Following the success of their “$20 for $20″ silver coin program, the Royal Canadian Mint has launched a new series which uses the same concept for a larger face value.

Orders are now being accepted for the first “$100 for $100″ silver coin, which is the initial release for the Wildlife in Motion series. The RCM indicates this is the first time in history that $100 can buy a coin worth $100.

The reverse of the coin designed by Claudio D’Angelo features three members of a herd of stampeding bison racing across the grassy prairie. The bison are pictured in profile, illustrating the movement and momentum of the massive creatures. The background shows foothills which are backed by a jagged mountain with clouds above. The inscriptions read “Canada 2013″ and the legal tender face value of “$100 Dollars”.

The obverse of the coin features the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II designed by Susanna Blunt.

The 2013 $100 for $100 Bison Silver Coin is struck in 99.99% pure silver with a weight of 31.6 grams (1.016 troy ounces) and diameter of 40 mm. The maximum mintage is limited to 50,000 pieces with a limit of three coins per household.

These coins are available for sale priced at their face value of $100 CAD. The product page can be found here.

Comparisons to $20 for $20 Silver Coins

The Royal Canadian Mint has released eight coins under the “$20 for $20″ program.

The $20 silver coins are struck in 99.99% silver with a weight of 7.96 grams (0.256 troy ounces). The new $100 silver coins are struck in 99.99% purity with a weight of 31.6 grams (1.016 troy ounces). This represents less silver content proportional to the face value when compared to the $20 coins. Five times the weight of the $20 coin would have been 39.8 grams.

The diameter of the $20 coins is 27 mm compared to a diameter of 40 mm for the $100 coins.

The finishes of the coins differ. For the $20 coins, a specimen finish is used, compared to a matte proof finish for the $100 coins.

The $20 coins have carried mintage limits of 250,000 each. The $100 coins carry a mintage limit of one-fifth the amount at 50,000 pieces. Both programs have imposed a limit of three coins per household.

The Royal Canadian Mint recently issued their 2012 Annual Report. I have previously provided a summary of overall results in this article. For this post, I wanted to specifically explore aspects of their numismatic segment which delivered stellar performance, achieving the highest revenue in the Mint’s history.

The recent success of the RCM’s numismatic segment is clearly no accident. The results are driven by an increase in product offerings which span a wide range of price points, low mintage levels which foster frequent sell outs, and targeted initiatives which have been very successful at attracting new customers. On top of these strategic factors are well conceived, often exceptionally designed, and frequently innovative coins which capture the enthusiasm of a growing base of collectors.

The numismatic and collectibles segment recorded revenue of $145.1 million for 2012, representing an increase of 56.02% compared to the prior year. The growth in this segment was in contrast to a decline of 22.11% for bullion and refinery (by far the largest segment by revenue), an increase of 11.56% in circulating coinage, and a decline of 10.88% in foreign coinage.

Although the RCM does not provide specific figures, bullion and foreign coinage are low margin segments, whereas the numismatic segment presumably delivers much higher margins. Therefore the growth in numismatic sales may have been key in preserving overall profit levels for the year. Despite a decline of more than $500 million in overall revenue, net income fell by just $3.1 million compared to the prior year.

A breakdown of numismatic revenue by region shows 76.9% from Canada with the remaining 23.1% from other countries. Growth occurred across all regions with the strongest growth in the Asia-Pacific region and the US.

During 2012, the RCM offered 136 new products. This was the most ever introduced in a single year. The RCM mentioned a “fresh focus on the customer” and “precisely targeted offers”.

More than any other Mint, the RCM seems to target the entire spectrum of demand for numismatic products from low price clad offerings to numismatic luxury items like 5 kilo silver coins and 1 kilo gold coins. The RCM also issues numismatic coins which cover a broad array of topics, ranging from dinosaurs to plants, from Canadian sporting events to anniversaries of international interest such as the Titanic centennial. Finally, in addition to more traditional gold and silver offerings, the RCM has offered innovative coins including those incorporating multiple finishes, using non traditional metals such as niobium, using glow in the dark technology, Venetian glass, Swarovski crystal elements, diamonds, holograms, colorization, and more.

While not every product will appeal to every collector, most collectors should be able to find something within their sphere of interest.

Of the 136 products released in 2012, 60 achieved a sell out. This was a new high and more than double the previous record. The RCM clearly views sell outs as strategically important and formulates pricing and mintage levels with certain targets in mind. From the annual report: “Sellouts are also important because they increase the secondary market value of our products and drive customers to our dealer and distributor partners thus supporting the business line aim of sustainable growth across all channels.”

During the year, the volume of numismatic coins increased by 89.5% to 3.6 million pieces. The number of transactions increased 75.7% to 599,000, reflecting substantial growth in the Mint’s customer base.

The RCM shared some insights into their popular Exchange $20 for $20 Program, which has offered silver coins with a legal tender value of $20, priced at their face value. One of the goals of this offering seems to be to attract new customers, where it has clearly found much success. According to the annual report, the program was responsible for capturing approximately 67,000 new customers and a great deal of these went on to become repeat customers with 49.1% making a second purchase.

