"Gimmick Coins" From Around The World.

A coin featuring the image of a Snow Leopard. The case is a wooden crate with "endangered species" stamped on the lid. One would hope there's safer means to transport endangered species.

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Most of these "gimmick coins" are produced at the instigation of the marketing department of the mints, rather than by the countries themselves. The mint is simply using the country as a "flag of convenience" which allows them to call their doodads "coins". In many cases, few if any people inside the named country are actually aware of the existence of the coins being made and sold in their name. The country might or might not receive a share of the profits from selling the coins; that depends on what deal (if any) was struck between the mint and the government of the country in question.

As for future collectability, it largely depends on the future of the gimmicky-coin industry itself. Back in the 1970s, no-one in the collecting fraternity believed that Franklin Mint products would ever be popular. Yet, once the Franklin Mint was shut down, sold off and stopped making coins and medals, their popularity began to improve and they are now considered quite collectable and popular in certain circles.

Granted, their relative rarity today was largely caused by the ruining and subsequent destruction of many Franklin Mint coins and sets by the awful, self-destructive packaging materials Franklin Mint used to use. Hopefully, the gimmicky coins of more recent times are better made and better packaged.

If you can find a magic shop in your area, they usually have a large assortment of gimmick or coins used in magic tricks.