The Royal Canadian Mint has opened the pre-ordering period for the latest coin within the Exchange $20 for $20 series, which features 99.99% pure silver coins priced at their legal tender face value of $20.

The latest design carries a striking depiction of a wolf against a barren landscape. The inscriptions include the face value “20 Dollars”, “Fine Silver Argent Pur 9999″, the date “2013″, and “Canada”. The obverse of the coin features the Susanna Blunt effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.

Each coin is struck in 99.99% pure silver with a weight of 7.96 grams. This yields silver content of 0.256 troy ounces. The coins have a diameter of 27 mm and a serrated edge. The mintage is indicated at 250,000 pieces, with an ordering limit of 3 per household.

As mentioned, these coins are currently available for pre-order by Master’s Club members only. Public ordering should open soon.

All previous releases within the $20 for $20 series have sold out with the exception of the most recently released Hockey themed coin which went on sale in late January.

The new 2013 Wolf $20 Silver Coin will be the eighth release within the series.

Public ordering has opened for the Royal Canadian Mint’s latest batch of numismatic product releases. The new releases include a 1/25 oz gold coin featuring the bald eagle, the latest releases of the Group of Seven and O Canada series, and the first releases for two separate new series featuring Canadian ducks and dragonflies. The RCM is also accepting orders for commemorative silver coins issued by the Bank of Russia for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

The coins covered here can be found in the new releases section of the RCM website.

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The twelfth release in an ongoing series of 1/25 oz gold proof coins features the Bald Eagle. The coin, which has a diameter of 13.92 mm, features a portrait of the bald eagle including the head and upper body. It is interesting to see the animal which has made countless appearances on United States coins depicted on a Canadian coin.

The mintage limit is 10,000 pieces. The price is indicated at $129.95 CAD.

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The fifth release within the Group of Seven series features Franz Johnston’s painting The Guardians of the Gorge. You can find an image of the painting here.

The coin captures the image of outcroppings of granite which acts as a guard to a vast river canyon. Unfortunately not shown within the image is the face of a man which emerges from the rocky cliff to also watch over the canyon.

The mintage is limited to 7,000 pieces with a price of $89.95 CAD. Previous releases of this series have sold out quickly.

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The first release within a new series Ducks of Canada features the Mallard. The RCM mentions that the new series is an opportunity to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Ducks Unlimited Canada, a non profit organization dedicated to conserving wetlands.

A mallard pair walking along a snow dusted shore in late autumn is depicted in color on the reverse of the silver proof coin. Each coin is struck in 99.99% pure silver with a weight of 15.87 grams and diameter of 34 mm.

A mintage of 10,000 pieces is indicated with the coins priced at $69.95 CAD. A three coin subscription is also available, as well as a 25-cent colored coin with a different design. The website currently shows the individual option as Awaiting Stock.

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Another new series will feature dragonflies. The first release features a painted depiction of the Twelve-Spotted Skimmer. The background contains a hologram to represent the water. When the coin is tilted back and forth a full rainbow spectrum of color is visible.

Each coin is struck in 99.99% pure silver to proof quality with a weight of 15.87 grams and diameter of 34 mm. With a mintage limit of 10,000 pieces, the price is $79.95 CAD.

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The third release in the O Canada 12-coin series features the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). An RCMP officer appears on horseback with the Canadian flag shown in the background.

These coins are struck with a matte proof finish in one-half ounce of 99.99% pure silver. The mintage limit is indicated at 40,000 with the price $39.95 CAD.

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The Royal Canadian Mint continues to recognize their country’s heroes of the War of 1812. The latest coin features a portrait of Charles-Michel de Salaberry, who led a successful and well known group of Colonial regulars who fought in the War of 1812.

With a mintage limit of 10,000, the 99.99% silver proof coins have a weight of 7.96 grams and diameter of 27 mm. The price is $49.95 CAD.

The Royal Canadian Mint recently started selling sterling silver commemorative coins issued by the Bank of Russia for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. Four designs represent the Biathlon, Alpine Skiing, Figure Skating and Hockey events.

