Got A Tiger In My Tank
 

Well I just took delivery on 10 nice new Year Of The Tiger coins. I actually like them quite a bit though I wish they incorporated some of the scroll work like they did on some of the other lunar series coins. I think the silver tiger's pose is more attractive than that of the gold tiger's. Something about the silver tiger conjurs up the idea of the white tiger in my head, especially if I hold it in the light just right so the stripes darken in. It isn't quite the coin the dragon is but it's very nice. If only it had the scrollwork it could have easily been as dramatic as the dragon.

Now that I have some tigers I need to go find some dragons!

Re: Got A Tiger In My Tank
 

I agree that the lack of scroll work makes them less than they could have been.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...2010Tiger2.jpg

Re: Got A Tiger In My Tank
 

I don't know why they stopped doing the scroll work. The coins with the scroll work (actually bats and clouds) just look a LOT better than the ones without. Some of the ones without look pretty good still (like the Tiger), some just look plain, like the rat and ox. At least some (like the Rooster and Tiger and Dog) have some background in there that makes the coin a little more interesting.

The series is a bit uneven. You'd think they would have kept the scroll work for all of them so you could immediately tell it was a series ... maybe something different, or no scroll work for Series 2??

Re: Got A Tiger In My Tank
 

Actually I love what they did with the rooster. I didn't like the pics I saw of it on the web but once I got one in my hands it instantly become one of my favorites. It has some nice background detail and he looks a whole like my favorite roo.

I'm glad the tiger has some ground to stand on. There is something to be said for the clean, uncluttered image. The tiger itself is strong enough to stand well on its own. The mouse disapoints me, the ox is okay but could have been better.

In a way it's a shame these coins will always remain in airtights. Looking at Tom's pic and my coins I believe the tiger could really come to life with some good toning. Since I have so many I might experiment with one of mine. If it ruins the premium so be it, it's a cheap piece of enjoyable art and it'll always be worth one ounce of silver. I might wait till I can find a slightly worn tiger second hand though. It's weird to think about but I've seen circulated SAE's before.

Re: Got A Tiger In My Tank
 

I think uneven states it well. Below is the rooster, though there is no scroll work there, there is a level of detail that is absent fro the last coins. I hate to say this but it looks like they were in a hurry, like someone busted in on the designers and told them that they had 3 months to implement 3 years designs.

Compare the rooster to the rat. Or compare the 1996 gold rat.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...ster-sized.jpg




http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x229/TomD77/rat2.jpg



http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...77/2008Rat.jpg

Re: Got A Tiger In My Tank
 

Congrats on the new coins, Rev. Yikes, that silver rat is plain.

I've never bought any lunar coins, but I think I get pretty close to the experience thanks to Tom's pics and your guys' descriptions. :D

Re: Got A Tiger In My Tank
 

RE: "Got A Tiger In My Tank "

I remember my mother telling a story to me as a child of how that slogan originated...

A boy friend of hers entered the phrase 'Put a tiger in your tank' in a competition along with a picture and won

'Esso' ( Exxon I believe it's called in America ) was looking for a new corporate ID and the winner would get 'a farthing' (about 1/4 of a penny) for every poster that was placed using the slogan..

I've often wondered if over time they changed the look of the tiger if that still stands... or indeed if his kids would now be getting royalties.. He would if still alive be in his 90's now.. Imagine all the posters all over the world that carry that logo and image.. those 'farthings' would have sure mounted up ...

Cheers

Goldeneye

Re: Got A Tiger In My Tank
 

Yeah, I was just thinking, before I arrived at your message, that it has reached the point I would rather have one of Tom's photos than the REAL coin, because actually they look better!!!!!!! :wink:

Don't need a tiger now ....:banana:

Re: Got A Tiger In My Tank
 

I'm collecting one full set of the 1oz coins for myself and the rest are for investment purposes. My average price per coin is $19. I don't have enough that it will make me a fortune but I do have enough that I will make back the cost of the coins. A free set of 12 neat premium coins is easy to love. :applause_

At some point I probably will aquire the gold series and the larger sizes of my favorite silvers just for the artwork's sake. The way I see it is I will always have a certain ammount of bullion in my strongbox just like I always have a certain ammount of frn's in the bank. Why not have the nicest coins in permanent residency? Generics are for trading. Save the best, sell the rest!

Re: Got A Tiger In My Tank
 

hell yes. I unloaded a bunch of common date 90% I had accumulated and bought back a bunch of walkers to fill my folder. And I was pleased that I got a Good 17 D oberse for $9.50 among the others I might add.

Re: Got A Tiger In My Tank
 

Aw shucks, I'll bet you say that to all the photographers.:bear_tongue:

Re: Got A Tiger In My Tank
 

Don't worry Tom, I can afford a compliment because you have saved me so much money not having to buy the coins :D

Honestly though the tiger pic was stunning.