Silver Bullet Silver Shield Overview
Silver Bullet Silver Shield (SBSS) is a privately issued bullion series launched in September 2012 as a partnership between Chris Duane and Rob Gray, founder of the American Open Currency Standard (AOCS). Each round pairs original medallic art with themes of sound money, liberty, economics, history and social commentary, meant to carry an idea as much as an ounce of metal. The line “Listen to all, follow none” was the SBSS motto, found on most all issues.
The partnership grew out of Gray’s August 2012 testimony on parallel currencies before the House Financial Services Domestic Monetary Policy Subcommittee. Duane helped draft that testimony and travelled to Washington with Gray. Rounds were struck by Mulligan Mint in Dallas, Texas, and early releases often carry the “AOCS Approved” designation. Mulligan Mint filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2013, and the Duane–Gray partnership dissolved later that year.
During 2013 the program divided into three branches: joint Duane–Gray issues, Gray / Mulligan issues, and Duane solo issues. The SBSS name and AOCS Approved branding stayed with Rob Gray, who relaunched the program in 2014 under AOCS as “The ARISE Collection.” Duane continued separately under the Silver Shield name, made by Golden State Mint from 2014, with no AOCS affiliation.
- Years: 2012–2014 documented on this collection
- Issuer: Chris Duane and Rob Gray (2012–2013); Rob Gray / AOCS (2014). Catalogued under AOCS Mint (Frisco, TX)
- Primary mint: Mulligan Mint, Dallas, Texas
Silver Bullet Silver Shield (SBSS) vs. Silver Shield
The Texas Stacker documents Silver Bullet Silver Shield because the series was struck in Texas. SBSS rounds were produced at Mulligan Mint in Dallas, and the program continued under AOCS Mint in Frisco. Chris Duane’s later Silver Shield program is a separate line, made in California by Golden State Mint, and falls outside this site’s Texas focus.
| Attribution | Silver Bullet Silver Shield (SBSS) | Silver Shield |
|---|---|---|
| Years | 2012–2014 | 2014–present |
| Associated with | Chris Duane and Rob Gray | Chris Duane |
| Mint | Mulligan Mint, Dallas, Texas | Golden State Mint, California |
| AOCS Approved | On many early issues | No |
| Tracked on this site | Yes | No |
Some designs appear in both programs. Debt & Death, Slave Queen and Cannabis, for example, were reissued under Silver Shield with new dies, including Debt & Death V3 and V4 (2017). Only the SBSS issues are catalogued here. Listings often mix the two; when in doubt, check the year, the reverse legend, and whether “AOCS Approved” appears on the coin or its COA.
Silver Bullet Silver Shield Themes, Compositions & Design
SBSS designs address sound money, precious metals, economic history, liberty, constitutional principles, free markets, central banking, historical events and political and social commentary, told through symbolic and allegorical art.
- Metals: .999 fine silver, .999 fine copper, .9999 fine gold
- Formats: 1 troy ounce; fractional silver and gold; larger silver issues (2 oz and 5 oz); proof and specialty strikes
- Finishes: business strike (BU), proof-like, proof, reverse proof and half proof; some issues used specialty finishes
- Double-obverse and mule pairings: several issues pair two obverse designs or two reverse dies (Free Reign, Your Highness, Double Freedom Girl, Double Bullets)
- Design credits: Through 2013, Chris Duane was the principal creative force, working with artists including Heidi Wastweet, who sculpted Freedom Girl from Duane’s concept. ARISE-era designs (2014) are credited to “a passionate group of collectors, customers, authorized dealers, and interested parties” rather than a single artist.
Silver Bullet Silver Shield Mints / Distributors
- Mulligan Mint, Dallas, Texas (2012 – September 2013): minted and distributed the series until its Chapter 11 filing in September 2013. Production after the filing is unconfirmed.
- 2014, “The ARISE Collection”: manufacturer not identified. Not confirmed as Golden State Mint, which is tied to Duane’s separate Silver Shield line.
- silverbulletsilvershield.com was relaunched on AOCS Mint domain infrastructure from 2014.
Silver Bullet Silver Shield Known Varieties
Every SBSS variety documented to date, by year of issue.