Looking ahead, the RCM states that they plan to issue over 200 new products in 2013. This will include coins made with niobium and holograms. Further comments included:

“The Mint is committed to building the market for numismatic products by offering themes and designs with wider commercial appeal at affordable price points.”

“The Mint also remains committed to supporting secondary markets by balancing pricing and mintages to sellout about one-third of the numismatic coins issued.”

A pdf copy of the full Royal Canadian Mint 2012 annual report can be found here.

The Royal Canadian Mint has started accepting pre-orders from Master’s Club members for a batch of new product releases. These include the initial coins from two new series featuring Canadian butterflies and perspectives of the bald eagle. Three different coins commemorate the final moments of the battle of the HMS Shannon and the USS Chesapeake. Other new releases continue ongoing series.

At this time, the new products are only available to order by Master’s Club members. Orders will open to the general public on May 7.

A new coin series will feature Butterflies of Canada, with the Canadian Tiger Swallowtail depicted on the first release. The design depicts an engraved and colored depiction of the butterfly resting on a dandelion. As an interesting first, the box for the coin uses a lenticular design so the butterfly will appear to be flapping its wings.

Each coin is struck in 99.99% silver with a weight of 28.02 grams and diameter of 40 mm. The maximum mintage is 10,000 coins, priced at $99.95 CAD.

A silver plated 50-cent coin featuring the same design is also available with a mintage limit of 20,000 and price of $34.95.

Another new series makes its debut this month, featuring different perspectives of the bald eagle. Two months ago, the Royal Canadian Mint had released a 1/25 oz. gold coin featuring a bald eagle which seems to have been well received.

The new 99.99% pure 1 oz silver coin features a portrait of a bald eagle’s head with intricate details of its features. The coin includes edge lettering “1 OZ FINE SILVER 1 OZ ARGENT PUR”.

The mintage for this coin is 7,500 pieces with a price of $99.95 CAD. An ordering limit of two per household was imposed, and the coin is already listed as “Awaiting Stock”.

Next up is the 2013 Maple Leaf Forever 1 Kilogram Silver Coin. This massive coin has a diameter of 102.1 mm and carries a depiction of two maple leaves with selective gold plating applied. The mintage is 600 pieces, with a price of $2,299.95 CAD.

Three different coins are issued which feature an intricately detailed depiction of the final moments of the battle of the HMS Shannon and the USS Chesapeake. The coins are issued to commemorate 200 years since the famous battle and contain the dates “1813-2013″.

A 99.99% pure 5 oz silver coin is available with a mintage of 1,500 and price of $499.95 CAD. A 99.99% pure 5 oz gold coin is available with a mintage of 200 and price of $11,999.95 CAD. Last, a 99.95% pure 1 oz platinum coin is available with a mintage of 250 and price of $2,999.95 CAD.

The fifth release within the hologram maple series is the Maple of Peace coin with a depiction of an elephant in traditional dressing. Each coin is struck in 99.99% pure silver with a weight of 31.39 grams and diameter of 38 mm. The mintage is limited to 8,888 pieces the a price of $98.88 CAD.

The fifth release within the lotus shaped series celebrating Chinese Canadian history is the Blessings of Peace Coin. The design features a phoenix and a sun which bears the Chinese characters for “peace” with swirling clouds above.

Each coin is struck in 99.999% pure gold with a weight of 10.4 grams and diameter of 22.5 mm. The mintage limit is 888 pieces, with a price of $988.88 CAD.

Additional releases for this month include:

• Queen Elizabeth II Coronation 25-Cent Colored Coin
• 2013 Fishing Silver Coin
• 2013 Canadian Summer Fun 1/2 oz. Silver Coin

The Royal Canadian Mint has started accepting pre-orders for another group of numismatic product releases. The new products include the latest releases within popular ongoing series such as the Venetian glass insects and O Canada. A new silver coin features five different finishes and celebrates the end of the Seven Years War. Two new series make their debut featuring Canada’s maples from unique perspectives and animal architects.

At this time the new products are only available for pre-order by Master’s Club members. Orders will open to the general public on April 2, 2013.

The third release within the series incorporating hand-crafted Venetian glass insects features the butterfly on a purple coneflower. The previous issues of the series have sold out quickly and went on to sharply higher prices on the secondary market. This latest release is no exception and quickly sold out after the opening of pre-orders.

The coin was limited to a mintage of 10,000 with an ordering limit of 2 per household. The price was $149.95 CAD.

A new 99.99% pure silver coin marks the 250th anniversary of the conclusion of the Seven Years War. The reverse design features representations of the people involved or impacted by the war, including British and French soldiers, First Nations people, colonists, and a child to symbolize hope for the future. The group gazes east and a map appears in the background showing the North American battlefront region.

