We seem to say this every month, but it’s another bumper release run from the Royal Canadian Mint. A broad mix of gold, silver and platinum coins, some gilded and some coloured, the subjects cover aspects history and nature.

There are continuations of several series like the Canadian Songbirds, First World War Battlefront and North American Sportfish sets. The ten-coin Exploring Canada series comes to an end with the release of ‘Space Exploration’, the final coin. Platinum gets an uncharacteristic look in with two $3k releases, one depicting a sportfish and the other, surprise-surprise, a Maple Leaf, although this one is even rarer due to selective gilding. We’ve already covered the FIFA Womens World Cup range that also debuted today.

Highlights for us are the Songbird and Battlefront coins, both nice designs, especially the latter with its historic obverse effigy. The Allied Gold coin looks good, even if it does have another maple leaf on it. All are available to order today from the link at the bottom of the article.

CANADIAN SONGBIRD: MAGNOLIA WARBLER

MINTS DESCRIPTION

With its black and yellow colouring, the magnolia warbler (Setophaga magnolia) instantly adds to the beauty of its surroundings as it cheerfully sings from the safety of the surrounding trees. From Newfoundland and Labrador to British Columbia, this small songbird is a welcome summer resident of Canada’s forests and is forever immortalized in this coloured fine silver coin.

DESIGN: The reverse design by Canadian artist Hélène Girard offers the viewer a side-profile portrait of the magnolia warbler. The warbler’s distinctive colouring is faithfully recreated through the use of selective colour, which beautifully showcases the bird’s black-streaked yellow underparts with its white-banded black tail and wing. Its sharp, black beak is open as the songbird releases a series of clear whistles from its perch in a plum tree, which fills the background on the left side of the design. $64.95

FUTURE RELEASES: The Blue Jay (05 May), The Baltimore Oriole (02 June), The Violet-green Swallow (07 July)

THE SECOND BATTLE OF YPRES

MINTS DESCRIPTION

On April 22, 1915, near the Belgian town of Ypres, the First Canadian Division would participate in its first major engagement of the First World War. But the day would mark another, more tragic first: it would be the scene of the first large-scale gas attack on the battlefield. Amidst the horrors of the chlorine gas attack on the Allies, Canada’s reputation as a nation began to be forged on the battlefield through the dedication, courage and resilience of its soldiers. With this coin, the Royal Canadian Mint pays tribute to their sacrifice and bravery by commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Second Battle of Ypres.

DESIGN: The reverse design by Canadian artist Silvia Pecota transports the viewer to the front line near Ypres, and into the trenches in the thick of the battle. A Canadian soldier stands in the foreground; manned with a bayonet, his Ross rifle is raised as the soldier scopes the advancing enemy. Behind him, one man is crouched down as he tends to his rifle, which has jammed from the rapid rate of fire. Another leans against the sandbags as he fires upon the enemy. To the right, a soldier has pulled his handkerchief up over his nose in an attempt to protect himself against the burning effects of the green-yellow cloud that bore down on the Allies. It is a telling reminder of the great perils faced by the men of the First Canadian Division. The lower portion of this poignant image is framed by a banner; in its centre, selective gold plating showcases the winged figure of “Victory,” as it appeared on the Victory Medal that was awarded to the allied soldiers of the First World War. $109.95

PREVIOUS RELEASE: First World War Battlefront Series – The Battle of Neuve-Chapelle

NORTH AMERICAN SPORTFISH: WALLEYE

MINTS DESCRIPTION

The third release in the Royal Canadian Mint’s exciting new series of 99.99% pure silver coins celebrating Canadian sportfish features the darkness-loving walleye.

DESIGN: The reverse design by Canadian artist Curtis Atwater presents a portrait of a walleye in pursuit of its prey. Facing the viewer, the fish lunges toward two shiners on the rocky bottom of a body of water. Its sharp teeth, large mouth and eyes, and spiny front dorsal fin are showcased to stunning effect as its tail arcs to the right side of the image. $99.95

FUTURE RELEASES: Rainbow Trout (05 May)

CANADIAN NICKEL: THE VICTORY

MINTS DESCRIPTION

Throughout its history, each of the nickel’s transformations provides a glimpse of a young nation that was seeking to define itself and of a Mint that would quickly come into its own. This Legacy of the Canadian Nickel series is a retrospective look at the history of 5-cent coins minted by the Royal Canadian Mint; it continues with the Victory-themed design used from 1943 to 1945 to promote Canada’s war effort during the Second World War.

