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In conjunction with the release of the latest Transformers film, Transformers: Age of Extinction, the Perth Mint in Australia has decided to “transform” the Transformers into a series of lenticular printed silver coins. Of course, calling these coins is a bit disingenuous. These are really more like small silver bricks than actual coins since they are not round and will generally not be used for purposes of currency although they are technically legal tender in the island nation of Tuvalu.
The new series of ‘coins’ includes three images from the new film which change their looks based on how one holds them up to the light. This is done through the magic of lenticular printing, which uses layers of printing in order to create this kind of optical illusion. In the case of the transformers coins, they show the transformers in their non-robot form (i.e. as a truck or the like) and then in their robot form.
The three coins include images of Optimus Prime and Bumblebee (members of the Autobots, the transformers who try to protect mankind) and Lockdown, who is a Decepticon (one of the evil robots whom the Autobots fight).
The new series of coins follows a previous issue of lenticular printed coins issued by the same mint in 2003 to coincide with the third Transformers film. That series of coins sold out completely and the mint hopes to see a similar response to this latest series of coins. Each one has been struck in a limited edition of 5,000 units each.
One side of the coin reads “Transformers” along with the name of the character and the words 1 OZ 999 Silver. The reverse of the coins show an image of Queen Elizabeth II with the words Elizabeth II, Tuvalu and 1 Dollar along with the year of issue (2014).
Each coin will be priced at $104.55 Australian dollars (currently approximately $96.77). The entire set can be purchased at a discounted price of $286.36 Australian. The coins can be purchased directly from the mint for shipment anywhere in the world. They have officially been on sale since June 16, 2014. There is no word from the mint as of yet on when they expect the coins to sell out.