Last Updated on October 23, 2023 Posted by Colonial Acres Coins
Those of us in Canada certainly know snow, and what better way for us to honour this universally relatable aspect of the experience than with the Royal Canadian Mint 2023 Snowflake Coin? This is a particularly unique coin in any collection due to its unusual hexagonal shape.
The shape of this coin is not random or arbitrary but is based on the way that snowflakes naturally form. It is intended to evoke the feeling of the brief beauty of a single snowflake, in the form of an image that you can keep in your coin collection for a lifetime.
How a Snowflake is Formed
A snowflake is actually a combination of a particle of dust or pollen with an extremely cold water droplet. When the water and particles collide high in the sky, an ice crystal is formed, and that ice crystal falls to the ground as a snowflake.
No two snowflakes are the same, because every time a droplet of water freezes, it crystallizes in a different pattern because of the way the water molecules are arranged.
What Is Crystallization?
To understand this better, let’s get to know the process of crystallization a little more. Crystallization happens when some substances transition from liquid to solid states. A liquid is a state of matter where the molecules of that substance flow freely around each other, not holding any particular pattern or structure in relation to each other.
When any kind of liquid transitions from a liquid to a solid state, the structure of the molecules of that substance becomes rigid, holding a fixed pattern. This is what happens when water freezes into ice. It is the same process that happens when rock crystals form deep beneath the Earth’s surface, but at a much lower temperature and over a much quicker period.
The Crystallization Process of a Snowflake
The atmospheric conditions as a snowflake falls to the Earth causes the crystal pattern to change. The crystallization of snowflakes is dynamic, meaning that it changes as the droplet falls from the sky and is subjected to changes in temperature, humidity, and wind speed. Due to the molecular properties of water, every snowflake is six-sided.
To illustrate the way that atmospheric conditions alter the shape of a snowflake let’s look at just one of these factors: air temperature. At -15 degrees Celsius, a snowflake’s arm forms plate-like, flat crystals. At -5 Celsius, on the other hand, long needle-like crystals form.
As a snowflake falls, it may encounter changing temperature conditions, leading to a combination of these crystal features. One of the most exciting features of the Snowflake Coin is the sparkling clear crystal at the center of the coin that glistens and reflects light just like freshly fallen snow on a winter morning. This crystal is at the center of a beautiful dendrite crystal snowflake on the reverse side. Dendrite means “tree-like”, and refers to the multi-branching shapes that many snowflake arms form.
Find the 2023 Hexagon Shaped Snowflake Coin at Colonial
All in all, the Royal Canadian Mint’s Snowflake Hexagon coin is nothing short of extraordinary. From its unique hexagon shape to the dazzling crystal snowflake featured on the reverse side, this piece of art will certainly make an impression. This coin is also a limited edition, so if you want to purchase it for yourself or as a collector’s item, remember to do so quickly before stocks deplete.
At Colonial Acres Coins, we provide an array of outstanding coins and our experts are ready to help you find something legendary. So don’t wait – buy the 2023 Snowflake Hexagon Coin today and experience a piece of fine Canadian numismatic history!