One of the most profitable aspects of the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) is its numismatic product line.[1] The first numismatic coin from the RCM was arguably the 1935 dollar commemorating the Silver Jubilee of King George V. Though intended for circulation, it was the first Canadian coin commemorating an event. The decision to issue this coin was made in October 1934 by Prime Minister R. B. Bennett.[2] There were economic and patriotic motivations for the release of a silver dollar, including a hope to boost the silver mining industry. In future years, the silver dollar would have a more emotional meaning for many Canadians because it was also the first coin to have the Voyageur motif on its reverse.
Birth of luxury coins
Expansion in the numismatic line was a key element of the 1990s. The first significant sign was the creation of the two-hundred dollar gold coin. Starting in 1990, this coin was sold for a higher price than its face value. The first coin commemorated the Silver Jubilee of Canada's flag and sold for $395.00. The superstar of this collection would be the Canadian Native Cultures and Traditions coins. These coins were minted from 1997 to 2000. The Haida coin has been an award-winning coin for the RCM, taking the Best Coin Award at the 1997 Singapore International Coin Show.[3]
The advent of the two-hundred dollar gold series was quickly joined by a platinum series. These high-quality collector coins solidified the RCM's entry into the luxury coin market. A four-coin set with face values of $30, $75, $150, and $300 respectively were complemented by the high-quality artwork that adorned these luxury items. Notable artists such as Robert Bateman and Glen Loates contributed to these collections with polar bear and bird designs. The issue price for these collections was around $1,990 and the casing was a walnut or burgundy (for 1994) case with a black suede four-hole insert and a certificate of authenticity.
Numismatic fifty-cent collections
Discovering Nature series
Year
Theme
Artist
Finish
Issue price (4-coin set)
Total mintage
Designs
1995
Birds of Canada
Jean-Luc Grondin
Proof
$56.95
172,377
Atlantic Puffins, Whooping Crane, Gray Jays, and White Tailed Ptarmigans
1996
Little Wild Ones
Dwayne Harty
Proof
$59.95
206,552
Moose Calf, Wood Ducklings, Cougar Kittens, and Black Bear Cubs
1981 was the first year that the RCM issued two different qualities of silver dollars. One version was the Proof, which composed of a frosted relief against a parallel lined background. The second version was the Brilliant Uncirculated. The finish is classified as a brilliant relief on a brilliant background.
Brilliant relief against a parallel lined background
Proof
Frosted relief against a mirror background
Specimen
Brilliant relief on a satin background
Mint marks
A
Used on 2005 Palladium Test Coin to signify the coins were struck from Lot A.
B
Used on 2005 Palladium Test Coin to signify the coins were struck from Lot B.
C
Placed on sovereigns produced at the Ottawa branch of the Royal Mint, between 1908 and 1919.
Dot
In December 1936, King Edward VIII abdicated the throne in favour of his brother, who would become King George VI. The problem was that the Royal Mint was designing the effigy of King Edward VIII and now a new effigy would need to be created. The 1-, 10- and 25-cent coins in 1937 would be struck from dies with a 1936 date on the reverse. To distinguish that these coins were issued in 1937, a dot mint mark was placed on the 1936 dies and could be found beneath the year. These coins fulfilled demand for coins until new coinage tools with the effigy of King George VI were ready. While the 10- and 25-cent coins are more common, the 1-cent coins are rare, with about a half-dozen known to exist.
H
Used to identify coins that were struck for Canada by the Birmingham Mint, also known as the Heaton Mint, until 1907.
Innukshuk
All circulation coins for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics have the Innukshuk mint mark on the Obverse of the coin.
International Polar Year
The obverse of the 2007 International Polar Year $20 Numismatic Coin has the logo for the International Polar Year on the obverse of the coin.
Maple Leaf
All coins with a Maple Leaf mint mark were struck in 1948 due to an emergency with coin toolage. The granting of India’s independence resulted in the removal of IND:IMP (meaning Emperor of India) from King George VI’s effigy. Due to the demand for circulation coins in 1948, coins for 1948 could not be struck until the new tools were received. The new tools would have the IND:IMP removed from them. In the meanwhile, coins were produced in 1948 with a year of 1947 on them. A small Maple Leaf mint mark was struck beside 1947 on the reverse of all coins to signify the year of production.
P
From 2001-2006, most one cent, five cents, ten cents, twenty-five cents, and fifty cents issued for circulation were struck with a P mint mark to represent the Royal Canadian Mint’s plating process.
Paralympic Logo
All circulation coins for the 2010 Vancouver Paralympic Games have the Paralympic Games logo on the Obverse of the coin.
RCM Logo
At the CNA Convention in July 2006, the RCM unveiled its new mint mark to be used on all circulation and numismatic coinage. The agenda behind the implementation of this new mint mark was to help increase the RCM’s image as a brand. The aim of the logo is to educate coin users and coin collectors, respectively, that the RCM is minting Canada’s coins. The first Circulation Coin to have this new mint mark is the 10th Anniversary Two-Dollar coin. The first Numismatic Coin to have this new mint mark is the Snowbirds Coin and Stamp Set.[5]
T/É
In an effort to push the standard of quality higher, the RCM started to experiment with a gold bullion coin that would have a purity of 99.999%. The result was a Gold Maple Leaf Test Bullion coin with the mint mark of T/É (to signify Test/Épreuve). The date on the obverse of the coin was 2007 and it had a mintage of 500.
Teddy Bear
When the RCM released its Baby Lullabies and CD Set, a sterling silver one dollar coin was included in the set. The one dollar coin included a mint mark of a teddy bear.
W
Used occasionally on specimen sets produced in Winnipeg, starting in 1998.
W/P
Used on the Special Edition Uncirculated Set of 2003. The W mint mark stated that the coin was produced in Winnipeg and the P states that the coins are plated.