This coin showcases five different finishes, each with a separate degree of luster and engraving techniques. There is a mintage limit is 10,000 pieces and the ordering limit is 3 per household.

Each coin has a weight of 23.17 grams and diameter of 36.07 mm. The price is $69.95 CAD.

Kilo sized gold and silver coins also recognize the 250th anniversary of the end of the Seven Years War. The design features a period map inspired by mid-1700′s map maker Didier Robert de Vaugondy. The map depicts the battlefront region in North America with the Royal Arms of France and Britain.

The proof quality gold kilo coin has a mintage of just 20 pieces and is priced at $69,000.00 CAD. The proof silver kilo coin has a mintage of 500 pieces and is priced at $2,249.95 CAD.

The Canadian Maple Canopy 1 oz Silver Coin begins a new series featuring Canada’s maples from unique perspectives. The present coin features a view from the base of the tree, looking up towards the branches and canopy of leaves above. The coin is struck in proof quality and painted to provide the leaves with some color.

Each coin has a weight of 31.39 grams and diameter of 38 mm. There is a mintage limit of 7,500 and price of $99.95 CAD.

Another new series begins which will feature Canada’s architects of the animal world. The first release features the honeybee sitting on a flower blossom to collect nectar with a honeycomb design present in the background. The 99.99% pure 1/4 oz. silver coins are struck to proof quality with a painted honeybee.

The mintage limit is 10,000 pieces, with a price of $69.95 CAD.

Next up is the Grandmother Moon Mask Ultra High Relief Gold and Silver Coins. The reverse designs feature a reproduction of a wooden moon mask created in the mid-2000′s by Aboriginal artist Richard Cochrane.

The 1 oz ultra high relief proof 99.999% gold coins have a mintage limit of 500 pieces and are priced at $2,999.95. The 1 oz ultra high relief proof 99.99% silver coins have a mintage limit of 6,000 pieces and are priced at $149.95 CAD. The silver version appears to have sold out during the pre-order period.

The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II is highlighted on a 5 oz silver coin. This is indicated as the largest coin ever issued by the Royal Canadian Mint which features color. The reverse design contains the images of the official coronation photograph taken by Cecil Beaton on June 2, 1953.

Each coin has a weight of 157.6 grams and diameter of 65.25 mm. The mintage limit is 1,500 with a price of $524.95 CAD. The coin appears to have sold out during the pre0rder period.

The latest releases in the O Canada series feature the polar bear. The coins include a 1 oz silver coin with a mintage limit of 8,500 priced at $89.95 CAD, a 1/2 oz. silver coin with a mintage limit of 40,000 priced at $39.95 CAD, and a 1/10 oz gold coin has a mintage limit of 4,000 priced at $279.95 CAD.

As stated initially, all of the coins mentioned in this post are currently available for ordering by Master’s Club members only. Ordering for the general public opens on April 2, 2013.

With all of the recent attention about the United States Mint’s upcoming Enhanced Uncirculated Silver Eagle which uses three different finishes on the same coin, I wanted to take a post to showcase some Royal Canadian Mint coins that have used multiple finishes.

The first is the 2012 25th Anniversary of the Loonie $1 Silver Coin, which I have shared in a previous post. The RCM really underplayed the use of different contrasting finishes on the product page, so I was very surprised when it arrived. The product descriptions simply said that the coin featured a unique soft matte finish and images seemed to display a uniform finish throughout the entire coin.

In hand, it was apparent that the soft matte finish was used only for the background fields. The inscriptions, portrait, and ducks carry a heavily frosted finish. The water and interiors of the number “25″ are deeply mirrored.

The use of three different finishes provides for a striking appearance and seems particularly suited to the 25th Anniversary Loonie coin’s design. I am not sure if the same thing can be said for the upcoming United States Mint offering. The design for the American Silver Eagle was originally created by Adolph A. Weinman in 1916 long before such specialized treatments were possible. The US Mint is applying different finishes to this classic design as they best see fit.

The coin shown above is the Royal Canadian Mint’s 2013 Arctic Fox $20 Silver Coin, which was released earlier this year and still remains available for sale on the RCM website here. This coin takes the concept of different finishes to the extreme with the design showcasing five different coin finishes.

I purchased this coin since I wanted to see it in hand. It does not makes as much of an impression as the previous Loonie coin. As seen in the image above, the difference in some of the finishes is much more subtle since there are only so many variations in luster possible. The outer ring and some portions of the fox are deeply mirrored. Inscriptions and the remaining portions of the fox are heavily frosted. The background within the central portion seems to be the soft matte finish. From what I can see, the remaining two finishes are used for the wavy lines and the rays and dots within the central portion.

At some point, the subtle differences in finish stop carrying an impression within a coin’s design. One, two, and sometimes three finishes might be what works best for coins.

Update: Also here is an image of the RCM’s 2013 Year of the Snake $10 Silver Coin that a reader mentioned in the comments. This coin has heavily frosted and mirrored finishes on relief elements with a striated matte finish background created using laser etching.