Each coin is struck in 92.5% silver with a proof finish. The weight is 33.94 grams and the diameter is 39 mm. The product pages indicate a limit of 35,000 coins worldwide, with 3,000 coins in Canada. The prices are $149.95 CAD each.

Additional new product releases for this month include the following:

• 2013 American Robin Colored 25-Cent Coin
• 2013 Blue Flag Iris Silver Coin with Crystal Elements
• 2013 50-Cent Coin Rolls

Perth Mint ANDA Coin Show Specials

For those interested, the Perth Mint has started accepting website orders for two coin show specials issued for the Australasian Numismatic Dealer’s Association (ANDA) coin show.

The first coin celebrates the Year of the Snake and the ideals of Good Fortune with a depiction of the caduceus of the god Mercury, with Mercury and Fortuna to each side. The second coin features a colored version of the Year of the Snake Australian Lunar Series II Silver Coin.

The product pages for these two coins can be found in the Perth Mint’s new releases section.

The Royal Canadian Mint as well as many other world mints issue their numismatic products with individual serial numbers included on the certificate of authenticity or some portion of the packaging. Particular serial numbers can carry substantial premiums, as evidenced by one recently completed eBay auction.

During 2012, the Royal Canadian Mint produced the final one cent coins for circulation following the decision to discontinue the denomination. The last one million pieces produced had been held back for inclusion within numismatic products.

About a month ago, the RCM offered specially wrapped rolls containing the last one million Canadian “pennies” ever distributed. Each roll contained 50 coins, which were placed within a custom designed wrapper authenticated to be part of the last million units distributed. A serialized holographic label was incorporated, providing each of the 20,000 rolls distributed a unique serial number.

An eBay auction which concluded on March 3, 2013 offered a 2012 Canada Special Wrap 1-Cent Coin Roll with the serial number 20,000/20,000. As the final serial number on the product containing the final Canadian Cents to be distributed, the auction apparently captured the attention of some highly motivated bidders. The auction closed with a final winning bid of $6,600.00.

Recently completed auctions for other serial numbers have realized prices of around $30 to $35 per roll. When available from the Royal Canadian Mint, this product originally cost $9.95 CAD and was limited to one per household. Of course, each roll contains coins with a face value of 50 cents.

I have not seen a great number of special serial number numismatic products auctioned or sold, but I would assume the first and last serial numbers would command premiums. Premiums may also arise for round numbers or lucky numbers, such as #10,000 or #888. Any premium would likely be magnified for particularly popular or important numismatic products, which seems to have been the case here.

The Royal Canadian Mint has unveiled the final design within the Canadian Wildlife Silver Bullion Coin series. This six coin series has celebrated Canada’s rich and abundant wildlife on limited mintage one ounce silver coins. For more information on the series and images of the five previous designs, visit this page.

The 2013 Wood Bison Silver Bullion Coin features a depiction of the animal galloping in a display of strength and endurance. Similar to the two prior releases, the image is framed within a circular area with the inscription “Canada” above and “Fine Silver 1 oz Argent Pur” below. The fineness of “9999″ is included within the image area. The reverse design is by Canadian artist Emily Damstra.

Although the coins are part of a bullion series with corresponding pricing and availability, a maximum of one million will be produced by the Royal Canadian Mint Ottawa facility. The mintage limit and the appeal of the alternating designs provides the potential for appreciation outside of the bullion value.

The concept of limited mintage bullion releases has been used by other world mints. The RCM’s Wildlife series seems to have achieved a measure of success and popularity with bullion investors and coin collectors. This may set the stage for similar series in the future.

The “Wood Bison” design was announced at the World Money Fair in Berlin. The RCM has indicated that the coins will soon be available through their network of bullion distributors, although no exact date has been specified.

The Royal Canadian Mint has started accepting pre-orders for another batch of numismatic product releases. The new products include rolls containing the last one million circulation Canadian Cents, coins to mark the 25th anniversary of the Silver and Platinum Maple Leaf, the first issues of two new silver coin series, the next glow-in-the-dark coin, and more.

