The Royal Canadian Mint has started accepting orders for another batch of new product releases. There are several new series offered by subscription, including a series showcasing the six different designs for the Canadian five-cent coin stuck in silver with gold plating. There are new releases within the ongoing series including Animal Eyes, Call of the Wild, Canadian Banknotes, and Small Animals. Finally, this year’s 1/2 oz silver Sugar Maple Leaves coin is available with a lower price and reduced mintage.
All of the new products can now be found within the new releases section of the Royal Canadian Mint’s website.
A new series available by subscription showcases the six different designs that have appeared on Canada’s five-cent coin. Each coin is struck in 1 troy ounce of 99.99% pure silver to proof quality with a 40 mm diameter to highlight the original design. The coins are also accented with selective gold plating.
The first coin of the series was featured on the 5-cent coin from 1911 to 1921. The reverse design by William Henry James Blakemore features a pair of crossed maple boughs, while the obverse features the 1911 effigy of George V, originally engraved by Sir E.B. MacKennal. Each coin of the series carries a mintage limit of 8,500 pieces.
Another new series available by subscription features five majestic animals painted on 1 oz 99.99% pure silver proof coins. The first coin features the Big-Horned Sheep against a landscape of Canada’s Rocky Mountains. The design is accentuated by color and multiple finishes. A mintage of 6,500 applies to each release of the series.
A third series available by subscription features North America’s favorite Sportfish. The coins are struck to proof quality in 1 oz of 99.99% pure silver. The first coin of the series features the Largemouth Bass, depicted emerging from the surface of the water. A variety of polishes have been used to enhance the scene and the coins feature edge lettering. Each release of the series carries a maximum mintage of 6,500 pieces.
A fourth new series available by subscription entitled “Canoe Across Canada” harkens back to the early days of Canada when European explorers experienced Canada by traveling in canoes. The coins are struck in 1/2 oz of 99.99% pure silver to proof quality. the first release depicts the Wondrous West. Each coin is limited to a mintage of 20,000 coins. The coins are displayed in a red canoe-shaped box.
A three coin set celebrates the art of Group of Seven member Franklin Carmichael, who helped to define a new Canadian style of landscape art in the 1920’s and 1930’s. The coins are issued to mark the 125th anniversary of the birth of the artist.
Each of the the three coins is struck in 99.99% pure silver to proof quality with a weight of 23.17 grams and diameter of 36.07 mm. The reverse designs feature engraved details from three famous works: The Upper Ottawa, near Mattawa (c. 1924), Cranberry Lake (c. 1934), and Landscape (c. 1925). The set carries a mintage limit of 7,000.
The second coin within the animal eyes series features a close up portrait of the cougar with its eyes highlighted in luminous turquoise colored enamel. The 1 kilo 99.99% pure silver coin carries a mintage of 500 pieces.
A one kilogram gold proof version is also available, limited to a mintage of just 10 pieces.
A 1 oz 99.999% gold proof coin takes focus on another aspect of the cougar, its fierce growl. The design features a profile portrait of the cougar with lines in the background representing its growl. This is the third release within the Call of the Wild series and is limited to a mintage of 250 pieces.
The fourth and final coin within the Canadian Banknote series features the vignette that appeared on the $5 note from Barclays Bank (Canada) in 1929, and was used on a number of denominations over the years. A female allegorical figure is pictured gazing at a globe with a winged disc in her hand, symbolic of the bank’s expansion into Canada. Each coin is struck in 99.99% pure silver to proof quality with a weight of 23.17 grams and diameter of 36.07 mm. The mintage is limited to 8,500 pieces.
The third release in the small animal series of one-half gram gold coins features the Rock Rabbit, also known as a “pika”. At 18 cm, the animal is the smallest member of the rabbit family. The 99.99% pure gold coin is struck to proof quality with a weight of 0.5 gram and diameter of 11mm. The mintage is limited to 10,000 pieces.
The 2015 1/2 oz Silver Sugar Maple Leaves coin features a lower price and mintage compared to the prior year. The design showcases four maple leaves of various sizes in a specimen finish. The coins carry a mintage of 25,000 pieces and are priced at $29.95 each.
The second release in a series featuring the different effigies of Queen Elizabeth II which have appeared on Canadian circulating coinage features a portrait created by British sculptor and artist Arnold Machin in 1964. The reverse design features the image of two sugar maple leaves. Each coin is struck in 99.99% pure gold with a reverse proof finish, weight of 7.8 grams, and diameter of 20 mm. The mintage is limited to 1,500 pieces.
On a very sad note, I have just learned that World Mint News Blog contributor Gabriel Bellman has lost his home in a fire. His articles here on the Mexican Libertads have been well received and provided us with a lot of great information. If you are interested, this campaign is raising money to help Gabriel and his family. http://www.gofundme.com/lhb33o
fmtransmitter says
If you can think of it, we will make a coin out of it! RCM policy…
fmtransmitter says
So sorry to hear about your loss Gabriel, my prayers are with you and yours…
G says
Thanks, FM! We will get through it- we are lucky it didn’t happen while we slept!