Silver Bullet Silver Shield 2012
| Variety | Metal | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Debt & Death | Silver 1 oz | BU; Reverse proof |
| New Year’s | Silver 1 oz | Proof |
| Slave Queen | Silver 1 oz | — |
| Trivium | Silver 1 oz | BU; Proof |
| Trivium | Silver 5 oz | BU; Proof |
Silver Bullet Silver Shield 2013
| Variety | Metal | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| AG-47 “Come and Take Them” | Silver 1 oz | BU; Proof |
| Argyraspides | Silver 1 oz | BU; Proof |
| Cannabis | Silver 1 oz | BU; Proof |
| Debt & Death | Silver 1 oz | Proof |
| Debt & Death 5 oz Jumbo | Silver 5 oz | Proof |
| Debt & Death Double Obverse | Silver 1 oz | — |
| Double Bullets | Silver 1 oz | Proof |
| Double Freedom Girl | Silver 1 oz | BU |
| Enemy Unknown | Silver | — |
| Free Reign | Silver 1 oz | Proof |
| Free Reign | Copper 39 mm | Reeded |
| Freedom Girl | Silver 1 oz | BU; Proof |
| Freedom Girl | Silver 2 oz | BU; Proof |
| Freedom Girl | Silver 1/10 oz | — |
| Love | Silver 1 oz | BU; Proof |
| Peace on Earth | Silver 1 oz | BU; Proof-like; Proof |
| Peace on Earth / Santa Slave | Silver 1 oz | Proof / BU |
| Santa Slave / Consumerism | Silver 1 oz | BU; Proof |
| Sic Semper Tyrannis | Silver 1 oz | BU; Proof |
| Slave Queen | Silver 1 oz | BU; Proof |
| Slave Queen | Copper | — |
| Slave Queen “999 FINE CU” Reverse | Silver 1 oz | Satin / mirrored |
| Warbird | Silver 1 oz | BU; Proof |
| Warbird / Love | Silver 1 oz | BU / Proof |
| Warbird / Shield | Silver 1 oz | BU / Proof |
| Warbird “Spreading Debt & Death” | Silver 1 oz | Half proof |
| Your Highness | Silver 1 oz | BU; Proof |
Silver Bullet Silver Shield 2014
| Variety | Metal | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Debt & Death / Freedom Girl Double Obverse | Silver 1 oz | BU |
| Decentralized Currency | Silver 1 oz | — |
| Double Freedom Girl | Silver 1 oz | Proof |
| Double Slave Queen | Silver 1 oz | BU |
| False Flag | Silver 1 oz | BU satin |
| Free Reign | Silver 1 oz | BU |
| Listen To All Follow None | Silver 1 oz | — |
| New Years 13/14 | Silver 1 oz | Proof |
| Rise & Fall Bankster | Silver 1 oz | Proof |
Silver Bullet Silver Shield Year not established
| Variety | Metal | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Debt & Death | Silver 1/10 oz | — |
Silver Bullet Silver Shield Historical Significance
One of the most influential privately issued bullion collections of the modern era, SBSS pioneered the bullion round as a medium for economic education, historical interpretation and social commentary. Its double-obverse and members-only issues also helped popularize limited, collector-driven releases in the private-mint market. The 2013–2014 division left two continuations: Gray’s AOCS-affiliated ARISE relaunch and Duane’s separate Silver Shield line (Golden State Mint).
Silver Bullet Silver Shield Notes
- Debut: September 2012, Duane–Gray partnership.
- Early issues commonly bear “AOCS Approved.”
- Mulligan Mint filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2013.
- 2013 saw three branches: Duane + Gray, Gray / Mulligan, and Duane solo.
- Gray relaunched SBSS in 2014 as “The ARISE Collection.”
- Duane’s later work appears under Silver Shield (Golden State Mint, 2014–present), a separate program from the SBSS name and outside this site’s Texas focus.
Silver Bullet Silver Shield References
- Chris Duane publications and website
- AOCS Mint (Frisco, TX), The Texas Stacker
- American Open Currency Standard – AOCS, The Texas Stacker
- Mulligan Mint (Dallas, Texas), The Texas Stacker
- The Survival Podcast, “Silver Bullet Silver Shield to Relaunch” (2013)
- Silver Stackers forum: “SBSS Freedom Girl Revealed”; “SBSS Final Mintage” (2014); post #25, Feb 27, 2014 (three-branch summary)
- SD Bullion, SBSS product listings (2013–2014)
- Wayback Machine captures of silverbulletsilvershield.com, “About Us” and “History 2012–2013” (2014)
- The Texas Stacker Collection and Texas Stacker Archives
