Silver News

A First for Japan’s Most Famous Cat; Hello Kitty on a Silver Coin

In an effort to introduce a wider audience to silver investing, Japan’s Taisei Coins Corp., along with Hello Kitty owner Sanrio Co., are selling silver and gold coins featuring Japan’s most widely-known cat.   The coins commemorate Hello Kitty’s 30th anniversary. Issued by the Cook Islands in the South Pacific, a set of 3 coins – a one-ounce silver coin, one-ounce gold coin and onequarter- ounce gold coin -- sells for US$2,210, but the coins also are sold separately.   One side features Hello Kitty in one of six different kimonos, each representing a heroine in a classic kabuki play. The other side features Queen Elizabeth II.

This is the first time that Hello Kitty has been seen on a coin, and Sanrio officials hope that it will introduce fans to investing in the precious metals market. Toshiharu Kato, a spokesman for Taisei Coins, said sales have been brisk. “We went with the Hello Kitty design to specifically attract women, a demographic that has traditionally shown little interest in coin collecting.”

Silver News - Fourth Quarter 2004