2020 marked 25 years (and seasons) since the Toronto Raptors became a professional basketball team. To help celebrate this occasion, the Royal Canadian Mint produced two coins featuring Raptor-inspired designs. Sports play an important role in Canada’s culture, and a team reaching its 25th anniversary is a major accomplishment worth celebrating. The Toronto Raptors The Toronto Raptors were founded in 1995 and play in the NBA’s Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Since the 2001-2002 season, they have been the only international team in the league. So, the 25th season is something for every Canadian to celebrate. Furthermore, this anniversary comes on the…
Royal Canadian Mint
Stunning Royal Canadian Mint Diamond-on-Diamond Shaped Coin
Every 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 only the metal portion. However, it also has…
2020 Chinese Lunar Coins Pure Silver Birthstone Set
Multiple 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, and flowers, offer people good luck based on…
Quebec Blue Flag Iris Is First Coin in the Floral Emblems of Canada Set
The 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 so majestic and colorful that it sets this…
Royal Canadian Mint Honours Willie ORee the First Black NHL Player
Canadian-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 his status as a trailblazer in Canadian history….
Royal Canadian Mint 35th Anniversary of First Canadian in Space Coin
In 1984 astronaut Marc Garneau became the first Canadian to enter space. The 35th anniversary of Garneau’s voyage is celebrated in a 25-cent tri-metallic coin which was released in 2019. This gorgeous coin is manufactured of brass, copper-nickel and bronze. The contrast of the metals brings this coin to life. There is something special about commemorative coins and the history that they represent. More than that, the technology, symbolism and other special features of this coin are together such a fitting tribute of Garneau and the other pioneers of the space program that it will hold a distinct place in…
Remember V-E Day With a Special Set From the Royal Canadian Mint
The year 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. Celebrated on May 8th and also known as V-E Day, this marks the occasion of Germany’s unconditional surrender in 1945 during World War II, which brought five years of fighting in Europe to an official end. The Royal Canadian Mint is marking the milestone with a seven-coin commemorative set featuring a 2020 Proof Dollar selectively plated with gold and designed to strike a balance between remembrance and celebration. History of V-E Day in Canada V-E Day was not the end of the war. The war wouldn’t officially end…
Royal Canadian Mint Offers Commemorative Gold Coin To Honour New France
The New France Colony was founded in the early 17th century and endured for over 100 years. Ultimately, France yielded it to England in the Treaty of Paris that ended the Seven Years’ War in 1763. The Royal Canadian Mint now pays homage to the colony of New France and its significance to Canadian history and culture with a stunning commemorative coin depicting the struggles involved during the early days following its establishment. Crafted from 99.99% pure gold, the coin is the third in a series of pieces depicting early Canadian history. Brief History of New France Despite some periods…
Royal Canadian Mint Superman Coin Celebrates 75 years
Superman has captured the hearts and minds of fans for over 75 years and his popularity doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Beginning in 1938 as a comic book superhero in tights and a cape with a secret identity as Clark Kent, a mild-mannered reporter, Superman has evolved from a simple character in a child’s comic into an international icon featured in television, movies, toys, video games and Superman coins, among other things. With the exception of a green glowing rock from his home planet of Krypton, nothing can harm Superman. He is physically indestructible, fights for and protects the…
A Memorable Newborn Baby Gift Idea
The birth of a baby is a life-changing event worthy of celebration virtually everywhere in the world. In Japan, new mothers have a ritual of eating a sekihan dish (red rice and red beans) while resting in bed after the baby’s birth. In the Netherlands, guests visiting a new child receive cookies or licorice, and mothers from many cultures bury a baby’s placenta to symbolize the child’s connection to the Earth. Read more about Baby Coin Gift Sets. Common Newborn Gifts in the United States and Canada In North America, newborn photoshoots, keepsake jewelry, baby casts, baptisms, naming ceremonies and…
