| Author |
 Replies: 419 / Views: 110,709 |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
3789 Posts |
I just wanted to put some thoughts here- First of all I agree with the members comments regarding the various colored elephants that been released this year which really ramped up after the first initial 2014 Jubilee colored set. Just way too many of them. One colored in the series is fine. But it just started raining colored elephant and that just to me ruins the colored theme. Going forward for my collecting, I plan on sticking to just the bullion version, the gilded and colored elephant. I wont be buying any of them graded, as it just doesn't make sense to purchase a bullion coin that get a nice high grade to only find out, like other bullion coins, that production issues arise later and its not a highly graded coin anymore. Now I recently noticed this today on ebay. Take a look at this set being offered by MCM. Its a pretty nice set and haven't seen anything like it. http://www.ebay.com/itm/2014-Somali...em1e91b8250fIts a nice set dont get me wrong. But one reason I would not purchase is I have not had good experiences with the High Relief silver coins. I have one that was graded a 70, was sold to me by MCM with milk spots. I have had other non graded ones that I returned, such as one that had black smudge marks all over, just terrible condition. I think I can see why APMEX was slashing prices early on the Somalia Ultra High Relief coins, no one wants a poorly made coin. I might also add I have seen even proof 1 oz Somalia elephant coins from the sets develop milk spots as well. Therefore, despite this set being a very nice idea, I am positive the Ultra High Relief silver coin will come with milk spots or will develop them. The new upcoming 2015 design, I like it but it is easy to confuse with the 2014. I wonder if perhaps this series is now getting long in the tooth and they have run out of ideas.... In any case, I still like seeing the Somalia elephant coins, as elephants always look great on coins  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3789 Posts |
So time to update this thread- First of all, I received my 2015 night and day 2015 somalian silver elephant set. I dont know why but comparing both sets (2015 versus 2014), the 2015 set looks so much niceer! It is like they used a completely different type of process in coloring the coins, the 2015 set looks like more glossy, more realistic then 2014. In fact, the 2015 looks more realistic then 2014. In any case, if you are a fan of the somalian elephants, you will be very happy with the 2015 set. I also have received the 2015 gilded set and it looks good as it always does. All I lack are the bullion versions of the 2015 coin, and a gold coin. There are other variations coming onto the market, such as different colored versions and other finishes. One coin I will NOT be buying is the high relief somalian coin. One problem I had last year was when I bought the coin was receiving coins of this design with black smudges and milk spots.. yes I know, on a proof coin. I thought getting a a graded slab would work better. I was wrong, as MCM sold me a graded pf 70 high relief elephant that I bought on ebay, with milk spots. Now I know why APMEX was slashing the prices on the high relief coins this year on the 2013 and 2014s. They are, I hate to say, poor quality. Perhaps this changes in 2015 but I am not willing to try again. Looks like a great year tho, again, to be a elephant coin collector! |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1037 Posts |
I really like these coins. I bought my first one recently, a 2015 silver BU and the wondered why I haven't bought any of these coins before. Now I own 2011-2015 BU silver Somalian coins. These years are fairly reasonable. With 2010 and earlier these beauties start to get expensive.
I am watching a couple of high relief Somali silver coins. I hope they are as nice as Perth high relief coins.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3789 Posts |
@welder I had two of them, one was in OGP and graded PF70. Both somalian silver elephant coins were full of milk spots, even tho they were proof, one had all sorts of black smudges all over the coin.. I was disappointed in the high relief coins and will never buy them. No wonder about a year ago APMEX was clearing them out.. poor quality coins. |
|
Valued Member
Australia
51 Posts |
I just ordered some of the BU version, I will let you know what I think of them when they arrive.
|
|
Valued Member
Australia
51 Posts |
Just a quick question for all relating to keeping these in the best condition possible and hopefully avoiding milk spots at the same time. How should I store the 1oz Silver coins when they arrive 1) keep them in the tube they arrive in 2) Take them out and put them into a coin holder with the dividers so they don't touch each other 3) Put them into Airtight capsules and then into the Airtight tubes or 4) Something completely different? Thanks for your time.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1751 Posts |
Hey Yup, send me a message I've got a line on one of the coins your looking for, it's the pied maple 2013. I tried sending you a message and it's turned of. The coin is in the US.
|
|
New Member
United States
31 Posts |
My first elephants were the BU 2013. Great design, awesome looking proof like coin!
I had high hopes for 2014, but, was a bit disappointed in the detail/relief of that BU coin. It didn't seem as impressive as the 2013.
Now, the 2015 BU release looks impressive to me! The detail/relief looks more like the 2013... very nice!
