Posts by charlottewestminster
5 coins that show why collectors are turning to Canada…
Did you know today is Canada day? 148 years ago Canada became a country in its own right. Whilst the anniversary may be a bit of a stretch for us to celebrate, we can certainly appreciate the work of the Royal Canadian Mint over the last few years. Here are just 5 of my favourite coins, each of which demonstrates why Canada is now a world leader in numismatics…
A first for the Royal Canadian Mint… 
The beautiful detail of this coin makes it one of my favourites and is without a doubt a numismatic masterpiece. The 2015 5oz silver Maple Leaf is the first ever 5oz coin struck by the Royal Canadian Mint to feature a hologram. The maple leaf is the quintessential national symbol of Canada and this coin is the latest to be released as part of their popular annual 5oz Maple Leaf release. Each coins hologram has been individually struck directly onto the coin resulting in an extremely precise and detailed finish. 90% of the worldwide 1,500 edition limit has been sold already – which isn’t all that surprising considering it is 1,000 coins less than last years sell-out 5oz issue!
The start of a remarkable collecting story… 
Canada’s early history is one of exploration and discovery. This ‘Voyageur’ 3 coin set tells a truly fascinating story about Canada’s heritage and to me there is nothing better than owning a coin that depicts a significant part in the history of a country. The ‘Voyageur’ is the design that depicts Canada’s humble beginnings which was shaped by explorers and native aboriginals. This set pays special tribute to the iconic Canadian ‘Voyageur’ Dollar. An original 1935 dollar, the 75th anniversary issue, and the $20 for $20 canoe tribute are included in this 3 coin set. The edition limit for this special numismatic set is just 495 worldwide. This is testament to just how hard it is to acquire these three coins together.
The coin with a hidden message…
Just 495 limited edition sets were issued to mark the 70th Anniversary of VE Day. The set includes an original Victory nickel coin and the new 2015 5-Cent victory coin. The new 2015 5-cent coin is almost twice the size of the original and struck in pure silver with selective gold-plating. I consider these coins to feature one of the most interesting and carefully thought out designs. If you look closely you can see The Morse code has been carefully engraved around the edge of the reverse of the coins.
Cutting edge in coin security… 
Limited to 2,500, this coin is another example of the craftsmanship and design expertise of the Royal Canadian Mint. The Silver Maple Leaf coin is issued annually but not only does it radiate elegance, it sports an advanced micro engraved design that is only visible under magnification. The design is textured which enables the coin to achieve a light-diffracting effect, in my opinion this intensifies user experience. The illuminating effect this coin portrays makes it a stunning creation and offers the perfect mix of collectible beauty and investment appeal.
Already set to be the best selling coin of 2015…
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Canada’s Flag, so to celebrate the Royal Canadian Mint has increased the face value of their usual $20 coins to $25 and issued the design in full colour. The red and white Maple Leaf flag beautifully captures such an important anniversary for Canada and guarantees to increase interest for collectors of Canadian coins. The Fine Silver Canadian Flag Coin coin is already set to be the best selling coin of 2015 for the Royal Canadian Mint and limited to just 1,500 pieces, it is almost certain to be a sell-out.
These are just a handful of the fascinating coins issued by The Royal Canadian Mint, all of which differ in size, colour and age. It is a day like today that makes me appreciate the creativity and effort put into the coins issued by the Royal Canadian Mint since they were founded in 1908.
If you’re interested….
The Westminster Collection has limited stock of these issues available to order today.
Battle of Waterloo commemorative issued… by France!
This year will mark the bi-centennial anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. But, despite Napoleon’s defeat taking place a distant 200 years ago, it seems that it is still a delicate subject for the French… or is it?
In March, Belgium planned to issue a €2 commemorative Waterloo coin in honour of the historic event. However, after 180,000 coins were minted with the design, France voiced such objection that Belgium destroyed the coins to avoid upsetting their neighboring country.
But earlier this week Belgium crushed the French resistance by invoking a little-known European Union rule. It allows countries to issue euro coins of their choice, provided they are in an irregular denomination – cue a new €2.50 coin – a first in Belgium.
The coin displays the Lion Hill memorial that marks the battle, with dotted-lines indicating the position of the troops when forces led by Britain and Prussia defeated Napoleon in the countryside near Brussels.
But, ironically, it was the French who issued one of the first Waterloo Commemoratives…
Remarkably, the French State Mint issued a Battle of Waterloo Medal after Napoleon’s defeat in 1815. It was designed for sale in the British market by renowned French sculptor Emile Rogat, depicting a fallen eagle on the reverse, symbolising the French Army.