DESIGN: The reverse design recreates Thomas Shingle’s 1943 Victory design of Canada’s 5-cent coin. The master engraver’s original design is recreated and enhanced with multiple finishes, an updated bilingual Morse code message and selective gold plating. Double the size of its original, this replica allows the viewer to glimpse the intricately engraved flaming torch in the centre, which represents the sacrifice made by Canadians at home and on the battlefields of the Second World War. Behind it, the “V” has a double meaning as both a representation of Sir Winston Churchill’s famous V for Victory sign and as the Roman number for the coin’s face value. Two maple leaves stand on either side of the V. Along the original coin’s 12 flat edges, the rallying cry “We Win When We Work Willingly” was engraved in Morse code and has been replicated here along this coin’s round rim updated to also include the message in French; also engraved on the reverse are the word “CANADA” and the year “2015”. The obverse features the effigy of King George VI, who was the reigning monarch at the time of the Victory coin’s first issue by Thomas Humphrey. $109.95

FUTURE RELEASES: The Identification of Nickel (05 May), The Centennial (02 June), The Beaver (07 July)

PLATINUM SPORTFISH: RAINBOW TROUT

MINTS DESCRIPTION

The second of two premium releases in the North American Sportfish series is the beautiful Rainbow Trout.

DESIGN: The reverse design by Canadian artist Curtis Atwater 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. $2999.95

ALLIED GOLD

MINTS DESCRIPTION

The harrowing 1940 rescue of Norway’s national treasury from the grasp of Nazi invaders to safekeeping in Canada is one of the most intriguing escape stories of the Second World War. This beautifully designed 99.99% pure gold coin commemorates the unwavering heroism of those who fought and celebrates the coming together of Allied nations at one of the world’s darkest hours.

DESIGN: The reverse image by Canadian artist Joel Kimmel presents the route taken by the Norwegian gold to Canada by way of England. This coin’s symbolically rich reverse design is layered over a stylized map showing northern Europe, the Atlantic, and eastern Canada. Four stars mark strategic regions of gold movement from Europe to Canada during the war, including Norway, England, France, and Canada. Engraved over the map is a maple leaf whose left side is from a Canadian sugar maple and whose right side is from a Norway maple. The reverse is also engraved with the bilingual commemorative text “THE ALLIED GOLD/L’OR DES ALLIÉS” and “75 YEARS/ANS” and the word “CANADA.” $649.95

EXPLORING CANADA: SPACE EXPLORATION

MINTS DESCRIPTION

As long as there have been people on Earth, there have been explorers—pioneering individuals with one eye trained on the horizon, eager to know what lies beyond, and always ready to break a new trail towards the future. But their adventure never ends, because every destination inspires another. Exploration—that irrepressible spirit of discovery—fuels the life and passion of individuals. It drives the evolution of their community, and ultimately shapes the future of their nation.

DESIGN: Canadian artist John Mantha has created a dynamic design celebrating Canada’s role in space with a quintessential image of modern space exploration—two astronauts on a spacewalk outside the Space Shuttle. Orbiting high above the Earth, they are making repairs to the Hubble Telescope with the assistance of the Canadarm. This robotic arm is arguably Canada’s most iconic space contribution to date, and leads the viewer’s eye into the coin’s design.” $54.95

PLATINUM MAPLE LEAF FOREVER

MINTS DESCRIPTION

For much of Canada’s history, a singular image has symbolized this land and its people: the maple leaf. Popularized in songs and stories, on pins, flags, arms, badges, banknotes and coins, the glorious maple leaf is captured here in stunning 99.95% pure platinum with selective gold plating.

DESIGN: This $300 proof-finish coin is certified to be 99.95% pure platinum with a diameter of 30 millimetres and a weight of 31.16 grams. The reverse design by Canadian artist Michelle Grant features a single gold-plated sugar maple leaf engraved in pure platinum. The outer frame of the reverse is engraved with the words “CANADA” and “PLATINUM 1 OZ PLATINE” as well as the purity standard “9995” and the date “2015.” The coin features edge lettering indicating its unique number in the 2015 series of 250 coins. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt as well as the face value of “300 DOLLARS.” $2999.95