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). The series combines original medallic artwork with themes centered on sound money, individual liberty, economics, history, and social commentary. Unlike traditional bullion programs, SBSS issues are designed to communicate ideas and commentary through original artwork struck in precious metals.
Following Duane’s 2012 congressional testimony on community currencies, the partnership began designing and issuing Silver Bullet Silver Shield rounds through Mulligan Mint, Rob Gray’s mint in Dallas, Texas. Early releases frequently carried the AOCS Approved designation, reflecting the series’ AOCS affiliation.
Mulligan Mint filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2013, and the Gray/Duane partnership subsequently dissolved. The SBSS name and AOCS Approved branding stayed with Rob Gray, who relaunched the program independently in 2014 under AOCS’s own infrastructure, releasing new designs as “The ARISE Collection.” Chris Duane did not retain the SBSS name; he began issuing separately under the unrelated Silver Shield brand, manufactured by Golden State Mint starting in 2014, with no AOCS affiliation. The two lines are frequently confused in secondary-market listings because of their shared visual heritage, but they are distinct brands with different issuers following the split — see the AOCS Mint page for the continuing SBSS/AOCS branch, and the Chris Duane page for the separate Silver Shield line.
Years: 2012–2014 (documented on this collection); continuation under AOCS after the 2013–2014 partnership split — see AOCS Mint
Issuer: Chris Duane and Rob Gray, jointly, 2012–2013 (partnership). Following the 2013–2014 split, the SBSS name and branding continued under Rob Gray / American Open Currency Standard — see AOCS Mint (Frisco, TX). Chris Duane’s post-split output is issued separately under the unrelated Silver Shield name.
Silver Bullet Silver Shield Themes, Compositions & Design
The series explores subjects including sound money, precious metals, economic history, individual liberty, constitutional principles, free markets, central banking, historical events, and political/social commentary through symbolic and allegorical artwork. Documented compositions include .999 fine silver, .999 fine copper, and .9999 fine gold, with additional specialty finishes produced for selected issues; formats include 1 troy ounce, fractional silver and gold, larger-format silver issues, and proof/specialty strikes.
Through 2013, Chris Duane served as principal creative force behind the collection, collaborating with artists including Heidi Wastweet. Following the 2013–2014 partnership split, new SBSS/AOCS-affiliated designs (the “ARISE Collection”) were credited on the relaunch site not to any single individual, but described as the work of “a passionate group of collectors, customers, authorized dealers, and interested parties.”
Silver Bullet Silver Shield Mints / Distributors
- Mulligan Mint, Dallas, Texas minted and distributed documented through the September 2013 Chapter 11 filing; post-filing production status unconfirmed (litigation continued into August 2014)
- 2014 (“ARISE Collection” era) — manufacturer not yet identified; not confirmed to be Golden State Mint, which is documented as the manufacturing partner for Chris Duane’s separate, post-split Silver Shield line rather than for continuing SBSS output
- silverbulletsilvershield.com, relaunched under AOCS’s own domain infrastructure (2014–)
Silver Bullet Silver Shield Historical Significance
Silver Bullet Silver Shield represents one of the most influential privately issued bullion collections of the modern era, pioneering the use of bullion rounds as a medium for economic education, historical interpretation, and social commentary. Its 2013–2014 partnership split between Chris Duane and Rob Gray produced two separate continuations — Duane’s independent Silver Shield line (Golden State Mint) and Gray’s AOCS-affiliated SBSS relaunch (ARISE Collection) — both tracing their origins to the original 2012 SBSS program.
Silver Bullet Silver Shield Notes
- The series debuted in September 2012 as a partnership between Chris Duane and Rob Gray.
- Early issues commonly bear the AOCS Approved designation.
- Mulligan Mint filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2013; the partnership dissolved in the aftermath.
- The SBSS name and AOCS Approved branding continued under Rob Gray, relaunched in 2014 as “The ARISE Collection.”
- Chris Duane’s continuing work is issued separately under the unrelated Silver Shield name (Golden State Mint, 2014–present) — see the Chris Duane page. It is not a continuation of the SBSS brand despite shared visual heritage.
Silver Bullet Silver Shield References
- Chris Duane publications and website.
- AOCS Mint (Frisco, TX) — for the continuing SBSS/AOCS branch after the partnership split.
- Mulligan Mint publications.
- The Survival Podcast, “Silver Bullet Silver Shield to Relaunch” (2013).
- Silver Stackers forum, “SBSS Freedom Girl Revealed” and “SBSS Final Mintage” threads (2014).
- Wayback Machine, silverbulletsilvershield.com “About Us” and “History 2012–2013” pages (2014 captures).
- The Texas Stacker Collection.
- Texas Stacker Archives
