| Gold and silver art bars and rounds, while they | | | | The beauty of each issue is assured by the fact |
| may be aesthetically appealing, too often have | | | | that an art contest is first held, with the winning |
| little or no value over the value of the precious | | | | entry becoming the subject of the minted |
| metal contained in them. A few notable | | | | medallions. Each year a different example of |
| exceptions are those that depict famous cartoon | | | | Alaskan wildlife has become the subject of the |
| or theme park characters, and those used in | | | | medallions. Wildlife images do make beautiful |
| advertising by companies whose brand name on | | | | medallion designs, and the design chosen is the |
| almost anything makes it collectible. One reason is | | | | winning submission to the art contest. |
| many numismatists require a denomination of a | | | | By law, these designs can only be used for the |
| currency from a legitimate country that has the | | | | medallions. The minting can be done only to fill the |
| authority to issue coinage for an item to be | | | | demand for the year, which has often resulted in |
| added to their collections. | | | | low mintage numbers. Some years have had very |
| In 1992, a series of beautiful medallions minted in | | | | low mintage figures, making some of the |
| the Alaska Mint made their debut with the Eagle. | | | | medallions escalate in value. The two Troy ounce |
| The 2010 issue is the Black Bear. | | | | silver medallion has had years in which fewer than |
| These Alaska State Medallions appear to have | | | | one hundred were minted. |
| fared better than most other bars and rounds, | | | | The medallions are available in both gold and in |
| and one can hope they will continue to find favor | | | | silver, and in a multitude of sizes. There are even |
| in the market. Perhaps the reason is there is a | | | | medallions in silver selectively highlighted with gold. |
| form of legitimacy associated with them, since | | | | There are silver sets with several sizes included. |
| their existence is prescribed by state statue in | | | | The medallions are initially issued with a numbered |
| Alaska. Having a government sanction them allows | | | | Certificate of Authenticity, but the final mintage |
| many numismatists to embrace the Alaska Official | | | | cannot be declared until the year ends. They are |
| State Medallions who might not otherwise. | | | | struck as proof issues. |