call us at 800-276-6508, chat with us live online, or email us with more questions.
