Anyone that grew up in the 1980s is familiar with the selection of comedies anchored by comedic actor Bill Murray. One of the great films of the decade that became a cult classic for children of the 80s and 90s was Ghostbusters. The original film debuted in 1984 and was dubbed a “supernatural comedy film.” Some of the era’s greats were involved in the film, with Ivan Reitman directing and producing, Saturday Night Live legends Dan Aykroyd (writer and actor) and Bill Murray (actor) anchoring the cast, and Harold Ramis acting and writing for the films as well. Other big names appearing in the film included Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, and Ernie Hudson.
Given the recent reboot of the series with an all-female cast, a new generation of Americans are paying attention to Ghostbusters. Following the in footsteps of so many other recent collectible precious metal series, a new collection Ghostbuster-themed silver coins with colorized designs has launched from the Perth Mint.
Background on the Films
The original film followed three eccentric parapsychologists who end up starting a ghost-catching business in New York City. The trio of Aykroyd, Ramis, and Murray use an abandoned firehouse in New York City as a base of operations to hunt down and capture ghosts throughout the city and hold them in a containment unit in the basement.
As the film progresses, an overzealous EPA lawyer has the crew arrested for illegal handling and storage of waste, and orders their containment unit shut off. The effect releases hundreds of ghosts and ghouls on New York City, and the Ghostbusters are vindicated and released with public support to combat a terror of supernatural beings.
Ghostbusters proved so popular, grossing $242 million in the United States alone, that a sequel (Ghostbusters II) was developed and released in 1989. The original film was nominated for, but did not win, two Oscars in 1994 and is ranked by the American Film Institute as the 28th film on AFI’s “100 Years…100 Laughs” list of comedy films. In 2015, the US Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry.
The Ghostbusters Series from Perth Mint
This exciting three-coin series from the Perth Mint kicks off with the Tuvalu Ghostbusters Crew Silver Coin. Each one of the 2017 1 oz Tuvalu Ghostbusters Crew Silver Coins arrives inside a beautiful presentation case with black and green colorization, a themed shipper, and the words “Who Ya Gonna Call?” on it. A numbered Certificate of Authenticity is also included.
The highlights of this first release in the series include:
- Arrives in a black-and-green themed display case.
- Includes Certificate of Authenticity!
- 1st release in a Ghostbusters Series!
- Limited mintage of only 5,000 coins!
- Contains 1 Troy oz of .9999 pure silver.
- Issued a face value of $1 (AUD) by Tuvalu.
- Obverse features Queen Elizabeth II.
- Reverse includes the original crew from Ghostbusters.
- Officially licensed product!
On the obverse of each Ghostbusters Crew Coin you’ll find the image of Queen Elizabeth II. Captured in right-profile relief, this image was created by Ian Rank-Broadley in 1998 as the fourth-generation depiction of Her Majesty.
The reverse of the 2017 1 oz Tuvalu Ghostbusters Crew Silver Coin includes a colorized finish on the images of all three scientists from the original crew, as well as the aforementioned green sky in the background and the red-and-white colorization of the logo: a ghost with a red line through it. The skyline of New York City is featured in brilliant silver finish.
Upcoming Releases
This three-coin series of Ghostbusters coins will continue with the release of a Slimer coin and a Stay Puft coin, two of the most iconic supernatural beings to appear in the feature films. Details on these characters include:
- Slimer is the first ghost you meet in the series, and he is described as an “incredibly foul-smelling amorphous vapor.” Originally featured with no actual name, the use of Slimer came to be later on because of his appearance and ability to leave those he passed through covered in slime. He was not slated to feature in the sequel film, but his beloved appearance in the first changed all of that.
- Stay Puft is the short name for the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, a massive blog of marshmallow that terrorizes New York City at the end of the first film. Stay Puft is conjured up by the Sumerian god Gozer at the film’s conclusion. The Ghostbusters are told the next form they think of is what shall come to destroy the city, and Ray can’t help but remember the mascot of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Company, which comes to life with Gozer at its control.
The coins in the Ghostbusters Series from Perth Mint are designed by Thomas Vaughan, and all characters and logos from the films, used in this collection, are the trademark and copyright of Columbia Pictures Industries Inc., All Rights Reserved.
The Perth Mint
Investors and collectors the world over are familiar with the Perth Mint. The Perth Mint is the nation’s oldest facility and its products enjoy legal tender status under the Currency Act of 1965. Originally opened as a facility within the Royal Mint system under British colonial control, today the mint is owned by the state government of Western Australia and exists separate of the Royal Australian Mint, founded in 1965 in Canberra. The portfolio of the Perth Mint is such that it refines more than 400 tonnes of gold each year, and also deals in silver and platinum products that are coveted by both investors and collectors.
Follow JM Bullion for the Latest
JM Bullion is proud to keep our followers up to date on the latest news and coin releases in the precious metals industry. Check back with our blog weekly to catch our updates, or follow us on Facebook to learn when a new post goes up. Keep an eye on our catalog of silver coins for sale to learn when the next two coins in the Ghostbusters Series from Perth Mint arrive!
