Coverage of another bumper release run from the Royal Canadian Mint continues with a look at coins marking events important to Canadians. The big event is next years huge anniversary; 150 years since Canada was confederated in the British North America Act. As you probably guessed, the maple leaf is the symbolic subject of choice and it manifests in a four gold coin set, all of which have some selective platinum plating. All four have platinum plated rims, with the largest coin (1 oz) having the maple leaf picked out as well. It’s a little hard to get excited about more maples, but these are a touch different and the packaging is cool. Priced at $3,999.95.

More Maple Leaf coins next, this time in silver but with another difference. Sold as a set of four, each 11.85 g coin is square, but when laid together form a single image. It’s quite a nice idea and the set looks good. It’s up for $204.95 and comes in a larger version of the mints usual burgundy snapper case.

Next up are a pair of coins commemorating the Indian festival of Diwali. The RCM has released Diwali coins before and these are fine designs. The silver has the edge for us, but both should have great appeal for followers of the festival. They’re almost like simpler, more affordable versions of the Art Mints superb Mandala coins. The silver is $91.95, and the beautifully boxed one-ounce gold is $2799.95.

Last up is the latest birthstone coin. We’ve found it hard to get excited about these, but they are very much for the gift market so we’re perhaps being unfair. The design is nice enough, but every month it remains the same with the exception of the embedded Swarovski crystal. Last months was blue to represent blue sapphire, this month green, representing opal. Price remains at $49.95.

All the coins below are available to order now from the Royal Canadian Mints website, or from their numerous dealers worldwide, all of whom will be much more eager to sell to people outside the US and Canada.

The coins in this set fit together like pieces of a puzzle, much like the many cultures that have come together to form one of the most culturally rich nations in the world. The resulting maple leaf is the perfect theme—as one of Canada’s best-known symbols, it’s an iconic image people of all cultures can relate to!

DESIGN: In a unique twist, each of the four coins in this set feature a portion of a reverse design by Canadian artist Celia Godkin. Highly detailed engraving recreates the stunning natural beauty of the sugar maple leaf (Acer saccharum), as it would appear in a natural setting. From the leaf’s softly wavy edges to the deep veins that run through each lobe, the fine details infuse this design with a life-like sense of depth, dimension and texture.

The unparalleled craftsmanship is stunning on each individual coin but together, the four reverse images form the powerful image of a complete maple leaf, which is a touching celebration of Canada and all that defines it. Also engraved on the reverse are the purity “FINE SILVER 1/4 OZ ARGENT PUR 9999”, the word “CANADA” and the year “2017”. The obverse features the face value “3 DOLLARS” and the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth by Susanna Blunt.

The British North America Act of 1867 is a key marker for Canadian history, for it represents the momentous birth of a nation. To commemorate the historic 150th anniversary of Confederation, the Royal Canadian Mint celebrates the journey of a nation that is proud, strong and free, with a commemorative fractional set featuring a beloved national emblem: the maple leaf.

DESIGN: All four coins feature a reverse design by Canadian artist Lisa Thomson-Khan that celebrates Canada’s 150th anniversary through a natural portrait of a Canadian icon. A single engraved leaf from a red maple tree (Acer rubrum) gently falls upon a bed of leaves against the reverse proof background. The leaf is lovingly brought to life in impeccable detail, with meticulously engraved veins that run through each lobe towards the leaf’s serrated edge.

The first-time application of platinum plating creates a pleasing contrast against the gold background, while adding an unexpected shine to the magnificent leaf on the 1 oz. coin and to the rim of each coin. The reverse on all four coins also include the engraved word “CANADA”, the commemorative dates “1867-2017” and the purity, which has been struck incuse.

Celebrated by over 1.2 million Indo-Canadians, Diwali is a dazzling five-day festival of feasts, music and sights! Its overarching theme of spiritual light, and the triumph of good over evil, makes Diwali a shining reflection of the beauty of Canada’s cultural diversity—a notion that is at the heart of this fine coin, whose ornate design seemingly radiates with the joyous spirit that prevails during the Festival of Lights.

SILVER DESIGN: Inspired by the elaborate patterns of Indian textiles, ornamentation and mandalas, the reverse design by Canadian artist Sarindar Dhaliwal presents a visually stunning celebration of Diwali as a cherished multicultural tradition in several communities across Canada. The outermost ring offers a Canadian twist on the patterned inlay that famously adorns the Taj Mahal, using intricately engraved trilliums and Pacific dogwood blossoms to represent Canada’s largest Indo-Canadian populations in Toronto, Ont., and Vancouver, B.C. Alongside these provincial floral emblems is Canada’s own iconic national symbol, the maple leaf, which reflects a spirit of inclusion and the thriving cultural diversity that defines this nation. Symbols from the Hindu, Sikh and Jain faiths form a series of rings that frame the centre, where the silvery shine of the engraved clay lamp (diya) poignantly captures the luminous essence of this ancient tradition known as the Festival of Lights. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

GOLD DESIGN: The reverse design by Canadian artist Meera Sethi is inspired by the colourful Indian folk art of Rangoli, which traditionally adorns entrances and floors during Diwali. Within the geometric and floral-inspired pattern lie numerous cultural symbols that represent the “Festival of Lights” as a cherished multi-ethnic celebration—one that is very much at home in Canada, where it is celebrated by Indo-Canadians across the country. Roughly 51% of Indo-Canadians reside in the Greater Toronto Area, while Vancouver is home to Canada’s second-largest population; these important communities are represented by each province’s official floral emblem: the trillium and the Pacific dogwood, respectively. Key spiritual symbols—such as those associated with Sikhism and Jainism—surround a ring of clay diya, which light up homes and hearts during Diwali. The most widely known Canadian symbol, the beloved maple leaf, forms an inner ring around the sacred symbol “OM”—that eternal sound of creation—which is positioned in the centre to release spiritual energy in all directions. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

Sparkling in a dizzying array of colours, gemstones are believed to have heightened attributes during the month they represent. This monthly series offers a cross-cultural celebration of the powerful, symbolic beauty of birthstones, which are each as distinct and unique as those who cherish them!

DESIGN: The reverse design by Three Degrees Creative Group is both visually compelling and richly symbolic, with a thoughtful melding of traditional and contemporary design elements. In the background, a beautifully engraved lotus pattern fills the reverse in a modern take on the blooms that traditionally symbolize purity of the heart and mind. A majestic, mid-relief dragon is brought to life through intricate engraving that recreates it in extraordinary detail; its presence also carries a strong meaning, as the dragon is a time-honoured symbol of power, strength and good luck in Asian mythology.

Above it, a traditional circular motif bears a Swarovski crystal embellishment that represents opal, the birthstone for October, which is said to bring faithfulness and confidence to those born in the month. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.