Clicking on "New Releases" on the
RCM web site yesterday, the first day of public sale for the new coins, yielded only three new coin offerings: one individual coin and two multi-piece sets. There are three other coins listed, but they were available on the site prior to today. It's a far cry from past months, but it could be COVID-19 related vs. a change in
RCM's model.
The 10-ounce silver Armorial Bearings coin is a nicely-executed design honoring Canada's history via the emblem of the Dominion of Canada in 1868; it includes the arms of Canada's first four provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec). At $1,049.95 it's not a coin for every collector.
There is also the Maple Leaf Masters Collection (a five-coin fractional silver set) that is shown as "Sold Out." The centerpiece of the set is a kilogram coin with a denomination of $250 and selective rose gold plating. Other coins in the set are a half kilogram ($125), a five -ounce ($50), a two-ounce ($30) and a one-ounce ($20). I like the maple leaf designs used on the coins but would never consider purchasing the set. For those who did, it set them back $3,995.95!
For me, the only coin of interest is included in the 2020 Special Edition Silver Dollar Proof Set - 75th Anniversary of V-E Day: Royal Canadian Navy.
The silver dollar in the new proof set has the distinction of being only the second 36mm silver dollar to feature a privy mark - the first was the 2004 Ile Sainte-Croix SD in the limited edition Coins and Stamps Set which also included a silver 1/4 Euro coin from France. The new coin salutes the Royal Canadian Navy and its efforts in support of the Allied victory in World War II.
Per the
RCM, the new SD features a privy mark that is based on the commemorative reverse design of Canada's 1945 Victory nickel; it should be noted, however, that the Victory torch design was used on Canada's five cent coins from 1943 through 1945.
Though it's the second SD to feature a privy mark, the coin is the
first SD to have the privy mark on the obverse; the 2004 SD had a fleur de lis privy mark positioned just above the horizon line on the reverse. Per the
RCM's sales page for the set, the privy mark appears on the obverse of all the coins in the set, along with the portrait of King George VI that was in use on Canadian coins from 1937 to 1952.
(Note: Privy marks have been used on many RCM coins over the years, but only rarely on its SDs.)The selling price of the set is $99.95 CAD; it currently has a ship date of September 2020. To keep my SD collection complete, I'll be a buyer of the set.
Posted 06/04/2020 11:11 am
