Last updated on May 2nd, 2024 at 03:34 pmEvery year, the Royal Canadian Mint releases new runs of coins. Most of these are intended for practical use as currency, but some are aimed primarily at collectors. Occasionally, the mint releases a truly unique coin that has value well beyond its face denomination. In March 2020, that happened with a limited-run diamond-on-diamond coin. The Coin The diamond-shaped coin looks nothing like a traditional coin. It is a three-dimensional diamond shape similar to a square-cut stone. Made from three ounces of 99.99% pure silver, this coin would be highly desirable even with…
2020 Chinese Lunar Coins Pure Silver Birthstone Set
Last updated on May 2nd, 2024 at 03:34 pmMultiple cultures, both Eastern and Western, hold traditions that certain stones bestow luck or other benefits on people born during a certain period. In addition to the ongoing series of Chinese zodiac coins, in 2020, the Royal Canadian Mint is releasing a 12-coin set of pure silver coins, one for every month of the year, featuring a Swarovski crystal representing that month’s birthstone. Understanding what birthstones mean in different cultures may give the set even greater significance. Birthstones in the Eastern Tradition Chinese philosophy holds that natural elements, such as minerals, trees,…
Quebec Blue Flag Iris Is First Coin in the Floral Emblems of Canada Set
Last updated on May 2nd, 2024 at 03:34 pmThe Royal Canadian Mint has released the first coin in the new Floral Emblems of Canada set. This 13-coin series will present the floral emblem of each of Canada’s provinces and territories. The first coin to be released in this handsome collection is the blue flag iris for Quebec. Coin Features The Quebec floral emblem coin has Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse side and a colored image of the iconic blue flag iris on the reverse. Set in a pure silver coin with a proof finish, the iris is…
Largest Liberation of the Netherlands Commemorative Coin Released
Last updated on May 2nd, 2024 at 03:34 pmIn celebration of Victory in Europe Day, a stunning pure silver, gold-plated coin has been released to commemorate the liberation of the Netherlands and Operation Manna. Thanks to the heroic efforts of the Royal Canadian Air Force and those who supported them, Operation Manna saved countless lives and knit Canada and Holland together in unity during the close of World War II. This tribute also brings to mind all of the Canadian men and women who responded to the call to serve and sacrifice for the good of the world. What better…
A Closer Look at the 100th Anniversary of WWI Silver Dollar Proof Set
Last updated on May 2nd, 2024 at 03:34 pmAs part of the Empire, Canada stood “shoulder to shoulder with Britain,” in the words of Prime Minister Robert Borden, by entering the conflict that came to be known as World War I in 1914. Four years later, at the end of the war, Canada emerged with newfound national identity. With its separate signature on the document that brought a formal end to the war, the Treaty of Versailles, Canada gained recognition as an independent country. Canada’s efforts in advancing the Allied cause, on both the battlefield and the homefront, were instrumental…
Exploring the Connecting Canada Coin Gift Set
Last updated on May 2nd, 2024 at 03:34 pmThe beauty of the Canadian wild is celebrated in this 2020 three-coin set from the Royal Canadian Mint. There is much to highlight about the second-largest country in the world with the longest coastline, and artist Terry Bianco does it beautifully in the artwork on the reverse of these coins. GPS coordinates are included on each coin depicting spots on the 152,100 miles of Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic coasts. Placed together, the reverse of the coins creates a map connecting the shores of Canada overlaid with a beautiful, red-accented maple leaf, while…
The Past and Future of the Canadian $5 Banknote
Last updated on May 2nd, 2024 at 03:34 pmThe first series of Canadian paper money was issued in 1935 after an act of Parliament created the Bank of Canada. Since then, there have been seven series of Canadian banknotes, each superseding the previous one. Unlike some denominations of paper money, the $5 denomination has been included in every series. The Bank of Canada started issuing the latest series of banknotes in 2018. The $5 denomination will still be included, but it is about to go through some significant changes. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the first francophone Prime Minister of Canada, who…
Silver Bullion Creatures of the North Series: Beware of the Kraken
Last updated on May 2nd, 2024 at 03:34 pmThe Royal Canadian Mint regularly releases a new series of coins for collection and circulation. Many of these feature symbols of the country, its nature, and history. In the most recent series, the Royal Canadian Mint took a trip to the depths of the ocean by releasing a coin featuring the Kraken, a mythological beast said to inhabit northern waters. The Creatures of the North Series Although the first coin of the series has only just been released, the Creatures of the North appears to be an exploration of legends and mythology…
Choosing Vintage Pieces for Your Silver Jewellery Collection
Last updated on May 2nd, 2024 at 03:34 pmMost collectables made of precious metals like silver are displayed on a shelf and rarely handled. You can certainly choose to display your vintage silver jewellery in this manner, but these pieces were intended to be worn. The purpose of collecting vintage jewellery is not only to own something beautiful and valuable, but it is also an opportunity to express your own creativity by combining different styles to create something unique and personal to you. If you’re new to buying vintage jewellery, you may be interested in specific pieces but are unsure…
Royal Canadian Mint Honours Willie ORee the First Black NHL Player
Last updated on May 2nd, 2024 at 03:34 pmCanadian-born hockey player Willie O’Ree had an impressive professional career that spanned 21 seasons. However, it is not only his remarkable longevity in the sport that distinguishes his career. O’Ree was the first black hockey player to play in the National Hockey League, and also the first to score a goal in an NHL game. Accomplishing these feats meant not only overcoming racial prejudice but also an acquired physical disability. As part of Black History Month, the Royal Canadian Mint recently released a pure silver commemorative coin bearing O’Ree’s likeness to recognize…
