At Bleyer, we love Valentine’s day, and although many view it as another corporate holiday used to generate money for big business, we see it as an excellent time to give your loved one something of intrinsic value and truly unique.
Before looking at our Valentine’s precious metals pick-of-choice for this year, here are a few fun facts about the ‘traditional’ Valentine gifts:
- Over 50 million roses are given for Valentine’s Day each year worldwide
- 73% of people who buy flowers for Valentine’s Day are men, while only 27% are women
- In order of popularity, Valentine’s cards are given to teachers, children, mothers, wives, sweethearts and pets.
- Historically, unmarried girls in Britain and Italy used to wake up before sunrise on Valentine’s Day, believing the first man they saw or someone who looked like him would marry them within a year. Shakespeare mentions this in Hamlet (1603) as Ophelia sings: “Good morrow! ‘Tis St. Valentine’s Day, All in the morning betime, And I a maid at your window, To be your valentine!” Not the smartest romantic move!
So, if you’d like to try something a little different for your loved one, perhaps it’s time to give them their own Gold and Silver coin!
1. Gold 1oz Britannia coin
A patriotic classic for the one you love, “Britannia has a long history with Britain and its coinage, she is the embodiment of the nation she has represented for almost 2,000 years. The coin’s design presents the icon with a strong maritime influence, standing windswept in a classical gown, waves at her feet; trident, shield and olive branch in hand – instantly recognisable in an international market, the modern face of British Bullion and a symbol of strength and tradition.” (The Royal Mint) The truly British choice, if the gold price tag is a little out of reach, the great news is she’s also available in Silver at a fraction of the price and just as stunning.
2. A rare Proof Coin Set
If your loved one – or parent, grandparent even – is already an avid coin collector, then a rare Proof Set may be just what they are looking for. A ‘proof coin’ was historically an initial sample of a new design. Nowadays, a select few are produced at the beginning of minting, to create a small limited amount of much rarer coins than those available on mass bullion websites. Check out Bleyer’s Collectible Section for several additional treasures for any collector.
3. Silver 1oz Austrian Philharmoniker
It’s easy to see why this silver coin is one of the most popular with both savvy investors and music lovers alike. Consistently one of the most competitively priced coins, the exquisite design is engraved with musical instruments such as the harp, violin, cello, flute, bassoon and French horn. Inspired by the world famous Vienna Philharmonic orchestra, this coin is a unique and timeless gift for any classical music lover.
4. Silver 30g Chinese Panda
For animal and nature lovers out there, the most well known international coin is the Chinese Panda. But amazingly, there are silver coins with designs of so many animals it’s easy to find a fits with a favourite animal of a loved one – horse, eagle, koala bear, lion, elephant, cougar, lynx, gorilla, sheep, monkey, kangaroo, kookaburra, rooster and even Noah’s Ark. Enjoy a quick browse through the Silver Coin section for a unique vet or animal lover’s gift, beginning from around just £18 each.
5. Silver Canadian Bird of Prey Set
For the bird enthusiast this set is truly stunning; a full set of 4 limited edition 1oz Silver Canadian Birds of Prey coins in 99.99% pure silver bullion, each coin with magnificent designs of the Red-Tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle and the Great Horned Owl.
