Populariser of the face value silver coin format in recent years and despite being taken up by other mints like the Monnaie de Paris and the Royal Mint, the Royal Canadian Mint are the most enamoured of the concept judging by the amount of coins released. From $100, through $50 and $25, it’s the $20 for $20 coin that seems to be the most popular. Making a break from the Canada-centric nature/history themes of previous years, 2015 has seen a more varied selection, from the first coloured coin (albeit at $25), through a Womens World Cup coin, and now on to the strangest, and best coin to date, Bugs Bunny.
We’ve already made clear our love for the RCM’s new Looney Tunes range, the best licensed numismatic release to date bar none, but another coin has sneaked out to add to the 19 commemoratives issued earlier this month and it’s one that almost all collectors should be able to afford. There must have been a temptation to save the weakest art for this coin knowing the rest were to sell at a premium, but Looney Tunes is such a staggeringly rich vein of iconic characters and imagery, we’re not sure there’s such a thing as weak art. It’s certainly not the case here, with a really cool image of everyone’s favourite rabbit, and I’m saying that as someone that had to witness rabbit showjumping last weekend!!
A classic portrait of Bugs Bunny, beautifully done with a shadow to give it faux-3D look, this one is a real must buy in our opinion. As usual, the really annoying limitation of US and Canadian buyers only is in place, but it isn’t too hard to pick these up on the secondary market with, we hope, minimal price gouging. Supplied in a card sleeve with an un-numbered Certificate of Authenticity, it’s a great package for the money.
The Royal Canadian Mint should take something from this. More coins like this Looney Tunes range and less Maple Leaf variants please. It’s a world market and you’re a big player so lets see some subject expansion. You’re clearly good at it.
BUGS BUNNY
Bugs Bunny is an animated cartoon character, created by the staff of Leon Schlesinger Productions (later Warner Bros. Cartoons) and voiced originally by the “Man of a Thousand Voices,” Mel Blanc. Bugs is best known for his starring roles in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of animated short films, produced by Warner Bros. during the golden age of American animation. His popularity during this era led to his becoming an American cultural icon, as well as a corporate mascot of Warner Bros. Entertainment.
Bugs is an anthropomorphic gray hare or rabbit who is famous for his flippant, insouciant personality, a pronounced New York accent, his portrayal as a trickster, and his catch phrase “Eh… What’s up, doc?”, usually said while chewing a carrot. Though Warner Bros. first began experimenting with a rabbit character in cartoons during the late 1930s, the definitive character of Bugs Bunny is widely considered to have made his debut in director Tex Avery’s Oscar-nominated film A Wild Hare (1940).
Since his debut, Bugs has appeared in various short films, feature films, compilations, TV series, music records, comic books, video games, award shows, amusement park rides and commercials. He has also appeared in more films than any other cartoon character, is the ninth most-portrayed film personality in the world, and has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
(Source: Wikipedia)
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SPECIFICATION
| DENOMINATION | COMPOSITION | WEIGHT | DIAMETER | FINISH | MINTAGE | BOX / COA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20 CAD | 0.9999 SILVER | 7.96 g | 27.00 mm | SPECIMEN | 350,000 | CARD / YES |
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