The eagle is encircled by four vultures to represent the victorious British, Prussians, Austrians and Dutch and the obverse features an official effigy of Napoleon. It became a piece of history, stored in the British Museum.
It’s a great time for collectors during huge anniversaries such as this, as there are so many fascinating coins and commemoratives issued. But perhaps it’s time France looked back at their own history before they complain again!
If you’re interested… 
You can actually own a replica of the 1815 French Medal now in the British Museum, reproduced using the original dies.
My top 7 most extraordinary coins of 2014
Last year was a vintage year for coin collecting. We saw technological advances, new minting techniques and even a stampede to own the year’s standout US gold coin. In light of this I thought you’d like a rundown of my top 7 extraordinary coins of 2014…
The highest-relief silver 5oz coin ever struck by The Royal Canadian Mint…
The highest relief 5oz coin ever struck by the Royal Canadian Mint
The 2014 Canada 5oz Silver Proof High-Relief Maple Leaf $50 is almost like a sculpture! To achieve this, technically enhanced tooling was created especially to sustain the additional minting pressure involved. I’m forever astonished by the impressive weight and size of 5oz coins, and with such high-relief detail, this one was a particular favourite.
The London Tower Bridge Silver Coin Bar…
The London Tower Bridge Coin Bar, showing truly incredible craftsmanship.
London’s Tower Bridge is one of the world’s most famous landmarks, and now it has been immortalised on a meticulously crafted silver ‘coin bar.’ This unusually shaped coin boasts remarkable craftsmanship with a surprising level of detail for its size. In fact I consider this coin to be one of the most finely engraved coins that I have seen, making it a truly exceptional issue.
You could add the world’s most famous painting to your collection…
The world’s most famous painting – on a silver coin bar.
The Mona Lisa is of course instantly recognisable, but in 2014 collectors got the chance to own their very own version. This distinctive rectangular silver coin is perfectly suited to show off the famous painting in the best way possible. The Mona Lisa is richly detailed in colour and it was the first time that I had ever seen a piece that combined numismatics with art in such a striking way.
The coin with a hidden secret…
A UV torch reveals a hidden secret
I was mesmerised when I first saw this coin – because of the hidden secret you can reveal. Representing our home planet, the coin features a beautiful image of Earth surrounded by all eight planets in our solar system. But, all isn’t as it seems, as Earth has been highlighted with special ink so that when a UV light is shone upon the coin the planet is picked out, glowing blue against the rest of the background. For that reason this coin just had to be among my top 7 of the year.
The coin that caused a modern-day gold rush…
The coin that cased a gold rush
Remarkably, the 2014 JFK Gold Proof Half Dollar caused a stampede of collectors. The US Mint released the coin at the ANA World’s Fair of Money in August which saw hundreds of collectors queuing, running and trampling each other just to get their hands on one. Eventually, the Mint was forced to suspend sales to ensure the safety of their customers and employees. The rush was so intense that the police were called to calm things down. Don’t believe me? See for yourself! (click here to watch the YouTube footage)
Marking a poignant year with a charitable commemorative…
The coin that sold 80,000 in two weeks
The ceramic poppy display at the Tower of London last year was a momentous dedication to the fallen, which inspired the nation. A ‘100 Poppies’ £5 Coin was also issued to mark the centenary of the First World War. For each sale, a donation was made to the Royal British Legion to support their work and provide financial, social and emotional support to all those who have served and are currently serving in the Armed Forces, and their families. The coin was an unprecedented success – alone raising over £40,000 for the Royal British Legion. It’s not surprising that this coin is no longer available, and having helped to raise such a large amount for the Royal British Legion there is no question about it being one of my top coins of 2014.
Struck using a metal rarer than platinum…
A metal more precious that platinum
What makes this edition of the 2014 China Silver Panda Coin so special is the fact that it is plated with a metal even rarer than platinum – ruthenium. The Chinese 10 Yuan is already one of the world’s most sought after silver coins – but this collectable edition tips the bar by combining three of the world’s precious most metals, silver, gold and black ruthenium. Featuring both a famous design and a one-off finish, it isn’t difficult to understand why the edition limit sold out so fast. The few collectors who own this issue will appreciate just how lucky they are to know that there’s a chance this specification may never be available again.
Of course these are just a handful of the fascinating coins issued last year, and it’s this variety which makes coin collecting so compelling for me. Many have sold out now, but fortunately 2015 is already proving to be just as interesting. Did you manage to add any to your collection?
If you are interested…
There is still an opportunity to own one of these coins. With limited stock left, The London Tower Bridge coin is still available to own.
***MORE STOCK COMING SOON***