Here’s a look at the bulk of the May release run from the Royal Canadian Mint that we’ve not covered yet. We’ve already posted about the superb Looney Tunes coins, all nineteen of them, in an earlier article, but this mint often pumps out in excess of twenty coins a month so it’s relatively easy for them to offer a broad mix of styles and themes.

For me personally it hasn’t been a stellar month outside of Looney Tunes, and some of these have a lot of colouring although those where restraint has been shown are very well done. There’s one with Swarovski crystals embedded within it which has a nice basic design, but is compromised by the crystals we think. The Maple of Prosperity is a great coin and we maintain that the American Sportfish series have amongst the very best natural representations of fish on them we’ve seen on a coin. Quite a mix so there’s something you’ll probably like here.

As an aside, we’ve noticed the mint listing many more coins as having availability in Canada and US only. We understand that for releases like Looney Tunes and the Superman coins where licencing comes into play, but songbird, fish and canoe coins? It’s possibly just a web template error, but that’s not a good development if true. We’ll try to clear up why.

MAPLE OF PROSPERITY

The seventh coin in the Asian-themed Maple Hologram series, it’s a nice design with an inspiration similar to the NZ Mint’s Feng Shui Koi coin. At $98.88 it’s not hugely expensive compared to a lot of their 1oz silver coins, especially considering the inset hologram.

DESIGN: Fish have long represented “abundance” or “surplus” due to their similarly pronounced characters; and as a prolific producer of eggs, the carp is a particularly auspicious symbol with its character’s pronunciation resembling that of “profit” and “power.”

In a lucky grouping of three, carp are beautifully depicted on your coin’s reverse as they jump out of the water (in itself symbolic of continuous abundance), which is represented by a repetitive pattern of rippling water that frames the reverse image. This thoughtful, intricate design by Canadian artist Albert Ng expresses the notion of “gaining profits in succession” and also features a beautiful hologram of a maple leaf that celebrates Canada’s Chinese communities.

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION $20 CND
COMPOSITION 31.39 g of 0.9999 silver
SIZE / FINISH 38.0 mm Proof
MINTAGE 8,888
ARTIST Albert Ng
BOX / COA Yes / Yes

COAST SHORE PINE

The second coin in the eight issue series ‘Forests of Canada’, it’s another pretty nice design with some well restrained colouring. $99.95.

DESIGN: Designed by Canadian artist Margaret Best, the coin features the Coast Forest’s distinct intersection of ocean, mountains and forest with a detail of the Shore Pine, just one of many captivating tree species found in this unique forest. The Shore Pine’s features have been beautifully crafted in colour to highlight the deeply textured surface of the cones and the long, slender and twisted needles that cover the branch.

The large cone in the foreground has partially opened to disperse seeds while two more closed seed cones (female) can be seen on the branch immediately behind it. At the tip of the branch, smaller, pollen (male) cones can be seen among the needles. In the background, two logs lie on the edge of a rocky shore. One can see across the water to the other bank where dense forest fills every available space and mountains linger in the distance.

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION $20 CND
COMPOSITION 31.39 g of 0.9999 silver
SIZE / FINISH 38.0 mm Proof
MINTAGE 8,500
ARTIST Margaret Best
BOX / COA Yes / Yes

BLACK-EYED SUSAN

The sixth coin in a series featuring Canadian flowers decorated with crystals. The basic design is very bold and clean, but the Swarovski crystals are distracting and not integrated well. It’s hard to incorporate these crystals successfully and we’re not fans here.

DESIGN: Designed by Canadian artist Laurie Koss, your coin recreates the golden beauty of the Rudbeckia hirta or black-eyed Susan, as viewed from the front and just slightly above the flower. Like the spokes of a wheel, 12 bright yellow petals spread out from the prominent, dark brown centre cone as though each is embracing the summer sunshine after a light summer rain.

This large, daisy-like blossom stands atop a terminal shoot, with a smooth-edged, dark green leaf growing outwards from the left side of the green stem. Detailed engraving beautifully recreates the leaf’s deep veins and the folds of each colourful petal; of these, three are adorned with a sparkling crystal-coloured Swarovski® element that recreates the appearance of dew drops clinging to the black-eyed Susan’s petals.

