Singapore Mint unveils commemorative coins to mark Trump-Kim summit

SINGAPORE – Not invited to the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un?

You can still own a piece of the historic meeting via three commemorative gold, silver and base-metal medallions issued by the Singapore Mint.

"The medallions not only commemorate this momentous step to world peace, but mark Singapore's role as a neutral host, and an economic and security gateway between the East and the West," the company said in a press release on Tuesday (June 5).

Hours later, the Singapore Mint said it would be significantly raising the number of coins to be produced in response to "overwhelming" demand. It will now produce 3,000 pieces of the gold coin and 15,000 pieces of the silver version, up from the initial quotas of 1,000 and 10,000 respectively.

Mr Trump and Mr Kim are scheduled to meet around 9am on June 12, according to the White House, which has also commissioned special coins to mark the event.

The US commemorative coins feature the two leaders looking at each other, with their respective flags behind them. A jagged line that hints at the outline of the Korean Demilitarised Zone runs down the centre of the red-blue-and-white coin, which retails for US$24.95.

The cheapest of the Singapore commemorative coins - a nickel-plated zinc proof-like medallion - retails for S$36. The gold and silver versions are far more expensive, and will be available only in limited quantities.

The half ounce 999.9 fine gold proof medallion is priced at S$1,380, while the one ounce 999 fine silver proof medallion will sell for S$118. The Singapore Mint initially allocated fewer than 200 pieces of the gold coin and fewer than 2,000 pieces of the silver coin for Singapore buyers, but is set to increase the quotas for both versions in response to strong demand here. 

The coins are available for pre-order in Singapore from Tuesday at the Singapore Mint's retail outlets and e-store www.singaporemint.com.

Overseas collectors may approach its international distributor Poongsan Hwadong for sales enquiries, the company added.

The design of the Singapore commemorative coin features an affirmative handshake between the two leaders, and the national flags of both countries. The scheduled summit date, 12.06.18, and the text 'Summit in Singapore' are also minted on the obverse of the medallion.

The national flowers of the United States and North Korea - rose and magnolia sieboldii - are also respectively featured on the medallion.

The reverse side of the medallion features a peace dove which "embodies the significance of the summit to bring about world peace", Singapore Mint added.

CORRECTION:

In an earlier version of this story, we said fewer than 200 pieces of the Singapore commemorative coin will be made available, while the Singapore Mint will make around 2,000 pieces of the silver medallion. This is incorrect. The Singapore Mint had initially planned to make 1,000 pieces of the gold coin, and 10,000 pieces of the silver version.

½ Oz 999.9 fine gold proof medallion 
Composition: 999.9 Fine Gold 
Weight: 15.55 g 
Diameter 27.00 mm 
Worldwide Mintage: 1,000 pcs 
Singapore Allocation: Less than 200 pcs 
Issue Price: S$1380.00

1 oz 999 fine silver proof medallion 
Composition: 999 Fine Silver 
Weight: 31.10 g 
Diameter 40.70 mm 
Worldwide Mintage: 10,000 pcs 
Singapore Allocation: Less than 2,000 pcs 
Issue Price: S$118.00

Nickel-plated zinc proof-like medallion 
Composition: Nickel-Plated Zinc 
Weight: 20 g 
Diameter 40.70 mm 
Issue Price: S$36.00