1 oz Silver Disney Bambi 80 Years Bambi & Thumper 2022 (Mintage: 1,942 | Proof | colorized)

1 Ounce Silver Disney Bambi – 80 Years: Bambi & Thumper 2022 as the Opening of a Cult Series

• Minting quality: Highest possible minting quality Proof with mirrored fields
• Strictly limited: Worldwide mintage of only 1,942 pieces – a nod to the cinema year 1942
• Colour finishing: Multicoloured design showing Bambi and Thumper against a forested background
• Material: 1 oz fine silver, fineness 999 – gross weight 31.1 g, fine weight 31.1035 g
• Mint: New Zealand Mint, country of issue New Zealand / Niue, officially Disney-licensed
• Legal tender: Face value 2 dollars, year of issue 2022
• Format: 40.00 mm diameter – generous design area for fine detail
• Scope of delivery: Original case as outer packaging, plus the certificate of authenticity
• Tax advantage: margin scheme taxed according to § 25a UStG

Hardly any cartoon character has touched generations the way the fawn from the forest has. In August 1942, Disney's "Bambi" premiered, based on Felix Salten's 1923 forest novel. For the 80th anniversary, the New Zealand Mint created a series that captures this classic in fine silver 999 – and this issue marks the beginning: Bambi and his outspoken friend Thumper, captured in a moment of childlike curiosity.

A design that captures the magic of the original

The obverse shows Bambi next to a fallen tree trunk, on which Thumper is perched. Turquoise-green forest tones, light grey stones, warm brown fur: the colouring works with a remarkable number of gradations, almost like a watercolour. Engraved along the lower edge are the material and fineness – "1 oz 999 Fine Silver" – alongside the Disney lettering. The reverse bears the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley (initials IRB), surrounded by the country of issue Niue, the face value of two dollars and the year of minting 2022.

Struck as a Proof, the collector's coin has mirror-smooth surfaces from which the design stands out in relief. This minting quality requires polished dies and multiple striking processes per piece. At 40 mm in diameter, every detail comes into its own – from the light reflection in the eye to the white spots on Bambi's back.

Mintage of 1,942 – a number with meaning

The limitation is no coincidence. It refers to the year the film first came to cinemas. This makes the mintage figure itself part of the story, and it is remarkably small. By comparison: classic bullion coins such as the Silver Britannia, Maple Leaf or the Lunar series from the Perth Mint are issued in six- to seven-digit quantities. Such bullion ounces score with low premiums over the silver price – but they offer no colour, no case, and no genuine rarity. A premium coin like this one follows a different logic: strong licensing, small mintage, and a high level of craftsmanship.

The 80th anniversary series at a glance

• Bambi & Thumper – the first issue of the series, and thus this offer
• Bambi & Faline – the fawn with his companion
• Bambi & Flower – the skunk as a loyal companion
• Bambi & Butterfly – the famous scene with the butterfly

Each of these issues was released with the same mintage of 1,942 pieces. Anyone wishing to complete the series would sensibly start here. And anyone who has followed the New Zealand Mint's Disney worlds for some time – from Mickey Mouse to Donald Duck to film anniversaries – knows from experience: first issues of a series are sought-after collector's items.

Silver: collecting pleasure meets substance

For all the joy in the design, the core remains a full troy ounce of fine silver. Silver has been a coinage metal, a store of value and a medium of exchange for millennia, and in many cultures a symbol of wealth and prestige. Unlike fiat money, whose purchasing power depends on trust in governments, silver possesses an intrinsic value derived from its physical properties. Added to this is its industrial side: electronics, solar and medical technology require large quantities, while supply naturally remains limited.

Silver is durable, is traded worldwide as a commodity, and is highly liquid. Many investors use it as protection against inflation and as a hedge in politically and economically turbulent times. Anyone holding physical silver coins has a tangible asset in hand that can be passed down through generations. There is also a tax aspect: profits from the sale of silver are generally tax-free, provided the holding period of at least one year is observed. Compared to gold, silver is also more affordable – a reason why beginners in particular like to start here.

Gold is humanity's oldest currency and has outlived all others. Silver co-wrote this history as the smaller sibling – and a coloured coin like this one combines both: emotion and precious metal.

Who this premium coin is worth it for

Disney collectors, silver enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a gift with lasting value will find an exceptionally accessible entry point here. Delivery comes in the original case with certificate of authenticity, which documents provenance and quality and permanently protects the sensitive surface of the Proof strike. A practical tip: never touch the coin with bare fingers – cotton gloves are essential for Proof issues. This preserves the mirror shine.

A timeless classic of film history, struck in one troy ounce of fine silver, strictly limited and officially licensed by Disney: this combination makes the Bambi coin a piece that is just as convincing in the display case as it is in the safe.