Thinking Really Big

Do silver dollars seem like “nice little coins” to you? Maybe it’s time to pursue the giants of the numismatic world. Such pieces obviously aren’t made for circulation, but they have an undeniable appeal to collectors. U.S. hobbyists are familiar with the 5-ounce silver America the Beautiful Quarters^® series that entered the market in 2009, but many other options abound. 

Canada issued 13 $10 silver pieces from 1973 to 1976 to celebrate the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics. Struck in uncirculated and proof versions, these sterling (.925-fine) commemoratives contain 1.445 ounces of the metal. That means a full set weighs in at 18.79 ounces of silver. In more recent years, the Royal Canadian Mint has produced several silver pieces that are on the large side. The 1 1/2-ounce Maple Leafs with an $8 face value are thicker—rather than having a larger diameter—than their 1-ounce $5 counterparts. Go as big as you want and can afford with Canadian-made coinage of 2, 5, or 10 ounces, along with kilo pieces.

Large, odd, and low mintage (1,000) describes the $9 triangular coin from Bermuda, issued in 1996-98. This monster contains 5 ounces of silver, and Bermuda also issued round pieces with the same amount of precious metal. The Bahamas issued a sterling $10 piece with 1.48 ounces of silver in honor of the island nation’s independence in 1973. This release was just a warm-up act for 1980s and 1990s commemoratives that contain 3.569 ounces to a kilo (32.15 ounces) of silver, meaning the largest Bahamian coins will never be an impulse purchase.

The 1-ounce Libertad from Mexico is a well-known bullion coin. Libertads in 2 and 5 ounces have been produced since the 1990s. The largest Libertads tend to be struck in modest numbers, which means prices will run well above melt value. Russia released a series of 25-rouble silver proofs in 1999 and 2000. If 5.014 ounces of silver is too puny, pick up a 100 rouble from the same era consisting of a kilo of silver. France has offered 50-euro proofs with mintages of 500 apiece throughout the 21st century. These eye-catching specimens contain 5.003 ounces of silver.

Are you looking for 50-cent pieces with 2.272 ounces of silver? Check out South Africa’s Wildlife series, struck from 2000 to 2012. These large coins feature the nation’s fauna. War has put Ukraine in the news over the past few years. Even so, it’s safe to say that few American numismatists are aware of the long run of Ukrainian 20-hryven proof silver commemoratives that contain 2 ounces of silver. Want something bigger? Consider the half-kilo (16.074 ounces) frosted proof 50-hryven coins.

Whether it’s just an example or two or a broader collection, the world’s largest coins are certainly attention getters. 

A version of this article appears in the May 2023 issue of The Numismatist (money.org).