Back in May 2016, I posted a list of "Did you know?" trivia questions regarding my favorite series of Canada's non-circulating legal tender (NCLT) coins - the
36mm Silver Dollar (SD) series. You can check out that post here:
"Did You Know?" SD Trivia.
Of course, the series has moved forward and continues to generate interesting facets, so I decided to pull together another batch of SD trivia items for your reading pleasure.
Did you know...- non-current portraits of the British King/Queen have been used on the obverse of eight (8) of Canada's SDs? +
King George V has appeared on four (4) SDs: 2010 - 75th Anniversary of first circulating SD // 2011 - 100th anniversary of the Striking of Canada's first Silver Dollar Pattern // 2015 - 100th Anniversary of the WWI
In Flanders Fields poem // 2021 - 100th Anniversary of the
Bluenose;
+
King George VI has appeared on two (2) SDs: Both design types of the 2020 75th Anniversary of V-E Day SD; and
+ Non-current portraits of
Queen Elizabeth II have appeared on two (2) SDs: 2003 - QE II Coronation // 2013 - Korean War Armistice - each used the 1953 Mary Gillick portrait.
>>>>> Obsolete portraits of the British Monarch have been used more frequently on other denominations of Canada's commemorative coins.
- that since beads near the rim were discontinued on the SD's reverse as standard practice in 1983, they have reappeared six (6) times over the past 39 years? + Beads are present on the 1997 - Loon 10th Anniversary SD // the 2002 - Queen Mother SD // the 2003 - QEII Coronation SD (from SE Set) // the 2005 - Canada Flag SD // the 2006 - Victoria Cross SD // the 2012 - War of 1812 Bicentennial SD.
- the first Canadian commemorative SD to feature a facsimile signature as part of its design was the 2021 SD for the Bluenose? + The SD features the signature of the ship's architect: William James Roue. The 2022 Alexander Graham Bell SD's design also includes a facsimile signature - Bell's.
- the greatest number of Canadian commemorative SD releases in a single year is seven (7)? + In 2017, as part of Canada's 150th Anniversary, seven different SDs were issued. The releases were a combination of individual/standalone and set-only. (2017 kept SD collectors busy with frequent openings of their wallets!)
- there have been two SDs that have incorporated Morse Code at their rim? + The 2010 Canadian Navy Centennial SD has the HMCS
Sackville's motto "Ready Aye Ready/Prêt Oui Prêt)" in Morse Code and the 2019 75th Anniversary of D-Day SD carries the Morse Code for the letter "V" - dot dot dot dash - (for "Victory") repeated six times.
- there have been four SD design types that have incorporated unusual elements as rim borders? + Each of the two design types of the 2018 Captain James Cook SD incorporates a rope design at the rim. The coins in question are the SD presenting a Standing portrait of Cook with HMS
Discovery in Nootka Sound, and the facing colourized portraits of Captain Cook and Chief Maquina SD.
+ Each of the two design types of the 2015 Special Edition 50th Anniversary of Canada's Flag SD (i.e., the design with one hiker/backpacker, and the design with a family) feature small maple leaves at the rim.
(Note: the colorized version of the 2015 backpacker design is a variety not a distinct type.)- the first Canadian commemorative SD to feature a rim design that calls to mind Canada's 11-sided, small dollar coin - the Loon Dollar - is the 1997 Special Edition SD? + The 1997 coin commemorates the 10th Anniversary of the introduction of the Loon dollar. A second coin with such a rim design is the 2016 Celebrating Canadian Athletes SD. Each is a round coin with a rim design that creates the illusion of eleven sides.
- the SD's 36mm planchet has also been used for coin's of $5, $8, $10, $15 and $25? + As the denominations inscribed on today's NCLT coins are symbolic, the traditional rules of different denominations having different sizes and/or weights is no longer required.
- there has been only one Canadian commemorative SD that is fully gold-plated (by the Mint)? + The 2002 Queen Elizabeth II Ascension to the Throne SD was released as a standard silver coin in Proof and BU, but was also released in a fully gold-plated version as part of a special Golden Jubilee Proof Set.
- that 2021 saw the release of only one design type for the commemorative SD series? + Only SDs with the same
Bluenose design that presented the ship split between blueprint and fully-constructed views was produced; three varieties of the design were released - Proof, Selective Gold-Plated Proof and Brilliant Uncirculated. The Royal Canadian Mint began releasing more than one SD design per year in 1997 and has done so in nearly all years since. (1998, 2000 and 2005 were prior exceptions to the post-1997 multi-release schedule.)
- to assemble a complete set (1971-2022) of commemorative SD designs in all their varieties (i.e., Specimen, Brilliant Uncirculated, Proof, Gold-Plated), you need to purchase/acquire 147 different coins? [UPDATED COUNT VS. 2016 LIST]
That's it until next time!
Posted 01/22/2022 10:42 am
