Canadian Mint Releases Looney Tunes Coins

I’m a collector.  I suspect most that read this sight are to at least some extent.  A lot of what I collect is pretty standard fair: action figures, books, DVDs, comics, celebrity autographs, etc.  But by far my biggest collection is my Looney Tunes collection.

A small sample.

A sane collector would limit their collection to one aspect, Looney Tunes cookie jars or Looney Tunes Christmas ornaments or Looney Tunes plush toys or Looney Tunes art work.  But obsessive collector and sane don’t exactly go together.  I covet pretty much everything Looney Tunes.  It’s an addiction really.  Now my own country has become an enabler as the Canadian Mint releases the Looney Tunes Coin Collection.

Be strong, Mickey! Don’t give in to temptation.

Now, I’m not exactly sure what prompted the Canadian Mint to go with a Looney Tunes theme.  There’s not exactly a strong Canadian tie to the Looney Tunes.  Charlie Thorson, a character designer who worked at the original Warner Brothers animation studio, was born in Manitoba.  However, despite some exaggerated claims regarding the creation of Bugs Bunny, Thorson is not a commonly known personality from the studio and worked there for less than a year.

The cartoon Fresh Hare (1942) featuring Mountie Elmer Fudd notwithstanding, there are not many Looney Tunes cartoons with Canadian content.

Regardless of the reasons behind the Looney Tunes coins, it should be obvious that I want them.  Unfortunately, wanting and getting are not the same thing.  Can I really justify the purchase?  There are twenty coins in the collection.  What exactly would I do with them?

Rolling in paper money might be fun but with coins it isn’t really an option.

Surely there is no harm in at least looking through the collection.  It only makes sense to make an informed decision, right?  Right? (All coins are © 2015 Royal Canadian Mint.  All characters are © & TM Warner Brothers Entertainment Inc.)

Twenny Fuh Twenny

Reportedly this is the first time Bugs Bunny has ever been featured on a Mint coin.  (I’m not entirely sure I know what is meant by a Mint coin but it sounds impressive.  Any coin collectors out there that can enlighten me?)  It is a pure silver coin with a $20 value.  And it sells for…$20.  Well, that doesn’t seem so bad.  And the Canadian Mint site even indicates that shipping is free.  I’d be a fool not to pick up one of these.  Maybe I should get a couple extra for the kids.

Eight Coin Subscription 

This eight coin set has coins depicting Tweety, Sylvester, Marvin Martian, the Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote, Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, and a final coin depicting a group image.  The coins are ½ oz. fine silver and they each have a value of $10.  The $20 coin was $20.  So, it would go to figure that these…oh.  Each of these coins will cost $49.95.  Well, that’s still not that much when you think of each coin separately.  And you set up a subscription whereby you get sent one a month so there is no big one-time purchase.  And the set comes with a neat little cardboard collector case.  Sure, let’s go for it!

Four Coin Subscription

This is also a subscription so again I will be able to spread the cost over several months.  Each coin is 1 oz. fine silver and has a value of $20.  Tweety, Sylvester, Daffy, and Bugs are each depicted in colour in front of an appropriate background.  Hmm, that sounds kind of expensive.  Yup, each coin will set me back $109.95.  But included is a nice wooden collector box and a wristwatch with the characters on the face (people still wear wristwatches, right?).  I think I can con talk my wife into it.

Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies

Another group image.  But this one is in colour and on a 1 oz. silver coin with a $20 value.  Like the individual coins in the four coin subscription, this coin will cost me $109.95.  It comes in an Acme wooden crate.  I’m sure I can convince my wife to let me get this one.  The picture includes Pussyfoot and my wife has a soft spot for Pussyfoot.

Three Coin Subscription

Yet another subscription.  The coins in this set are similar to those in the Four Coin Collection.  The main difference is that these are 2 oz. silver coins with a value of $30.  Unfortunately, the price reflects the increased value.  These are selling for $189.95 each.  They each come in their own Acme wooden crate and a cardboard box with nice graphics on it.  All collectors know the package is worth at least as much as the product.

Looney Tunes: Bugs Bunny and Friends

Is it just me or was Marvin supposed to be holding a gun of some sort (perhaps a disintegrator ray)?  The thumbs-up clashes with the angry expression in his eyes.  Anyway this 14-Karat gold coin has a value of $100 and a colour image of Bugs, Daffy, Marvin, Wile E. Coyote, and Taz.  And it comes with a nice looking pocket watch.  The cost is a mere $799.95.  That’s only a couple of car loan payments.  They expect you to miss one or two right?

One Kilogram Fine Silver Looney Tunes Ensemble Cast

Yes, it really is a kilogram of silver.  The coin has a value of $250 and has a limited mintage of only 750.  I guess that explains the $2350.95 price tag?  I’m sure we must have some stuff laying around the house that I could sell.  Or maybe we could take in a tenant.  Know anybody looking for an overpriced place to stay?

One Kilogram Pure Gold Looney Tunes Ensemble Cast

We round out the collection with a gold version of the Ensemble Cast.  The mintage for these is only 10.  It comes with nice packaging like the others and, like the pure silver version, comes with a legend for identifying the characters in a blueprint format reminiscent of the blueprints of Wile E. Coyote.  The asking price?  A steal at $69,000.

Ok.  It’s time to be realistic (which I hate).  As much as I want these, there is no way I can afford them without selling my kids…  No.  I won’t sell my kids.  So if there are any philanthropists out there looking for ways to spend their money…

I’ll be standing by.