I plan to gradually buy as many as I did of the 2013's. I didn't buy that many 2014's.
I saw the special versions, privy, color, high relief... and even the awesome looking Kilo!
However, I think I'm just sticking with the BU version.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3789 Posts |
oh wow I had not seen pocketchange50 had written me here! dang sorry about that!
I was going to say this AM.. seeing this break higher in silver, I think I am ready to buy a silver somalian 2015 elephant, its the only one missing for my collection this year, as I already have the gold plated and colored night and day set for 2015.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
149 Posts |
Now there are gilded high relief Elephants dated 2013 and 2014.
I don't remember seeing anything about a gilded high relief coin in 2013. Did they release these after 2013?
The coin has a COA and is boxed the same as the original issue 2013 high relief. Mintage of 500.
Does that mean they sold 1000 regular high reliefs and then another 500 gilded high reliefs?
What's next? 500 colored 2013 high relief elephants? Then maybe 500 day and 500 night 2013 high relief colored elephants.
This series is becoming a joke.
Edited by sodude
01/28/2015 08:59 am
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3789 Posts |
@sodude
yea thats news to me. I know from experience the high relief issues been a disappointment with me for production issues and I therefore have skipped them.
I did pick up several 2015 silver elephants today from MCM to add to my collection and share with family.
I see now there is a limited edition colored Kilo coin. Looks very nice but I dont know if its really worth what they are asking for.... probably not.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3789 Posts |
An interesting new range in the kilo elephant offerings seems to be growing. One of the first coins in the kilo size for the somalian elephant series was the bullion version Recently tho, two new kilo versions have been offered. One was a colored night kilo coin, limited to 100 coins. Dealers offered it between 1095 and 1150 depending on what kind of payment was used. There have been recently a slew of auctions for this type coin anywhere from $975 all the way to 1530. Now there is a dealer on ebay offering pre-orders on a proof kilo somalaian elephant kilo coin with a limited run. I wondering if the Somalian elephant craze is signaling the best is over for this series. On a side note that I find interesting, China Panda bullion silver 1 oz coins are going for a higher premuim than the SOmalian elephant 1 oz silver coins... which Is a change from last year. |
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1751 Posts |
Yup you maybe correct, the over production of different varieties being a death knell for future issues! Soon as mints see something is popular a ton of variation seems to follow. Hopefully this doesn't happen to the elephant coins!!
My question, are there 2 different colored elephant coins? Meaning an official mint release, as opposed to a third party mint doing the color? Ive been reading since page 13 again.I didn't realize the possility of 2 djfferent sources. I noticed an Aussie poster showed a couple night color coins, can someone explain this?
Its distressing to get a graded coin with milk spots! The slabs as I understand from other collectors, are supposed to provide a protective environment. This is suppose to preserve the coin from further changes. This is concerning, if a sealed slab cant prevent milk spots, how can an air tite capsule . I was thinking slabbing was a solution to long term spots. Its a shame mints don't care enough to solve the issue. It would be great, if some photos were added, so the issues can be seen, and also to see the variety of elephants existing.
Edited by pocket change 50
03/06/2015 10:52 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3789 Posts |
hey Pocketchange! Yea I am hoping that the elephants dont get over produced but I am guessing eventually they will. Seems like they took forever to get the interest of the public. For the longest time if you mentioned Somalian elephant everyone would call them just "rounds" which they were wrong on that. Yes, when they first started doing the night and day coins, they were a set of 500 coins. Then one of the coins in this set was available separately, forget which one now. Later, however, a 3rd party started doing night and day coins with a different set of colors. Interestingly enough, these coins were selling rather well on ebay and I did see a few sellers stipulating that those were from a 3rd party and not from the German mint that produces them. On top of those variations, there is also a bullion version of the coin where I believe the mother and calf are done with some process, where they appear frosted on the coin and thats it. I am not sure what to make of these milk spots on slabbed proof coins, other than that they do happen. As I have mentioned, MCM sold me a slabbed PF70 High Relief elephant with milk spots... so I would make sure they do not have milk spots before buying as they dont allow you to return them. How MCM gets away selling a slabbed coin, a high relief Somalian elephant coin is beyond me. I dont know.. why MCM did not state that it had milk spots... and then why sell it as a high grade... disappointing. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3789 Posts |
Just a question... has anyone purchased any Somalian elephant coins that are colored but are done not by the same German mint that makes the entire range of elephants, but by a 3rd party? I was on ebay looking at one and it looks like its like some sort of print or film that is used. Maybe I should get one just to see how it looks... |
| |
Replies: 419 / Views: 110,709 |
First Page
Previous Page
Posted 12/05/2014 9:41 pm
