Isle of Man 50 pence 2012 - Diamond Jubilee

New commemorative:



(information and image by Andrew G)

Japan 500 yen 2012 - Oita, Tochigi & Hyogo

New bimetallic commemoratives:

"Japan prefectures: Oita, Tochigi & Hyogo"



(news and images by Jose Luis Ramirez Monleon)

The prefectures coins released or planned so far:

2008 - Hokkaido, Kyoto & Shimane
2009 - Nagano
2009 - Niigata
2009 - Ibaraki & Nara
2010 - Kochi, Gifu & Fukui
2011 - Aichi, Aomori & Saga
2011 - Kumamoto, Tottori & Toyama
2011 - Akita, Iwate & Shiga
2012 - Okinawa, Kanagawa & Miyazaki

LINK: Japan Mint

Solomon Islands 2012 - New coinage

On 27 January 2012, the Governor of Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI), Denton Rarawa announced that the Solomon Islands' current coins will be replaced by five attractive new coins in July this year.

The designs reflect what the people told CBSI they would like to see on their coins in the national coinage survey conducted in 2011. The old 1, 2 and 5 cent coins will no longer be produced.

The obverse of all coins features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II designed by Ian Rank-Broadley. This effigy replaces the Raphael Maklouf design used in the old coins.

Each reverse of the new coins features one of four much loved designs that already appear on some of the current coins and there is a new design for the 2 dollar coin. The 2 dollar coin will feature the bokolo, an item of cultural significance for Solomon Islanders.

The reverse designs are:

10 CENTS - SEA SPIRIT

The new 10 cent coin retains the sea spirit design that is on the current 10 cent coin. The design portrays the sea spirit Ngoreru from Temotu province in the Eastern Solomon's.



20 CENT - PENDANT

The new 20 cent coin retains the pendant design on the current 20 cent coin. The design depicts a traditional pendant design of Malaita province.

50 CENT - EAGLE

The new 50 cent coin features the eagle design on the current 2 cent coin. The eagle spirit symbolises deity in various communities in Solomon Islands.

$1 DOLLAR - NGUZU NGUZU

The new $1 dollar coin retains the nguzu nguzu design of the current 1 dollar coin. The design portrays a carving of the spirit Nguzu Nguzu from the Western province. It portrays good luck and protection.



$2 DOLLAR - BOKOLO

The design features a bokolo from Western and Choiseul provinces. The bokolo is made from fossilised clam shells and was traditionally used as a form of money. It is featured in the $2 coin and represents the many different forms of traditional money used in Solomon Islands.



(news by Pabitra Saha)

LINK: Solomon Star
LINK: Sky News
LINK: Island Sun

Russia 10 roubles 2012 - Luga

New circulating commemorative:

"Cities of Military Glory: Luga"



SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: brass plated steel
Weight: 5.63 g
Diameter: 22.00 mm
Thickness: 2.20 mm
Edge: reeded and plain sections

LINK: Bank of Russia

Australia 2012 - Merchant Navy & Kokoda Trail

New commemoratives:



20 cents - "Merchant Navy" (series Australia Remembers)

SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: CuNi
Weight: 11.30 g
Diameter: 28.52 mm
Mintage: Unlimited
Artist: W. Pietranik

50 cents - "70th Anniversary of the Kokoda Trail"

SPECIFICATIONS
Composition: CuNi
Weight: 15.55 g
Diameter: 31.51 mm
Mintage: Unlimited
Artist: W. Pietranik

(information and images by Peter Kaminsky and Pabitra Saha)

LINK: Royal Australian Mint

India 5 rupees 2007 - Bhagat Singh

New circulating commemorative:

"Birth Centenary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh"



The Bhagat Singh coin dated 2007 has finally been released by Hyderabad mint this month.

(news and image by Shamik Biswas)

Canada eliminating the one cent

The government announced that it is eliminating the penny from Canada's coinage system. In about six months the Royal Canadian Mint will stop distributing Canadian coppers.

Starting in the fall, businesses will be asked to return pennies to financial institutions. The coins will be melted and the metal content recycled. In the meantime, Canadians can continue to use pennies to pay for things and the one-cent piece will retain its value indefinitely.

(news by Wesley Green)

LINK: CBC news
LINK: Winnipeg Free Press
LINK: National Post
LINK: All the one cent coin types