The New Zealand Mint is adding to their ever expanding selection of Disney coins by celebrating the 75th Anniversary of one of Disney's most beloved and enduring movies : Bambi.
Bambi 75th Anniversary Silver 1oz Coin Reverse
The official premiere of Bambi took place on August 8, 1942, and was Walt Disney's fifth animated feature film. It tells the story of a young white-tailed deer fawn named Bambi, growing up in the forest. Other characters in the movie include Bambi's mother, and friends : an energetic rabbit called Thumper, a skunk who goes by the name of Flower, a young doe called Faline. Bambi's father is the Great Prince of the Forest, whose sworn duty it is to protect the animals of the forest from the hunter “Man”.
Along the way Bambi learns important life lessons, falls in love and eventually becomes the Great Prince of the Forest himself. The movie was a departure from Walt Disney's usual fantastical style. The more serious tone of the film did not resonate well with audiences , who may have been seeking an escape from the harsh realities presented by the environment of the second world war. Critics were not kind to the film either and some saw it's message regarding nature conservation as threatening.
Bambi 75th Anniversary Silver 1oz Coin outer Box
Today however, attitudes towards the film have changed drastically – and it is regarded as one of Disney's best. The American Film Institute has Bambi(1942) listed on the number three position on their Top 10 Animated films of all time, behind Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs(1937) and Pinocchio(1940).
Bambi 75th Anniversary Silver 1oz Coin in Box
The reverse design of the coin features an engraved depiction of a classical scene from the movie, where Bambi is playing in the forest with his friends Thumper and Flower. The words “Disney”, and “Bambi” appear to the top of the coin. Hidden towards the bottom left, amongst the grass and flowers, are the words “1 oz 999 Fine Silver © Disney”.
2017 Silver 1oz Coin Obverse
The obverse is adorned with the familiar Ian Rand-Broadley portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen's effigy is encircled by the compulsory inscriptions of : “ELIZABETH II”, “NIUE”, TWO DOLLARS” and “2017”.
Bambi 75th Anniversary Gold 1/4oz Coin Reverse
The New Zealand Mint is releasing two versions of the coin, a 1oz silver coin as well as a ¼oz gold coin. The silver piece is struck from 1oz of pure .999 Fineness silver, struck to a 40mm(1.5748 inch) round with a milled edge. Both coins are treated with a proof finish and the silver coin carries a total mintage of 10 000 coins.
The coins are shipped encapsulated inside a wooden display box, protected in a printed vanity case. The numbered certificate of authenticity displays colour images from the movie. The gold coin has the same design as it's silver counterpart, except for a higher denomination of $25 instead of $2. The 22mm(0.866 inch) coin is truck from 1/4oz of pure .9999 Fineness gold, and has a more limited mintage of only 1000 coins.
Bambi 75th Anniversary Gold 1/4oz Coin in Box
Both coins are available to order directly from the New Zealand Mint website, while stocks last, at the release price of $85.00 for the silver coin and $620.00 for the gold coin.
Keeping in mind that the Jungle Book and Dumbo anniversary coins managed to sell out at the mint, I'm very sure that this coin is likely to meet a similar response from collectors, as the design is sure to please numismatists and Disney collectors alike.
