The government of Tuvalu, in conjunction with the Perth Mint, has released a new silver collector coin honoring the 1984 blockbuster comedy Ghostbusters. Called “Ghostbusters Crew,” the coin contains 1 ounce of .9999 fine silver.
The reverse of the coin, designed by Thomas Vaughan, depicts Drs. Spengler, Stantz, and Venkman as they appeared in Ghostbusters, against a backdrop of New York City and a lurid green sky. The scientists are in battle mode, lugging their proton packs—particle accelerators on their backs, Neutrona Wands in their hands, ready to send streams of protons to snare the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man (not visible). The cityscape is in silver; the rest of the design, including the “no ghost” logo behind the scientists and the word GHOSTBUSTERS below, is colorized.
The obverse depicts the traditional Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of HM Queen Elizabeth II. The surrounding inscriptions are QUEEN ELIZABETH II (at top), 1 oz 9999 Ag 2017 (at lower left), and TUVALU 1 DOLLAR (at lower right).
Denom. | Metal | Weight | Diameter | Quality | Mintage Limit |
$1 | .9999 silver | 31.107 g | 40.6 mm | Proof with applied color | 5,000 |
Each coin is presented in a black-and-green, themed display case featuring the words WHO YA GONNA CALL? around the edge, within a themed shipper, and is accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity. The coins are available directly from the Perth Mint.
Who ya gonna call?
Released in 1984, Ghostbusters is an American supernatural comedy film that follows the story of three doctors working in the Paranormal Studies Department of Columbia University in New York. After being fired for their unreliable and suspect findings, research, and methods, the three decide to start their own business specializing in paranormal investigations and eliminations. They call themselves the “Ghostbusters.”
Together, Dr. Ray Stantz, Dr. Peter Venkman, and Dr. Egon Spengler set up shop in an abandoned firehouse in New York City. They eventually stumble upon a gateway to another dimension that will wreak havoc on the metropolis, and they set about attempting to save Manhattan from mass destruction.
Venkman: …This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions.
Mayor: What do you mean, “biblical”?
Stantz: What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor. Real wrath-of-God type stuff!
Venkman: Exactly.
Stantz: Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!
Spengler: Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes!
Zeddemore: The dead rising from the grave!
Venkman: Human sacrifice! Dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria!
Ghostbusters was a critical and commercial success and launched a popular media franchise that included a sequel released in 1989 called Ghostbusters II. ❑
Silver Chronic says
They should have done like the Ecto-1 car packaging, like the Delorean car packaging for the Back to the Future coin. Might have some novelty/collector value then.