Sell Outs
Another sell-out for the world’s fastest-selling silver coin series
The latest Canadian $20 silver coin has now sold out its entire 250,000 edition limit
With its entire 250,000 worldwide edition limit now sold out, the Ice Hockey coin becomes the latest Royal Canadian Mint $20 silver coin to sell-out – securing the $20 coin as the world’s fastest-selling silver coin series.
A collecting phenomena
In just two years, the Canadian $20 silver coin series has caused an unprecedented collecting frenzy among collectors not just at home but worldwide with all seven coins selling out extremely fast. The first coin in the series featuring the Maple Leaf was issued in 2011 with a worldwide edition limit of 200,000 pieces. Just 29 days later, every single one had been sold.
Quick – but not the quickest
Surprisingly though, the Maple Leaf isn’t the fastest-selling coin in this series to date.
To cope with the unprecedented level of demand following the Maple Leaf’s success, 250,000 coins of each of the next 5 issues were struck. But as the mintage increased, so too did demand, particularly among Canadians. Once they had one, they simply had to have the next. And the next and the next – leaving many collectors disappointed.
The one to beat! The Polar Bear is the fastest selling coin of the series to date
Faster than the Diamond Jubilee issue
It was however the Polar Bear $20 silver coin that broke all previous records selling out in just 25 days – incredibly, that was 5 days faster than the celebrated 2012 Diamond Jubilee issue, which was comparatively slow at 30 days.
Collectors haven’t had to wait too long to catch a glimpse of the next coin in the series. There’s every reason to assume all 250,000 of the new 2013 Canada Wolf Silver $20 Coin, the eighth of the series, will also sell out in double-quick time.
The next coin in the hugely popular series features the Wolf
Now officially sold out worldwide.
A UK First for the 5oz Silver Proof Diamond Jubilee Coin
Just months after its release, the 5oz Silver Coin issued by The Royal Mint to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee has officially sold out. It will now join an impressive list of sell-out coins from around the world struck in celebration of Her Majesty’s sixty year reign.
Snapped up quickly
News of its sell-out may however not come as too much of a surprise to collectors. The Diamond Jubilee 5oz Silver Proof Coin was issued with a worldwide mintage of just 1,952 – the year of the Queen’s accession – so demand to own one of the coveted coins has been high.
The Diamond Jubilee 5oz Silver Proof Coin – now officially sold out
Plus, while the 5oz is an established and respected format elsewhere, it’s only the second 5oz silver coin ever minted in the UK. The first UK coin in the 5oz format was also struck by The Royal Mint this year and marked the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Another Diamond Jubilee sell-out
A significant number of Diamond Jubilee coins issued by mints around the world have now completely sold out – several within a very short space of time. The Queen’s popularity and the rarity of the Diamond Jubilee have undoubtedly also added to worldwide demand.
The Diamond Jubilee 5oz Silver Proof Coin boasts a full 5 ounces of 999/1000 silver and an immaculate proof finish. The coin was designed by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS.
Royal Canadian Mint revels in Diamond Jubilee successes
The Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who has been Canada’s Head of State since her accession in 1952, has proved to be a hugely popular collecting theme for the Royal Canadian Mint.
Within just a month of its release in early May, the latest coin in their exceptionally popular $20 for $20 silver series had completely sold out of its entire 250,000 worldwide edition limit. The other three coins in the series had also previously sold out in record time; they featured traditional aspects of Canadian culture such as the Maple Leaf and the Polar Bear.
The latest in the series of $20 for $20 coins also sold out in record time
Featuring Mary Gillick’s famous ‘young head’ portrait of the Queen on the obverse, the reverse features a new design depicting a contemporary portrait of Her Majesty. The portrait was exclusively commissioned for the 2012 Diamond Jubilee by Canadian artist Laurie McGaw.
Like the earlier coins of the series, this latest coin was struck in 7.96 grams of 99.999% fine silver and was available at its face value of CAN $20 to the North American market. The coin reached its mintage despite a limit of three coins per household.
This sell-out was closely followed by another success story for the Royal Canadian Mint – this time the ground-breaking 2012 Diamond Jubilee ‘High-Relief’ $50 Gold Proof Coin which also sold out literally weeks after its release.
The first ever ‘high relief’ 99.999% Gold Proof Coin also features the first ever left facing effigy of QEII
Issued with a worldwide mintage of just 50 pieces, this stunning double effigy piece was struck in 99.999% pure gold, weighed 33.17 grams and measured 30mm in diameter.
More significantly, it was the first 99.999% pure gold coin ever to be struck in ultra-high relief proof quality – a complex and time-consuming process involving striking the coin no less than four times and individual hand-polishing. In another numismatic first approved by Buckingham Palace, this technique was applied to a left facing effigy of Elizabeth II, again designed by Laurie McGaw.
“Striking the purest gold in the world at such a high relief presented a mix of challenges and advantages due to the softness, malleability, and flow rate of gold. The result is an image of extraordinary height and fluidity,” said a Royal Canadian Mint spokesperson.
Susanna Blunt designed the obverse which was also approved by the Queen.
View The Westminster Collection’s range of Diamond Jubilee coins.