IDC Coin and Bullion
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About the 1 oz Unicorn Silver Coin
Scottsdale Mint's Fantasy-Themed Legal Tender Silver
The 1 oz Scottsdale Mint Unicorn Silver Coin launched in 2023 as the Arizona-based mint's first unicorn series, deliberately designed and marketed toward women collectors in a precious metals industry that has historically skewed male. Scottsdale describes the series as "made for the women who keep magic and dreams alive," and the fantasy aesthetic of a unicorn with a flowing mane set against a starfield and castle backdrop is a marked departure from the eagles, lions, and historical figures that dominate bullion coin design.
The series exists in two distinct product lines. Colourised proof versions carry extremely limited mintages (around 2,000 per colourway, with three colour variants per year) and command significant collector premiums. The brilliant uncirculated version, with a mintage of 15,000 for the 2025 release, is the bullion-oriented product positioned for silver stackers rather than display collectors. At that mintage, the BU version sits between mainstream bullion coins (millions minted annually) and truly scarce numismatic issues.
The legal tender status has shifted between issuing nations: 2023-2024 releases carried a 5 Cedis face value from Ghana with Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse, while the 2025 BU edition moved to Fiji with a $1 denomination. This kind of jurisdiction change is routine for private mints that license legal tender status from multiple sovereign nations. The coin's intrinsic value and market positioning are unaffected by which country's name appears on the obverse.
Scottsdale Mint's broader reputation for investment-grade bullion, built on products like the Cayman Islands Stingray and the Congo Silverback Gorilla, lends credibility to the Unicorn as a genuine bullion product rather than a purely numismatic novelty.
Unicorn BU Silver Coin Specifications (2025 Fiji Issue)
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1 troy ounce (31.1g) |
| Purity | .999 fine silver |
| Diameter | 38.8 mm |
| Thickness | 3.1 mm |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Face value | $1 (Fiji) |
| Mintage (BU) | 15,000 |
| Finish | Brilliant Uncirculated |
| Packaging | CoinZip bags or tubes of 20 |
Colourised Variants (2023 Ghana Issue)
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Purity | .999 fine silver |
| Face value | 5 Cedis (Ghana) |
| Mintage per colourway | ~2,000 |
| Obverse | Queen Elizabeth II (Ian Rank-Broadley) |
| Finish | Proof-like with colour application |
| Packaging | Scottsdale Mint Certi-Lock |
The BU version emphasises the sculptural quality of the engraving with detailed rendering of the unicorn's flowing mane, horn, and background elements through dimensional relief that creates interplay between frosted and mirrored surfaces. The colourised versions (Blossom, Jubilee, Aurora in 2023) apply colour treatments to the same base design, with each variant featuring a different mane colour treatment against the fantasy backdrop.
A 1/2 oz silver version was introduced in 2024, expanding the range below the standard 1 oz format.
Tax Treatment Across Jurisdictions
The Unicorn's legal tender status from either Ghana (2023-2024) or Fiji (2025) affects tax treatment in certain markets.
United States: The .999 fine silver purity meets IRA precious metals requirements under Section 408(m). State sales tax treatment varies; most states that exempt bullion will cover legal tender coins from recognised foreign nations. The legal tender status strengthens the IRA eligibility case compared to private rounds without face values.
United Kingdom: These are not UK legal tender, so they attract 20% VAT on purchase regardless of their Ghanaian or Fijian face value. No CGT exemption applies. Gold versions, if produced, would be VAT-free as investment gold meeting the .999+ threshold.
Canada: Silver coins at .999+ purity in coin form that are legal tender of a foreign nation qualify for GST/HST exemption as investment precious metals.
European Union: Subject to local VAT rates on silver. Legal tender status from Ghana or Fiji does not confer EU Investment Gold Directive-style exemption for silver. The German margin scheme (Differenzbesteuerung) may apply to pre-owned examples.
Australia: Investment-grade silver coins at .999+ purity from accredited sources qualify for GST exemption. Legal tender status from a recognised sovereign nation supports this classification.
Singapore: As a silver coin at .999 purity from a sovereign issuer, it may qualify as an Investment Precious Metal under MAS rules, exempt from 9% GST. However, inclusion depends on the specific coin appearing on the MAS-approved list.
Unicorn vs Other Fantasy and Collectible Bullion Series
The Unicorn series competes in a growing niche of fantasy and mythological-themed bullion. The Royal Mint's Myths and Legends series covers creatures from British folklore (Morgan le Fay, the Loch Ness Monster), while Perth Mint has produced various mythical creature coins over the years. The Unicorn's distinction is its explicit positioning toward female collectors, a demographic that most competing series ignore in their marketing.
Against other Scottsdale Mint products, the Unicorn occupies a different market segment from the Scottsdale Cowboy (Americana, male-oriented aesthetic) or the Cayman Islands Stingray (marine naturalism). The shared .999 purity and similar pricing make them interchangeable from a pure bullion perspective; the choice comes down to design preference and anticipated secondary market demand.
At 15,000 mintage for the BU version, the Unicorn is significantly more limited than mainstream sovereign coins but typical for premium private mint legal tender issues. The Canadian Maple Leaf is minted in the millions annually, offering near-zero scarcity premium but maximum liquidity. The Unicorn trades that liquidity for potential numismatic appreciation if the series builds a collector following over time.
The 2025 BU version sold out before its target ship date, indicating genuine market demand beyond the niche collector audience. For buyers who want silver at competitive premiums with a more distinctive aesthetic than standard bullion designs, the BU version offers a reasonable middle ground between generic rounds and high-premium proof coins.
1 oz Unicorn Silver Coin: frequently asked questions
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The lowest price we track for the Scottsdale Mint Unicorn 1 oz silver coin is $72.29 from IDC Coin and Bullion, currently around 9.4% over the $66.03 silver spot price. Prices vary between the standard Brilliant Uncirculated release and colourised collector variants, which carry higher premiums due to lower mintages.
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The Unicorn is a silver coin series launched by Scottsdale Mint (Arizona, USA) in 2023. It features a unicorn design with a fantasy castle backdrop, produced in Brilliant Uncirculated and colourised versions. It is not a government-issued coin but carries nominal legal tender status through licensing arrangements with sovereign nations. The series is privately minted and not backed by any government's bullion programme.
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Each Scottsdale Unicorn 1 oz coin contains 1 oz of 999 fine silver, equivalent to approximately 31.1 grams of silver. At .999 fineness the coin is 99.9% pure silver, so the fine silver content and the stated troy ounce weight are effectively the same for valuation purposes.
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The Unicorn is produced by Scottsdale Mint, a private mint based in Arizona, USA, known for its lion hallmark across its product range. Scottsdale Mint is a private commercial operation, not a government or central-bank mint. The coin carries nominal legal tender status through licensing with sovereign nations, but its market value is determined by silver content and collector demand rather than any face value.