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.
Do you own a scarce Olympic 50p?
Which Olympic 50p coins are most scarce?
29 million Olympic 50p coins have been released into circulation by the Royal Mint and, as already reported, as many as 75% have been removed from circulation.
But as collectors strive to build and that complete collection of all 29 50p coins, they are discovering that some sports are more elusive than others.
The launch of The Westminster Collection’s FREE online Olympic 50p Swap Centre has revealed which Olympic coins are top of the scarcity charts, with the most collectors listing them on their “Want List”.
So let’s find out – do you own of the scarce ones?
The most requested 50p coins…
- Football
- Handball
- Wrestling
- Judo
- Cycling
The Football Olympic 50p Coin has been the most requested coin on collectors’ “Want Lists”
So whether you are in possession of one of the more sought after 50p coins and are able to swap it, or if you are still trying to find that elusive missing piece, try the FREE Olympic 50p Swap Centre.
Simply register online and list the coins you need before entering any swaps you have. Click “search” and you will be able to view your SWAP MATCHES and make contact. All totally for FREE.
New Paralympic stamps revealed by Royal Mail
The Royal Mail has today announced plans to issue an extra set of stamps to mark the 2012 Paralympic Games.
The set of four stamps will feature the Paralympic sports of wheelchair basketball, cycling, powerlifting and athletics alongside famous London landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral. They will go on sale on 29th August to coincide with the start of the games in London, Royal Mail confirmed today.
A selection of the stamps issued by Royal Mail to mark each gold medal victory at London 2012.
This new set is in addition to the stamps already announced by Royal Mail to mark each Paralympic gold medal. During London 2012, the Royal Mail issued a new stamp to mark each of the twenty-nine gold medals won by Team GB.
Post boxes have been painted gold in the home town of each gold medal winning London 2012 athlete.
Similarly, the Royal Mail will also paint the post box gold in each home town of a gold medal winning Paralympian, just as it did for London 2012.
“We hope these stamps will help get the nation excited about the Paralympic Games and encourage the public to support Paralympics GB when it’s our turn to compete against the best in the world,” says Tim Hollingsworth, Chief Executive of the British Paralympic Association.
The Paralympics have grown significantly since the first games in Rome in 1960 when just 400 athletes from 23 countries participated in wheelchair sports only. This year, London will play host to over 4,200 Paralympians from around 150 countries who will take part in a total of 20 sports. These range from popular disciplines such as athletics, sailing and rowing to the less well-known boccia and goalball.
As the athletes start to arrive in the Capital to complete their preparation, the Paralympic torch began its week-long journey on Wednesday 22nd August. This will culminate in a 24-hour relay from Stoke Mandeville, the birthplace of the Paralympic movement, to the Olympic Stadium, the site of the Opening Ceremony.
At the Paralympics in Beijing in 2008, the British team won 42 gold medals. The games run until 9th September.