Great River Journeys Silver Coin Set

For those looking for a way to travel the world from the comfort of their coin collection, the Perth Mint has released a new five coin set allowing just that. Each colorized coin of the Great River Journeys Silver Proof Coin Set features a different river from around the globe.

Few other features of this planet can claim the same historical significance as can rivers. Since the early ages, man has been drawn to the water’s edge where he could not only find the life-giving liquid, but also food and a means of faster transportation. These journeys on the water are the focus of this set and are represented by the following five designs:

Rhine River Journeys Silver Coin

The picturesque Rhine river has been a vital link in the commercial and cultural development of the area since the Roman times.

The 820 mile river starts in the Alps and makes its way to the North Sea.

Along the way, many beautiful castles have been built over the years to not only enjoy the beauty of the waterway, but also to defend the borders the river has defined.

Featured on the Rhine silver coin is a cruiser (boat) floating in the water. Behind the boat, a colorized landscape can be seen which includes the Burg Stahleck castle near Bacharach, Germany.

Volga River Journeys Silver Coin

At well over 2,000 miles (3,225 kilometers), the Volga River is the longest in Europe. From its beginnings north of Moscow, the Volga meanders a course which finally ends at the Caspian Sea.

With so much territory covered by the river, it is not surprising to learn that many of Russia’s oldest cities were founded near its shores.

Yaroslavl is one such example and dates from the 11th century. Within a few centuries, the Tolga Monastery was built in this city and has become the cities most famous landmark.

The Volga silver coin also shows a cruiser on the water, with the distinctive roof line of the Tolga Monastery shown in color behind it.

Yangtze River Journeys Silver Coin

The Yangtze is the longest river in Asia and the third longest in the world. At 3,960 miles (6,380 kilometers) the Yangtze flows by much scenery, much of it pristine.

The Three Gorges area of the river is considered by many to be the premier tourist area, with the Wu Gorge leaving many people speechless.

This is the area featured on the Yangtze silver coin. A bamboo raft is seen on the waters of the river with the Wu Gorge shown in color behind it.

Rising mists and clouds add to the coins realism.

Mississippi River Journeys Silver Coin

Known by many in the world, if only through literature like Huckleberry Finn, the Mississippi River starts in Minnesota and dumps in the Gulf of Mexico.

Known for its many floods, the Mississippi has also played host to thousands of paddle-wheel steamboats in the last few centuries.

These self-propelled boats helped to bring civilization to the area and led the way for the commercialization of river traffic for years to come.

Shown on the Mississippi silver coin is a paddle-wheel steamboat in front of a colorized Greater New Orleans bridge, with the skyline of the city seen beneath it.

Nile River Journeys Silver Coin

No collection of river coins would be complete without one portraying the longest river in the world, the Nile.

At more than 4,000 miles (6,500 kilometers) in length, the Nile has been at the center of civilization almost since known man.

By cutting through the deserts of East Africa, the Nile has given life to millions including the ancient Egyptians who used the annual floods of the river to create rich farming fields.

On the reverse of the Nile silver coin, two traditional sailboats known as ‘feluccas’ are seen on the water behind the Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II collossus in the area known as the Temple of Luxor. Seen in the background is a colorized riverbank.

Great River Journeys Silver Coins: Proof Set Information

The Government of Tuvalu has authorized the collection as legal tender with a face value of 1 dollar each. A Raphael Maklouf portrait of Queen Elizabeth II is on the obverse of all the coins along with the normal inscriptions of ‘Queen Elizabeth II,’ ‘1 Dollar,’ ‘Tuvalu’ and ‘2010.’

Each coin is struck to proof quality from 99.9% pure silver and the set comes in a presentation case that contains a coin tray inside which can be tilted to a 45 degree angle for viewing.

The set also includes an illustrated shipper with a certificate of authenticity.

Limited to only 1,500 sets worldwide, the Great Rivers collection can be purchased directly from the Perth Mint from around the world for $406.82 AUS.

About the Perth Mint

The Perth Mint, wholly-owned by the State Government of Western Australia, is the official issuer of the Australian Federal Government’s Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Program. The Mint opened in 1899 in response to the discovery of rich gold deposits in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie. It was Australia’s third branch of Britain’s Royal Mint – the others being the Sydney Mint and the Melbourne Mint (both closed).

The Perth Mint remained under Britain’s jurisdiction until 1 July 1970, when ownership transferred to the State Government of Western Australia.

In 2003, The Perth Mint officially opened an 8,400 square metre state-of-the-art manufacturing facility next door to its original limestone building. Dominating the Mint’s heritage precinct, these two important buildings are powerful symbols of more than 100 years of minting excellence in Western Australia.