Commems Collection Canadian: 2008 Mint Centennial Silver Dollar

The Royal Canadian Mint ("Mint") marked its 100th Anniversary in 2008 with a number of coins of various denominations. Of these, I find the Silver Dollar to feature a particularly attractive and creative design.

The Mint launched coinage operations in January 1908. Governor General Earl Grey struck the first coin - a 1908 silver 50-cent piece. As with all denominations of Canadian coins at the time, the obverse of the 50-cent piece struck featured a right-facing portrait of King Edward VII. The portrait was designed/engraved by George William de Saullesm, a British medallist who began working with The Royal Mint in 1892.

Note 1: Prior to the opening of the Mint, Canadian coins were struck at The Royal Mint in London.

Note 2: The original 50-cent coin was also commemorated in 2008, as a proof coin embedded in the Mint's Centennial Book. (A potential future topic!)

The Special Edition SD went on sale in June 2008; its Issue Prices was $59.95 CAD. The SD was struck on a sterling silver planchet (i.e., 0.925 fine silver, 0.075 copper). It is 36.07 mm in diameter and has a weight of 25.175 grams (Actual Silver Weight of ~0.75 oz.); the SD has a reeded/serrated edge. The coin was struck in medal alignment (i.e., the obverse and reverse are in the same orientation vs. facing opposite directions).

The SD was encapsulated and placed in a maroon clam shell presentation case which was fitted into a black sleeve. The Special Edition coin had a listed mintage limit of 25,000 ( RCM web site); the Mint's 2008 Annual Report and 2009 Annual Report, combined, list a sales total of 15,000 (13,417 + 1,583).

2008 Special Edition Silver Dollar - Royal Canadian Mint Centennial


The obverse of the SD presents the right-facing portrait of a then 77 year-old Queen Elizabeth II designed by Susanna Blunt (Engraved by Susan Taylor). The commemorative reverse design presents a maple leaf emerging from a coin and transforming (across six transition steps) into a Common Loon. (It's one of my favorite Canadian SD designs, with its combination of two iconic design elemtns of Canadian coinage - a Maple Leaf and a Loon!) The design was the work of Jason Bouwman (Engraved by Jose Osio).

The coin features selective gold-plating on its edge, as well as on the "100" found on the reverse. IMO, the gold highlights nicely enhance the coin's designs.

The Mint featured a similar design on a nickel medal it included in a 2008 gift package sent to active Masters Club members. I previously posted about it here: 2008 Masters Club Collector Card?.)

2008 Royal Canadian Mint Masters Club Gift Set





For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including other Canadian numismatic stories, see: Commems Collection.