As we’ve come to expect, the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) have another bumper month of new releases. We’ve already covered the Singing Moon Mask range and the new Battlefront sets that have debuted, and we’ll have a post up tomorrow with all the new additions to the RCM’s multitude of ongoing series. Here we have the coins that round out the month, both one-offs and new starts.

Nature forms a big chunk of the Royal Canadian Mints output and the new Colourful Songbirds of Canada five-coin series looks a fine one. Featuring coloured birds on a clean-struck background, the next four coins launch monthly. A gold version of the new Largemouth Bass coin from last month has also been announced and is quite a rare beast with a mintage limited to 300.

The second of the three ‘Call of the Wild’ coins has launched in the half-kilo format in both gold and silver. With only 25 gold coins being available and a great design, this could be a sleeper for the 1%.

There’s a fine-looking hologram Maple coin that weighs in at a hologram record of five-ounces and another quite strange looking First Nations coin entitled ‘Mother Feeding Baby’. It’s a colourful piece, and with a mintage of 10,000, clearly the RCM thinks it will be a good seller.

All are available for pre-order now from the Royal Canadian Mint website and clicking one of the RCM logos here will take you to the RCM New Releases page and any purchase you make will give AgAuNEWS a little boost as well.

COLOURFUL SONGBIRDS 01: NORTHERN CARDINAL

MINTS DESCRIPTION

With its brilliant red plumage and a distinctive crest atop its head, the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) easily draws attention to itself wherever it is found. From southern Manitoba east to the Atlantic provinces, the beloved cardinal is one of many colourful songbird species that are testament to the inspiring beauty of nature in Canada.

DESIGN: The reverse design by Canadian artist Derek C. Wicks features a beautiful rendition of a northern cardinal in a tranquil setting. Finely detailed engraving showcases this songbird’s distinctive features – from the pointed crest atop its head to its thick, short bill, as well as the soft feathers that lead to its tail. The use of selective colouring recreates the northern cardinal’s brilliant red plumage viewed in three-quarter profile, as the bird sits nestled amidst engraved leaves and flower blossoms.

The next four coins are The Magnolia Warbler (07/04), The Blue Jay (05/05), The Baltimore Oriole (02/06) and the Violet-green Swallow (07/07). A cool custom-illustrated box is available with the fifth coin free to subscribers.

NORTH AMERICAN SPORTFISH 01: LARGEMOUTH BASS

MINTS DESCRIPTION

The first of two premium releases in the North American Sportfish series is the Largemouth Bass. This feisty fish is popular with anglers of all ages, and found throughout North American lakes and rivers.

The second will feature the Rainbow Trout struck in stunning platinum!

DESIGN: The reverse design by Canadian artist Curtis Atwater presents a dynamic portrait of a largemouth bass leaping from a tree-lined lake. Viewed from its right front side with its tail arching to the right, the largemouth seems to hover above the lake below. The large mouth from which it gets its common name is open wide, displaying its strong lower jaw. The fish’s shimmering scales, delicate fins and bony dorsal fin, along with the water spraying from it as it leaps, are engraved in vibrant detail. In the distant background, the shore is lined in tall conifers.

FIRST NATIONS ART: MOTHER FEEDING BABY

MINTS DESCRIPTION

DESIGN: Celebrated Kwaguilth artist Richard Hunt has crafted a powerful and engaging design of a mother eagle feeding a minnow to her nestling when she notices the father arriving overhead with a huge salmon in his talons. To the left of the mother is the nestling, its mouth wide open and eager for food.

GROWLING COUGAR HALF-KILO COINS

MINTS DESCRIPTION

The cougar is one of Canada’s most powerful, elusive, and beautiful predators. This silent hunter is the perfect subject for the second coin in the Royal Canadian Mint’s “Call of the Wild” 3-coin series

DESIGN: The reverse design by Canadian artist Pierre Leduc presents a profile portrait of a cougar in a natural setting. Surrounded by the coniferous forests of the Rocky Mountains, this muscular predator cuts an impressive figure; detailed engraving recreates the cougar’s distinctive features, from its strong jaw line to its delicate whiskers and soft fur. The elusive hunter is depicted with its jaw open in mid-growl, as it releases its thrillingly drawn-out call to the wild.

LUSTROUS MAPLE LEAVES

MINTS DESCRIPTION

More than any other symbol, it’s the maple leaf that says “Canada” to the world. Just as it takes thousands of leaves to create a tree and transform sunlight into life-giving energy; it takes countless individuals to form a community and transform their individual skills, cultures and ideas into a nation of freedom, prosperity and joy.

First-ever 5 oz. silver coin to feature a hologram, the hologram is struck directly on the coin, an extremely precise and technically demanding process.

DESIGN: Canadian artist Michelle Grant has created a show-stopper of a coin design to showcase the maple leaf, Canada’s quintessential national symbol. Two holographic leaves shine from the coin’s centre in a range of colours as they reflect golden hues of sunlight; while individual leaves engraved along the coin’s perimeter form a ring with the inscriptions “Canada“, “2015” and “50 dollars”.