Tag: Canada

A violet-green swallow from Canada

RCM violet-green swallow

Have you spotted a vivid violet-green swallow in the wild ? Fifth and final coin in the Colourful Songbirds of Canada series. With its endearing chirp and stunning plumage, it’s easy to see why the violet-green swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) is a favourite swallow species for many birdwatchers. Found in the open woodlands of western Canada, this songbird’s iridescent feathers add an unexpected splash of colour to its serene surroundings and as such, are part of the beauty of Canada’s natural landscape. – Thank you Royal Canadian Mint for image and text See more at: http://www.mint.ca/store/coins/12-oz.-fine-silver-coloured-coin-%E2%80%93-colourful-songbirds-of-canada-the-violetgreen-swallow-2015-prod2400234?rcmiid=link|search|searchresults|12_oz_Fine_Silver_Coloured_Coin_Colourful_Songbirds_of_Canada_The_Violet-Green_Swallow_2015&#.VhJehPlVhBc

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Jacque Cartier claims Iroquois land for France and calls it “Canada”

“On today’s date (September 14th)  in 1535, Jacques Cartier reached the Iroquois village of Kanata at “Kebec” on his second voyage up the St. Lawrence River. There, Cartier met Donnacona, chief of the village of Stadacona (present-day Quebec City)… In 1535, Cartier built a fort at the site, where he stayed for about a year, claiming the area for France and calling it “Canada”, which was an alteration of the Iroquois word “kanata,” meaning village or settlement.” Thank you Canada Coin news report on the Royal Canadian Mint’s 2013 $200 gold coin. In 2013, the Royal Canadian Mint struck a $200 gold…

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2015 Canadian Maple-Leaf shaped $20

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2015 Maple Leaf-shaped $20 coin

The Royal Canadian Mint recently issued the 2015 Maple Leaf-shaped $20 coin. It is a first for the Mint. “The coin recreates the familiar shape of a maple leaf—specifically that of the silver maple (Acer saccharinum) species. Here, the coin’s unique shape accentuates the palmate leaf’s beautifully serrated edges. An intricate series of deep veins are rendered with finely detailed engraving, as they run through each of the leaf’s five pointed, tapering lobes. Different finishes bring added dimension to the design, enhancing the engraving and lending the leaf a bright natural appearance.” Mintage: 15000 Composition: 99.99% pure silver Finish: Proof…

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Vote on the Canada 2017 Designs!

Hi everyone, 2017 is the Canada’s 150th Anniversary. The Royal Canadian Mint is asking individuals to vote on the design on the 2017 coins. There are five coins: 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, 1 Dollar and 2 Dollars and for each coin there are five designs to choose from. You have until October 9th to vote for the design you want to see on each coins. Here is the link: http://www.mint.ca/store/coin-design-contest/contest-vote-form.jsp?lang=en_CA&rcmeid=van_CoinDesignVote Have say on what your future coins will look like!!!

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Canada 1937 Dollar George VI

I was lucky enough to receive this coin as a Birthday present recently – and in a beautifully toned MS-63. The same “Voyageur” design by Emmanuel Hahn was used for the George VI silver dollar of 1937. There are two bundles of furs on the canoe and if look with a magnifying glass I can see that the forward bundle still has the initials “H.B.” standing for Hudson’s Bay (Company). I can’t see it on the image below mind. I’ll add a photo of mine later when the USB microscope thingummajig is set up. Checking the initials H.P. below the trunk in…

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Canada’s 1935 Silver Dollar

1935 Canada Dollar

Canada’s first silver dollar was issued in 1935 to commemorate King George V’s Silver Jubilee. Emanuel Hahn designed and engraved the iconic “Coureur Des Bois”  or “Voyageur” design.       Percy Metcalf designed and engraved the effigy of George V. The silver in the coin is currently worth C$ 10 but in MS-63 Uncirculated grading it has a 2015 value of C$ 110   Mintage 1 dollar 1935 : 428 707 Specifications Alloy: 80% silver, 20% copper Weight: 23.33 grams Diameter : 36.00 mm, thickness 2.84 mm Engraver: Obverse: Percy Metcalfe, Reverse: Emanuel Hahn Designer: Obverse: Percy Metcalfe, Reverse: Emanuel…

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“The King Of Canadian Coins”

“The tale begins in 1870, when the 50 cent coin was first introduced in Canada. 450,000 coins were struck that first year, but demand for this denomination varied widely afterwards, with some years having no coins produced at all.In 1920, the Canadian government officially reduced the silver content of our coins from 92.5% to only 80%. This worsened the situation for the 50 cent denomination, which was already unpopular, and demand for the coins fell dramatically. So much so that of the 200,000+ 50 cents struck in 1921, virtually all of them remained in storage at the mint. Demand for…

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A Favourite Coin – 1958 B.C. Dollar

My father was a Royal Naval man and so proud of his service. He was too young for the war but joined the Navy soon afterwards when he was 16 and served a full career. One of the ships he told us about was was the veteran battle cruiser HMS Newcastle which had seen such brave action in the war. Post-war, Dad joined the re-commissioned ship in the Far East. There was action in the Malayan Emergency when the ships guns where “fired in anger”. Then there was a long Foreign Service voyage from Ceylon to Burma to Hong Kong…

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My Favorite Canadian Coin

The 1949 silver dollar issue is considered by me, and many others to be the most beautiful of all Canadian circulating coins. I’m maybe more than a little biased being that I was born in Newfoundland and lived there until my late teens (and no it never leaves your blood). This coin was issued as the third commemorative in the silver dollars series to mark the entry of Newfoundland into the Confederation. The reverse shows “The Matthew”, the ship in which John Cabot is thought to have discovered the island in 1497. Below the waves is inscribed the Latin phrase…

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Stamps: Canada’s War Issue 1942 – 1943

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Canada’s War Issue 1942 – 1943 On July 1 1942, a new series of definitive stamps was issued showing Canada’s contribution to the war effort of the Allied Nations. The Post Office Department issued stamps portraying King George as head of the Armed Forces in naval, military and air force uniforms. Subjects depicting Canada’s munitions, war supplies, shipbuilding, agriculture, her importance as a great air-training centre, and as a source of food were chosen for the pictorial stamps. The low value definitives with George VI in military uniforms were in use until 1949, while the War Issue pictorials were replaced by…

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Canada’s Rarest Coin

Canadian Coin News > On 19th October 1911 “the Royal Mint of London, England sent dies for a new Canadian $1 silver coin to its Ottawa Branch; this coin is known today by collectors as the rarest coin from Canada. According to articles from the present day Royal Canadian Mint, when the Mint began striking coins in 1908 (then known as the Ottawa Branch of the Royal Mint), a one-dollar coin had not yet entered circulation, but was desperately needed; so in 1911, the Mint struck a trial one dollar coin in lead, while London’s Royal Mint struck two trial…

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