You might see the above picture of Panda America's Director of Public Relations, Mel Wacks, admiring Australia's new mega-coins in the next edition of the Guinness Book of Records because one is the largest silver coin ever made and the other is the largest dollar donomination.

The Perth Mint's 10 kilo (22 pounds) gold and silver mega-coins, commemorating "The Year of the Dog," are among the world's most impressive precious metal coins. The issue is limited to 1,000 .999 fine silver and 20 .9999 fine gold coins, with denominations of A$300 and A$30,000 respectively. This is the highest dollar face value of any coin! The silver coin has a diameter of 8 inches, and the gold is 7 1/2"; each comes in a mammoth clear holder ... along with bragging rights.

The 10 kilo silver design features a German Shepherd surrounded by a border of bats and clouds, traditional Chinese symbols of health, peace and prosperity. A Beagle, a cheerful and tenacious dog bred for hunting, is depicted on the gold 10 kilo coin. A traditional portrait of Queen Elizabeth II is on the other side of both coins.

Panda America, the official distributor of Perth Mint's Year of the Dog coins, offers the antique-finish uncirculated 10 kilo silver for under $7,000 and serial number 1 of the gem proof 10 kilo gold coin for a little over $300,000. Since prices are linked to spot metal prices, click on 10 kilo silver or 10 kilo gold or call (800) 472-6327 (9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday Pacific Time) for current quotes.

You can also obtain smaller versions of these same Year of the Dog coin designs for a lot less! See prices by clicking here.

Identical German Shepherd and Beagle legal tender coins are available on brilliant uncirculated pure silver coins currently priced at $14 for the 1/2 oz. size, $20 for 1 oz., $41 for 2 oz., $105 for 5 oz., $192 for 10 oz., $260 for 1/2 kilo, and $475 for 1 kilo; and gold coins weighing 1/20 oz. to 1 kilo, with prices starting at $53. As a special, Panda America offers a 2-coin Brilliant Uncirculated set of 1 oz. silver and 1/10 oz. gold coins for only $99. For further information and credit card orders, call official distributor Panda America at (800) 472-6327, visit www.PandaAmerica.com or write to Panda America, 3460 Torrance Blvd., Suite 100, Torrance, CA 90503. Prices are subject to change, and shipping is extra.

The Year of the Dog, January 29th 2006 to February 17th 2007, is the year 4703 according to the ancient Chinese calendar. Since this occurs every 12 years, those born in 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, and 1994 also have this lunar-zodiac sign. This includes Presidents William Clinton and George W. Bush, rock legends Elvis Presley and the artist formally known as Prince, as well as General Norman Schwarzkopf and Mother Theresa. Among the characteristics associated with the dog sign are loyalty to friends and a good keeper of secrets.