Special coins from the Royal Canadian Mint recognize significant accomplishments by exceptional Canadians. Two such Canadians were Frederick Banting and Charles Best, the researchers who discovered how to extract insulin for the treatment of diabetes. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Banting’s discovery, and to pay homage to these brilliant and compassionate scientists, the Royal Canadian Mint is releasing special $2 Canadian coins celebrating their discovery. What Does Insulin Do? Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas that regulates the amount of sugar in the blood. The stomach releases sugar produced by the breakdown of carbohydrates during digestion…
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Archives for September 2021
Canadian Great Lakes in Colour Featured on this Silver 50 Dollar Coin
Collectively, the Great Lakes are the largest freshwater system in the world and one of the most recognizable features of the Canadian landscape. Four Great Lakes are located along the border between Canada and the United States while the fifth, Lake Michigan, lies completely within the U.S. The Great Lakes Region is home to approximately 8.5 million Canadians, with many more visiting on an annual basis. A new Canadian silver dollar pays tribute to the region with an authentically recreated and accurately scaled map created by a real cartographer. What Is Special About the Great Lakes and Surrounding Region? The…
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Old Canadian Quarters Could Be Worth A Lot
The goal of coin collecting is to find pieces that are rare. The less common a coin is, the more valuable it is. Mistakes in the minting of Canadian coins, including quarters, make them rarer. Quarters with errors can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars, even if they are relatively new. How can you tell if a coin has an error? In some cases, it is obvious because the shape or appearance of the coin is markedly different from the standard coins. If one side of the coin was blank or an image appeared twice, you would notice…
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Add This 50 Cent Limited Edition Wrap Roll To Your Collection
The Canadian 50 cent coin is no longer commonly found in circulation. The Royal Canadian Mint only produces it in limited quantities each year to be sold directly in coin sets and rolls. Since 1937, the reverse of the 50-cent piece has borne the Canadian coat of arms. Because this year marks the coat of arms’ 100th anniversary, the Royal Canadian Mint is selling a limited edition re-creation of the original 1937 coat of arms 50-cent piece in special wrap rolls in addition to the standard 2021 50-cent coins. What Is the History of Canada’s Coat of Arms? The tradition…
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2022 Lunar Year of the Tiger Silver Coin
The Chinese Zodiac is based on the traditional lunar calendar used to determine holidays in China and some nearby Asian countries. The lunar calendar is a 12-year cycle in which each year is represented by a different animal sign. The Royal Canadian Mint is releasing a new series of collectable Chinese zodiac coins starting in 2022. For the next 12 years, a new coin will be released annually featuring the animal sign for that year. The zodiac animal for 2022 is the tiger, and the first coin in the series reflects the importance of the animal in Chinese culture. How…
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5 Rare Canadian Nickels
Last updated on September 15th, 2022 at 03:05 pmLast Updated on September 15, 2022 Posted by Colonial Acres Coins The nickel was introduced in Canada in 1858, but it wasn’t called a nickel until 1922, when the Royal Canadian Mint actually used nickel to make the coins. A few years later, 1937 saw the introduction of the familiar beaver design. The abdication of Edward VIII caused issues with some coins, but the nickel wasn’t affected. Nickels minted prior to 1936 were more durable than other coins, so there was no need to mint more until after George VI ascended the…
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How To Buy Silver Bullion Coins
Collecting silver bullion coins can be an exciting pursuit, not to mention a wise financial investment. However, if you’re new to the world of coin collecting, bullion investing, or both, it can be tricky to know how to get started. Fortunately, buying silver coins isn’t as complicated as it might seem. By doing a little research and keeping a few basic guidelines in mind, you’ll be ready to start investing in silver coins in no time. What Sets Silver Bullion Apart The first step toward buying your first silver coins is understanding what makes silver bullion different from other kinds…
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2021 Specimen 6 Coin Set Showcases The Endangered Blanding Turtle
The Royal Canadian Mint releases special coins for all sorts of reasons. They can mark notable events, commemorate history, honour Canadian culture, or otherwise celebrate the country. However, arguably the most important coins released by the Mint are those that represent Canada’s natural treasures, especially species that are endangered. One of the 2021 Canadian coin sets showcases the Blanding’s Turtle, an endangered species from Central and Eastern Canada. The Blanding’s Turtle This semi-aquatic turtle is a native of Canada and some parts of the United States. It is a medium-sized turtle that is easy to recognize thanks to its bright…
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A Look At Investing In Canadian Gold Coins
Gold coins were used as a primary form of currency in many countries until the early 1900s. Gold has been used as currency for hundreds of years for many reasons. It doesn’t tarnish, and it can be quickly melted to make different types of money. Gold coins are also difficult to counterfeit and are appreciated for their beauty and rarity. Coins still have a broad appeal, especially for collectors and investors. Canadian gold coins produced by the Royal Canadian Mint are popular with all types of investors. If you are interested in collecting coins, it can be a fun, worthwhile…
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Celebrate Her Majesty’s Birthday With A Coin Featuring The Lovers Knot Tiara
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has featured prominently on Canadian coins since her coronation in 1953. The obverse, or front, of each coin bears a portrait of the Queen, also referred to as an effigy. Throughout the years of her reign, the effigies have been updated periodically to reflect her maturity and life experience. This year marks Queen Elizabeth’s 95th birthday. In honour of the occasion, the Royal Canadian Mint has designed a commemorative coin that features one of her most famous and recognizable pieces of jewellery and bears witness to the poise and strength that she has always exhibited…
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