The Royal Canadian Mint produces regular coins used for circulation and also commemorative coins for collecting. Sometimes, there is a crossover between the two. Canadian proof-like coin sets produced on an annual basis are circulation coins that are uncirculated and produced especially for collecting. The 2022 proof-like set of uncirculated coins has recently been released, and here is your opportunity to learn more about it.
How Long Have Canadian Proof Coin Sets Been Released?
Since 1953, the RCM has released a set of uncirculated, proof-like coins for collecting purposes on an annual basis. They come out in January, just as coins are produced for the new year.
What Is Included in the Set?
The set consists of brand new versions of the six coins used as legal currency in Canada. The smallest denomination is the five-cent coin, while the largest denomination is the two-dollar coin. Most remarkably, the set also includes the 50-cent coin which, though still considered legal tender, is rarely seen in circulation. The coins are contained in a custom-designed folder to protect and display them that includes the specifications of the coins so you can learn more about them. Each set also comes with a certificate of authenticity printed on the folder.
What Is Special About the Set?
The phrase “mint condition” is often applied to all sorts of collectables, not just coins, to indicate that they are still in their original condition and have never been used. In the case of Canadian proof-like coin sets, “mint condition” is the literal truth. These coins are in the exact same condition they were in when they were produced in the mint. When they first come to you, they have never been touched by human hands. That is the only thing that distinguishes them from the coins in your pocket.
What Is Significant About the Coins?
The two-dollar coin is the largest denomination of Canadian coins. It is also the only one that is two-toned. The inner core consists of aluminum bronze plated with a brass finish to give it the appearance of gold, while the outer ring consists of steel plated with nickel to make it look silvery. The one-dollar coin consists of steel plated entirely with brass, making it stand out from the other coins that have been plated with nickel.
Each of the coins in the set features a reverse image that is emblematic of Canada in some respect. The five-cent, 25-cent, one-dollar, and two-dollar coins all feature native Canadian wildlife. The one-dollar coin features an image of a loon, which is what gives it its nickname, the Loonie. The two-dollar, 25-cent, and five-cent coins bear images of a polar bear, moose, and beaver, respectively. These portraits have become iconic in their own right.
The 10-cent coin features a historic schooner called the Bluenose. In the 1920s, it was designed and built for open-ocean racing and cod fishing. “Bluenose” is a nickname for people from Nova Scotia, which is also where the ship first launched. It gained fame for winning the International Fisherman’s Race, competing against the fastest vessels from the United States. The Bluenose sank in 1946 after hitting a reef in the Caribbean following its sale to the West Indies Trading Company. However, with its portrait having graced the Canadian dime in 1937, its legacy lives on.
The rarely seen 50-cent piece depicts a simplified version of the Canadian coat of arms. Though modelled closely after the coat of arms of the United Kingdom, it bears some imagery specific to Canada, particularly maple leaves.
Who Would Be Interested in the New Uncirculated Coin Set?
The new set would be appropriate for an established coin collector. The decorative folder is designed to fit into an existing binder for collecting uncirculated coins. However, it would also be appropriate to start a brand new collection. Find the new 2022 set at Colonial Acres Coins.