1 oz Mythical Cities Silver Round

Mythological Cities Rendered in .999 Silver

The Mason Mint Mythical Cities round is part of a themed series depicting legendary cities from world mythology, each rendered with a level of artistic detail that pushes the boundaries of what private-mint rounds typically offer. The series currently includes two releases, Atlantis and Asgard, with the format supporting both brilliant uncirculated and antique finish versions. Mason Mint is an ISO 9001:2015 certified American private mint with over 40 years in precious metals, producing all rounds entirely in the USA.

The Atlantis release, the first in the series, features Poseidon in underwater armour on the obverse and the sunken ruins of the lost city on the reverse, complete with sharks, stingrays, and a passing whale swimming among Ionic columns. The Asgard release depicts Odin accompanied by his ravens Huginn and Muninn on the obverse, with the Bifrost bridge leading to the Norse celestial fortress on the reverse. Both designs pack substantially more artistic content into their 39 mm diameter than most private-mint rounds attempt.

Mason Mint uses a distinctive production technique where weight and purity information is laser-engraved into the dies as micro-printing, integrating the required markings into the artwork without disrupting the visual composition. This approach sets the Mythical Cities rounds apart from the standard practice of stamping weight and purity in prominent block text that overlays the design. The result is a cleaner artistic presentation that appeals to buyers who value the round as an object as well as a store of value.

Distribution runs primarily through Gainesville Coins in the US and Atkinsons Bullion in the UK, with limited availability through other specialist dealers. The series was originally marketed as the "Lost Cities Series" before being renamed to "Mythical Cities Series," and some dealer listings still use the earlier name. Available in both the standard 1 oz silver round format and, for the Atlantis design, as a 10 oz silver bar.

Mythical Cities Round Specifications

Series Releases

The antique finish variant adds a darkened, weathered appearance that highlights the design details and complements the ancient-city theme. Many private-mint round series only offer BU finishes, making the antique option a notable addition for buyers who prefer the aged aesthetic. Both versions contain identical silver content and weight; the finish is purely cosmetic and does not affect the metal value or resale pricing at melt.

The Atlantis design has also been produced as a 10 oz silver bar, extending the artwork to a larger format. No other release in the series has received the bar treatment so far, suggesting particularly strong demand for the first issue. Mason Mint's laser-engraved die technique integrates weight and purity micro-printing into the design without visible block text disrupting the composition, a production choice that distinguishes the series from most private-mint rounds where hallmark stamping is prominently overlaid on the artwork.

Tax Treatment for the Mason Mint Mythical Cities Round

The Mythical Cities round is a .999 fine silver round from a US private mint with no legal tender status. It follows the same tax rules as any other silver bullion round.

United Kingdom

Subject to 20% VAT on purchase. Available in the UK through Atkinsons Bullion in both BU and antique finish versions. No CGT exemption applies; Capital Gains Tax is charged at the individual's rate (18% or 24%) on disposal, with the £3,000 annual allowance. Buyers seeking CGT-exempt silver in the UK should consider legal tender coins such as the Silver Britannia.

United States

No federal sales tax. State exemptions apply in approximately 35 states. The .999 purity meets the IRS fineness requirement for silver in a precious metals IRA, but custodian acceptance of private-mint rounds varies. Mason Mint's ISO certification and US manufacturing may support acceptance with some custodians. Capital gains are taxed at the collectibles rate of up to 28% for long-term holdings.

Canada

Exempt from GST/HST at .999 purity under the Excise Tax Act. Capital gains subject to the 50% inclusion rate.

Australia and New Zealand

Australia exempts silver at 99.9% purity from the 10% GST. New Zealand exempts silver at 99.9% from the 15% GST, and has no capital gains tax on bullion sales.

Singapore and Hong Kong

Singapore exempts qualifying Investment Precious Metals (silver at 99.9% purity) from the 9% GST. No capital gains tax. Hong Kong has no sales tax, import duty, or capital gains tax.

Mythical Cities vs Other Themed Silver Rounds

The Mason Mint Mythical Cities series positions itself as a premium-artwork round in a market where most private-mint products prioritise metal content over artistic ambition. This positioning comes with trade-offs that are worth examining against the alternatives.

The Sunshine Minting Mercury round represents the practical end of the branded-round market: a heritage design from a major refiner, backed by the MintMark SI security feature, at premiums just above generic rounds. Sunshine rounds are produced in enormous quantities and available from virtually every US dealer. The Mythical Cities round offers significantly more detailed artwork and the choice of BU or antique finish, but at a higher premium and through a narrower distribution network. For pure stacking, Sunshine is more cost-efficient. For the buyer who wants the round to be visually interesting as well as a store of silver, Mason Mint makes a stronger case.

Against the SilverTowne Legendary Warriors round, the comparison is between two history-and-mythology themed series from different producers. The Legendary Warriors focuses on individual historical figures (Achilles, Caesar, Genghis Khan), while the Mythical Cities takes entire legendary locations as its subjects. Both series feature above-average die work for the private-mint segment. The Legendary Warriors has a larger roster of releases (eight warriors versus two cities so far), giving it more variety for series collectors. The Mythical Cities' slower release pace and limited availability may create more secondary-market scarcity over time.

Compared to government-mint mythology series like the Perth Mint's Gods of Olympus, the Mythical Cities round costs substantially less per ounce. Perth Mint products carry government backing, legal tender status, and the Perth Mint's global brand recognition, all of which command a significant premium. The design quality comparison is more competitive than the branding gap suggests; Mason Mint's laser-engraved micro-printing technique produces clean, detailed artwork that holds up well against government-mint production. The practical difference is resale: a Perth Mint coin will be recognised and accepted by any dealer worldwide, while a Mason Mint round may require explanation outside the US market.