NZ Mint To Create SpongeBob Squarepants Silver Coins

Media Release
26 October 2011

NEW ZEALAND MINT PARTNERS WITH PFG PRECIOUS METALS
AND NICKELODEON TO CREATE LIMITED EDITION COINS
FEATURING CHARACTERS FROM SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND — Auckland-based New Zealand Mint has partnered with PFG Precious Metals, a division of PFGBEST, to manufacture, produce and distribute a limited edition four-coin set featuring characters from Nickelodeon’s global pop culture phenomenon SpongeBob SquarePants.

The world’s most famous sea sponge, SpongeBob SquarePants, will be immortalized on a square, legal tender silver bullion coin, along with friends, Patrick, Gary, and Sandy. The set presents the SpongeBob SquarePants characters packaged in a unique treasure chest, complete with a certificate of authenticity issued by New Zealand Mint.

For a limited time these one-of-kind coins can be pre-ordered through New Zealand Mint and PFG Precious Metals for US$279 (approx. NZ$350).

“This coin collection is extremely exciting for us,” says Chris Kirkness, vice president for USA Operations at New Zealand Mint. “With SpongeBob having such a huge fan base, we believe the issue will be a global bestseller. To marry a premium bullion coin with a fun and exciting brand such as Nickelodeon is a one–of-a-kind opportunity for New Zealand Mint.”

Peter Thomas, director of business development for PFG Precious Metals, agrees.

“This partnership joins a beloved television character with a collectible currency that stands the test of time,” Thomas notes. “Coin enthusiasts the world over will be delighted with a precious metal asset in the form of a 4-coin set that features SpongeBob.”

For more information and to pre-order, go to www.newzealandmint.com/spongebob or www.spongebobcoins.com. Shipping is scheduled to begin by mid-December 2011.

About The Coins: The set includes four, 1-ounce silver legal tender bullion coins packaged in a unique treasure chest, reminiscent of one found in “Bikini Bottom,” where SpongeBob and his friends live The silver coins depict SpongeBob; his pet snail, Gary; his best friend, Patrick Star; and his friend, Sandy Cheeks, a squirrel. The obverse of the coin features The Raphael Maklouf effigy of Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II, sovereign of the commonwealth of Niue. Each coin in the set is struck from 1 ounce of pure bullion silver. No more than 100,000 coins for each design will be issued by New Zealand Mint.

About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 32nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 16 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).

About New Zealand Mint: New Zealand Mint has been minting legal tender commemorative coins, gold bullion and medallions for more than four decades. As New Zealand's only precious metal mint and one of the first world mints to adopt the .9999 standard for gold coin purity, New Zealand Mint prides itself on high quality design and production work. In 2009, New Zealand Mint opened the Bullion Exchange, the first of its kind in New Zealand which offers a comprehensive service for buying and selling gold and silver bullion as well as on-site insured storage. Leading the way with innovative, colored, silver and gold commemorative coins, New Zealand Mint is known globally for quality and design excellence. New Zealand Mint also produces several ranges of jewelry that cater to many tastes and styles, including the Boh Runga and Trelise Cooper for New Zealand Mint collections.

About PFG Precious Metals: PFG Precious Metals, a division of PFGBEST, is a full-service wholesale trading company. The website for more information about it is wwwpfgpreciousmetals.com. PFG Precious Metals is a member of the Certified Coin Exchange, a dealer-to-dealer exchange connecting more than 350 U.S. coin dealers. The company sells gold, silver, platinum and palladium in the form of bullion bars and bullion coins. The majority of the bars and coins are fresh current year, straight from suppliers’ vaults. PFG Precious Metals services include buying and selling of precious metals, inventory hedging, qualified IRAs and the Gold and Silver Accumulation Program, and its dealers have more than 55 years combined experience in the financial services industry.

Nickelodeon, SpongeBob SquarePants and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

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