Posts Tagged ‘canada’
5 coins that show why collectors are turning to Canada…
Did you know today is Canada day? 148 years ago Canada became a country in its own right. Whilst the anniversary may be a bit of a stretch for us to celebrate, we can certainly appreciate the work of the Royal Canadian Mint over the last few years. Here are just 5 of my favourite coins, each of which demonstrates why Canada is now a world leader in numismatics…
A first for the Royal Canadian Mint… 
The beautiful detail of this coin makes it one of my favourites and is without a doubt a numismatic masterpiece. The 2015 5oz silver Maple Leaf is the first ever 5oz coin struck by the Royal Canadian Mint to feature a hologram. The maple leaf is the quintessential national symbol of Canada and this coin is the latest to be released as part of their popular annual 5oz Maple Leaf release. Each coins hologram has been individually struck directly onto the coin resulting in an extremely precise and detailed finish. 90% of the worldwide 1,500 edition limit has been sold already – which isn’t all that surprising considering it is 1,000 coins less than last years sell-out 5oz issue!
The start of a remarkable collecting story… 
Canada’s early history is one of exploration and discovery. This ‘Voyageur’ 3 coin set tells a truly fascinating story about Canada’s heritage and to me there is nothing better than owning a coin that depicts a significant part in the history of a country. The ‘Voyageur’ is the design that depicts Canada’s humble beginnings which was shaped by explorers and native aboriginals. This set pays special tribute to the iconic Canadian ‘Voyageur’ Dollar. An original 1935 dollar, the 75th anniversary issue, and the $20 for $20 canoe tribute are included in this 3 coin set. The edition limit for this special numismatic set is just 495 worldwide. This is testament to just how hard it is to acquire these three coins together.
The coin with a hidden message…
Just 495 limited edition sets were issued to mark the 70th Anniversary of VE Day. The set includes an original Victory nickel coin and the new 2015 5-Cent victory coin. The new 2015 5-cent coin is almost twice the size of the original and struck in pure silver with selective gold-plating. I consider these coins to feature one of the most interesting and carefully thought out designs. If you look closely you can see The Morse code has been carefully engraved around the edge of the reverse of the coins.
Cutting edge in coin security… 
Limited to 2,500, this coin is another example of the craftsmanship and design expertise of the Royal Canadian Mint. The Silver Maple Leaf coin is issued annually but not only does it radiate elegance, it sports an advanced micro engraved design that is only visible under magnification. The design is textured which enables the coin to achieve a light-diffracting effect, in my opinion this intensifies user experience. The illuminating effect this coin portrays makes it a stunning creation and offers the perfect mix of collectible beauty and investment appeal.
Already set to be the best selling coin of 2015…
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Canada’s Flag, so to celebrate the Royal Canadian Mint has increased the face value of their usual $20 coins to $25 and issued the design in full colour. The red and white Maple Leaf flag beautifully captures such an important anniversary for Canada and guarantees to increase interest for collectors of Canadian coins. The Fine Silver Canadian Flag Coin coin is already set to be the best selling coin of 2015 for the Royal Canadian Mint and limited to just 1,500 pieces, it is almost certain to be a sell-out.
These are just a handful of the fascinating coins issued by The Royal Canadian Mint, all of which differ in size, colour and age. It is a day like today that makes me appreciate the creativity and effort put into the coins issued by the Royal Canadian Mint since they were founded in 1908.
If you’re interested….
The Westminster Collection has limited stock of these issues available to order today.
Will our Penny be next?
Last week Canada became the latest country to bid farewell to its penny or 1 cent coin. Australia, Brazil and Sweden have already ditched theirs – the question is will the UK be next?
With over 11 billion in circulation according to latest Royal Mint figures, the humble penny accounts for nearly 40% of all Britain’s circulating coins. It is in fact our most common coin but when it costs more than a penny to make a penny, surely its days must be numbered?
Facing an uncertain future – Britain’s most common coin
Opinion is divided
Those in favour of getting rid of it say you can’t buy anything for a penny these days. True – the penny chews of my youth have now gone from our sweet shops. You can’t even ‘spend a penny’ anymore (that’ll cost you as much as 30p for the privilege). Put simply, 1p coins have no other function but to weigh down our purses and pockets.
But, in these tough times, every penny counts. Those against the move say there are plenty of people that still need the 1p and other small denomination coins. How many of us pop our loose change in charity collecting boxes when we’re out and about? They may be small amounts but they all add up.
A future collector’s item?
So it is probably fair to say that keeping hold of your old pennies is unlikely to make you rich. However, when they do finally disappear from our change (as is almost certain at some point), they are certain to remain an important part of Britain’s numismatic heritage for centuries to come.
Penny for them
Ultimately the “Master of the Mint” Chancellor George Osborne will make the final decision but what are your thoughts – should the penny stay or go?