At this time, the new products are only available for pre-order by Master’s Club Members. Orders are not yet open to the general public.

Last year, the Royal Canadian Mint produced the final one cent coins for circulation. At the time, they had held back the final one million cents for inclusion in numismatic products. This year, the last million “pennies” are being offered in 50-coin rolls in specially designed wrappers.

Each roll is authenticated as part of the last million units distributed with a serialized holographic label. The rolls are priced at $9.95 CAD and limited to one roll per household. A mintage limit of 20,000 rolls is indicated, so at 50 coins per roll, this accounts for the entire final one million cents.

A new “Untamed Canada” series begins with the 2013 Arctic Fox Silver Coin. The coin features woodblock inspired art and showcases five different coin finishes, each with a separate degree of luster. The Arctic Fox is featured in the foreground with a motif of circles, rays, and wavy lines emanating from a sunburst in the background. The Latin name “Vulpes Langopus” appears within the inscription.

The coins are struck in 99.99% silver with a weight of 28.02 grams and diameter of 40 mm. The mintage limit is 8,500 pieces and the price is $84.95 CAD.

A 1/4 oz Gold Coin featuring the same design is also available. The 99.99% pure gold version has a weight of 7.8 grams, diameter of 20 mm, mintage limit of 1,500 pieces, and price of $649.95 CAD.

A new Aboriginal Hunting Tradition series also begins with the 2013 Hunting Deer Silver Coin. Designed by Coast Salish First Nation’s artist Darlene Gait, the coin features a scene from a boy’s inaugural hunt with his father.

The coin is struck in 99.99% silver to proof quality, enhanced with selected finishes. The weight is 23.17 grams and the diameter of 36 mm. A mintage limit of 10,000 has been set and the price is $69.95 CAD.

The latest one-half gram gold coin from the Royal Canadian Mint features a Hummingbird. This tiny coin is struck in 99.99% gold with a proof finish. The diameter is 11 mm and the mintage is limited to 10,000 pieces. Mentioned as one of the RCM’s most affordable gold coins, the price is $79.95 CAD.

The 2013 25th Anniversary Silver Maple Leaf celebrates the silver bullion coins success since its introduction in 1988. The one ounce 99.99% pure silver coin features a maple leaf with a gold plated shadow motif behind. A stylized “25 yrs/ans” also appears to mark the anniversary.

The issue is limited to a mintage of 10,000 piece and priced at $109.95.

Separately, a 2013 25th Anniversary Platinum Maple Leaf is offered. This coin features the same maple leaf and gold plated shadow design with modified inscriptions. The one ounce 99.95% pure platinum coins have a mintage limit of 250 pieces, limit of 1 per household, and are priced at $2,999.95 CAD each.

A 2013 25th Anniversary Silver Maple Leaf 5 oz. Silver Coin is also being released. This coin features a reverse proof finish, which is a first for a 5 oz silver coin, with a depiction of two small sugar maple leaves overlapping one large sugar maple leaf.

The coins are struck in 99.99% pure silver with a weight of 157.6 grams and diameter of 65 mm. Priced at $499.95 CAD, the mintage is limited to 2,500 pieces.

The second release within the colored glow-in-the-dark coin series is available. The design illustrates palaeontologists’ rendition of what Quetzalcoatlus probably looked like. When removed from natural light, the creature’s skeleton becomes visible.

The coin is struck in cupronickel with a diameter of 35 mm. Priced at $29.95 CAD, the mintage limit is 30,000 pieces, with a limit of 3 coins per household.

The previous glow-in-the-dark coin received a lot of mainstream attention and quickly sold out of its mintage of 25,000 pieces.

Additional new Royal Canadian Mint product releases for this month include the latest release within the O Canada series in gold and silver, and a 1/4 oz silver coin with crystal element featuring a hummingbird and morning glory. Also, at some point during January, a series of gold and silver coins were issued for the World Baseball Classic Tournament.