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION $20 CND
COMPOSITION 31.39 g of 0.9999 silver
SIZE / FINISH 38.0 mm Proof
MINTAGE 10,000
ARTIST Laurie Koss
BOX / COA Yes / Yes

SPORTFISH: RAINBOW TROUT

The last of four coins in the ‘American Sportfish’ series, it’s been a good one with some quite dynamic portrayals of various fish, something not often managed with fish and coins. $99.95.

DESIGN: Designed by Canadian artist Curtis Atwater, your coin presents a portrait of a rainbow trout in its natural habitat. The image centres around the rainbow trout, viewed from its left side. The front of its body is angled toward the viewer while its tail curls behind it and to the left in the background. This presentation highlights the trout’s unique torpedo-shaped body with small head, characteristic speckling, and shaded stripe along its side. The fish hovers near a fallen tree branch, which fills the background, in a shallow, gravel-bottomed river.

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION $20 CND
COMPOSITION 31.39 g of 0.9999 silver
SIZE / FINISH 38.0 mm Proof
MINTAGE 6,500
ARTIST Curtis Atwater
BOX / COA Yes / Yes

UNESCO: BUFFALO PANDA

The second in the ‘UNESCO: At Home and Abroad’ this one features Wood Buffalo National Park and Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries. This series is also turning out to be a good one and at $89.95, it’s a little cheaper than most of the RCM’s 1 oz silver coins.

DESIGN: Designed by Canadian artist Lauren Crawshaw, your coin features side-by-side portraits of a bison and a giant panda, each in its own natural habitat. On the left side of the image, a bison stands with its low-slung rump curving behind its massive shoulders. Its shaggy, horned head is lowered as it regards the viewer with its right eye. The bison stands on a grassy plain, its brethren visible in the distance behind it.

On the right side of the image, a giant panda is seated in the crook of a tree, looking at the viewer. Seen from its left side, the panda’s renowned black and white markings are rendered through expert engraving. In the foreground is a stand of bamboo. In the distance behind the panda are the mountains of southeastern China. The two scenes are bisected by the curving trunk of the tree upon which the panda sits.

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION $20 CND
COMPOSITION 31.39 g of 0.9999 silver
SIZE / FINISH 38.0 mm Proof
MINTAGE 7,500
ARTIST Lauren Cramshaw
BOX / COA Yes / Yes

MISTY MORNING MULE DEER

A heavily coloured design, but a fine piece of art, if this is your thing you’ll have no complaints. It’s shown as sold out on the mints website, but dealers will have them we’d imagine. $99.95.

DESIGN: The reverse image by Canadian artist Trevor Tennant recreates the breathtaking colours of an autumn morning in one of western Canada’s many forests. Here, a male and female mule deer have made their way to lower elevations where they have entered a foothills meadow to forage. The early morning light creates a blue cast on the misty scenery, softening the vibrant autumn colours of the surrounding foliage.

In the foreground, the buck stands tall and attentive to any sound, turning its head to the left, while a doe follows behind in the background; with the annual rutting season soon approaching, this male’s swollen neck and large rack already contribute to its imposing stature, making him the dominant male within his territory. Adding a beautiful overlay of colour to the engraved design allows the viewer to glimpse the mule deer’s distinctive characteristics, from the dark tan-coloured fur with white patches on its throat and face, to the long black-rimmed ears and the buck’s forked antlers.

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION $20 CND
COMPOSITION 31.39 g of 0.9999 silver
SIZE / FINISH 38.0 mm Proof
MINTAGE 6,500
ARTIST Curtis Atwater
BOX / COA Yes / Yes

ADVERTISEMENTS

icon
iconicon
iconicon
icon

BLESSINGS OF PROSPERITY

Also the seventh coin in the series, these lotus-shaped gold coins depict Chinese cultural symbolism. At $988.88 for a third of an ounce, it’s not cheap however

DESIGN: The design by Canadian artist Simon Ng confers upon the owner a blessing for prosperity. In the centre of the image stands one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac: the ox. Long used in agriculture and for heavy tasks, this animal’s patience and hard work are believed to result in success; it is also a spring emblem that represents a bountiful harvest for the year ahead, with an accumulation of wealth.

