Kangaroo Coin (1 tonne)
This absolutely giant wheel of gold – the One Tonne Gold Kangaroo Coin – is the world’s largest coin. Its name tells us that the weight of the gold piece is 1 tonne. The Perth Mint in Australia produced it in 2012. It has a diameter of 80 cm, is 12 cm deep, and is made of 1000 kg of pure gold. The coin is worth 1 million AUD. On one side is Queen Elizabeth II’s side profile and the other side features a red kangaroo surrounded by rays of sunlight. Moreover, it took 18 months to produce the coin.
Big Maple Leaf Coin (100 kg)
Minted by the Royal Canadian Mint in 2007, the Big Maple Leaf Coin weighs a back-breaking 100 kg. This giant doubloon is 50 cm in diameter and 3 cm thick. The Maple Leaf was included in the Guinness Book of World Records. Notably, this is not a unique piece as six of them were forged in all. On one side, these Canadian giants have three elegantly stylized maple leaves - the national symbol of Canada, as well as the name of the issuing country, proof, and weight of the coin. In addition, there is the inscription "fine gold" in English and French. The other side of the coin features the customary side profile of Queen Elizabeth II, the denomination, and the year of the issue.
Vienna Philharmonic Coin (31 kg)
The Vienna Philharmonic Coin weighs 31 kg and was minted in 2004 by the Austrian Mint. Experts say that this coin is one of the best to invest in. Dubbed ‘Big Phil’, these priceless discs are inscribed with the image of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra’s instruments: in the middle, there is the cello, to the right and left of it there are two violins and two violas, in the background are the bassoon, horn, and harp, as well as the inscription "Wiener Philharmoniker" ("Vienna Philharmonic"). The other side of the coin has the organ of the Golden Hall (Musikverein), where the annual New Year's Eve concert has been held since 1939. There is also the inscription "REPUBLIK OSTERREICH" and information about the coin: its size, denomination, proof, and year of issue. Notably, the Wiener Philharmoniker is the only euro-denominated investment coin.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (15 kg)
In 2022, The Royal Mint unveiled a single-issue gold coin to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The coin has a weight of 15 kg. It has a diameter of 22 cm. The coin is inscribed with various royal regalia to represent the monarch's long reign. The reverse depicts the monogram of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II ("EIIR"), surrounded by roses, daffodils, thistles, and shamrocks, which symbolize the United Kingdom. It also has an added privy mark of the St Edward’s Crown – worn by Queen Elizabeth II at her coronation 70 years ago. The obverse is embossed with memorable moments from the life of the monarch.
150-th Anniversary of Bank of Russia (5 kg)
In 2010, the Bank of Russia issued a commemorative gold coin weighing five kilograms to mark its 150th anniversary. Notably, a total of 50 gold coins denominated 50,000 roubles were minted. The reverse of the coin portrays the building of the Central Office of the State Bank in St. Petersburg (1860-1918). At the bottom of the piece is the inscription "The Bank of Russia was founded in 1860." The reverse side of the coin illustrates Czar Alexander II, and the bank's celebrated head officers - Alexander Shtiglits and Eugene Lamansky. In addition to the emblem of the Bank of Russia and the designations of the characteristics of the gold piece, the obverse of the coin images the state emblems of Russia since the founding of the Central Bank.
Economic inequality remains one of the most pressing issues in today's world. To measure the gap between the rich and the poor in each country, the Gini index is used. This coefficient reflects how income is distributed within a society: the closer the index is to 100, the greater the inequality. Let's explore which countries currently have the highest Gini index values
This year has been pivotal for Bitcoin, the world's leading cryptocurrency. One of the key milestones was the approval of Bitcoin spot ETFs by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. In April 2024, Bitcoin also experienced a halving event, which is typically seen as a positive development for the digital asset. This year, the cryptocurrency is up 57%, and analysts remain optimistic about its future. However, they highlight four key factors that could influence Bitcoin's trajectory, both for better and for worse
Analytical periodical US News and World Report has presented its ranking of the best countries in the world in terms of quality of life, based on a survey of nearly 17,000 people. The list considers factors such as economic and political stability, a strong labor market, income equality, family-friendliness, safety, the quality of education, and healthcare systems. Let's find out which countries made it to the top of this list.
