Mickey Mouse in Steamboat Willie on Silver Coin

A new two-year series featuring Disney characters debuted with the 2014 Steamboat Willie Silver Coin depicting Mickey Mouse and a river steamboat.

This inaugural program issue is struck by the Perth Mint from one ounce of 99.9% pure silver to proof quality. Mintage is limited to 10,000 and that could mean a sellout.

The sell-out possibility is not based only on the popularity of the Disney franchise but also on a companion coin. The 2014 Steamboat Willie Gold Coin also launched alongside the silver coin. Priced about seven times higher, it sold out quickly with a mintage of 1,000.

Both gold and silver coins have a common reverse design of Mickey Mouse taken from the character’s animated feature debut, Steamboat Willie.

"Released in New York on 18 November 1928, Steamboat Willie was directed by Walt Disney and is considered the debut of one of the world’s most recognizable cartoon characters, Mickey Mouse, and a landmark in the history of animation," offers the Perth Mint on its website.

Future program releases in the two-year series will depict other popular Disney characters.

Design and Specifications of Steamboat Willie Silver Coins

Reverses of 2014 Steamboat Willie Silver Coins show Mickey Mouse at the wheel of his handcrafted ship. Inscriptions added to the design include STEAMBOAT WILLIE and 1928, the year of the animated short film release.

This series is struck as legal tender of the island nation of Niue with Ian Rank-Broadley’s effigy of Queen Elizabeth II shown on the obverse. Inscriptions surrounding the portrait include ELIZABETH II, NIUE, 2014 and the face value of Niue $2.

The proof silver coins have a diameter of 40.60 mm, a thickness of 4.00 mm, and a weight of 31.135 grams.

Coins of the program are issued on behalf of the Zealand Mint under official license of Disney. Each is housed in a classic wooden presentation case. A colored, vintage-style shipper featuring an image of Mickey Mouse is also included along with a numbered certificate of authenticity.

Orders may be placed directly from The Perth Mint website at www.perthmint.com.au. Current pricing is shown as AUS $102.27, or US $95.72.

You may also use this affiliate link to go directly to the Perth Mint’s Disney Coins page.