Here, this auspicious symbol is an image of strength as it steadily moves along the landscape; its belt of five coins is particularly fitting given that coins represent money (and thus, prosperity), while the number “5” is associated with blessings for a balanced life. To the left of the ox, the Chinese symbol conveys the blessing for a “prosperous” year ahead.

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION $150 CND
COMPOSITION 10.4 g of 0.99999 gold
SIZE / FINISH 22.5 mm Proof
MINTAGE 888
ARTIST Simon Ng
BOX / COA Yes / Yes

JADE POLAR BEAR

A clean-struck coin with a jade insert, it’s an unusual design choice and one we don’t think wholly works, but they have their fans. $114.95.

DESIGN: The reverse image by Canadian artist Cindy Deborah Sorley-Keichinger features a truly Arctic scene, one that tells the story of several of the Canadian North’s animal residents. In the foreground, a jade polar bear and her two engraved cubs have made their way to the tip of the ice pack. The stunning jade insert naturally draws the focus to the mother bear, who has turned her attention away from her cubs to look to the horizon beyond the image field.

Behind them, two whales show their tails in the vast expanse of the largely iceless waters—save for a few awe-inspiring icebergs in the background. The polar bear’s two cubs carry on, somewhat playfully; while the smaller cub rests, its sibling takes the opportunity to explore its surroundings. Coming nose-to-nose with a seal pup, the polar bear cub’s curious glance is particularly poignant: neither cub nor pup fully grasp yet that as adults, they will be at odds in their roles as the hunter and the hunted in the polar chain of survival.

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION $20 CND
COMPOSITION 31.39 g of 0.9999 silver
SIZE / FINISH 38.0 mm Proof
MINTAGE 6,500
ARTIST
Cindy Deborah Sorley-Keichinger
BOX / COA Yes / Yes

MOONLIGHT FIREFLIES

Big coin and lots of colour sum up this one. Featuring glow in the dark technology in quite a clever way, it’s another one showing as sold out at the mints website so obviously coloured coins remain popular. $189.95

DESIGN: The entire reverse image by Canadian artist Ervin Molnar combines rich colours and detailed engraving to recreate the beauty of a moonlit night in the Canadian wilderness. Twilight brings tranquility to the forest, where a canoe has brought campers to rest along the shore for the night. There is an added element of magic in the warm night air as fireflies take flight and intermittently light up the darkness.

In the foreground, two fireflies can be viewed up close and in great detail, with colour recreating their delicate wings and markings along their abdomens. But the full effect of the coin is best viewed in the dark after placing it in a light source for 30 to 60 seconds; photo-luminescent technology transports the viewer into the coin’s campsite by recreating the only sources of light: the enchanting spark of light emitted by the fireflies, along with the campfire’s amber flames and the bright full moon that are reflected on the still surface of the water.

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION $30 CND
COMPOSITION 62.7 g of 0.999 silver
SIZE / FINISH 54.0 mm Proof
MINTAGE 4,000
ARTIST
Ervin Molnar
BOX / COA Yes / Yes

SERENE SCENE

The fourth of six coins in the Canoe Across Canada set, the final two coming on 02 June and 07 July. The packaging on this set is particularly cool with a miniature canoe display unit capable of holding all six coins. $44.95.

DESIGN: Paddling a canoe along a tree-lined shore in the heart of the wilderness: it’s an iconic Canadian moment that captures Canada’s unique history and Canadians’ connection to their vast land. The Royal Canadian Mint proudly celebrates the Canadian experience with its exciting new “Canoe Across Canada” subscription.

SPECIFICATION
DENOMINATION $10 CND
COMPOSITION 15.87 g of 0.9999 silver
SIZE / FINISH 34.0 mm Proof
MINTAGE 20,000
ARTIST Greg Banning
BOX / COA Yes / Yes
iconicon