Commems Collection Canadian: 2015 Celebrating Canada $10 Silver Coin

I generally like the look of silver coins with selective gold plating. Not only do I find them attractive, but they also appeal to my traditional sensibilities as a collector.

One of my favorites from the Royal Canadian Mint over the last 10 years was issued back in 2015. It was a $10 silver coin - not a silver dollar - and it goes by the name "Celebrating Canada."

The coin's reverse design uses a maple leaf shape to represent a stylized map of Canada. Upon the maple leaf/map. from west to east, are found well-known symbols of each geographic region. At left/west are seen stylized, snow-topped peaks of the Rocky Mountains along with a white-tailed deer. Per the Mint's description, they are meant to represent "the rugged wilderness of the western provinces."

2015 Celebrating Canada $10 Silver Proof Coin - Reverse


Continuing "eastward" across the coin, next seen are wheat stalks which "symbolise the grain-growing Canadian prairies." At the far right are symbols of Canada's Eastern Provinces' fishing industry - seen are a fish, a boat and Peggy's Point Lighthouse. At the base of the maple leaf is presented the Centre Block building of Canada's Parliament complex - it is the main building of the complex; above its tower is a partial map of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories - they are meant to symbolise the "Home to many of Canada's native peoples." The map (sort of) creates the top, center section of the leaf.

The design was created by Kwame Delfish, a Canadian artist/painter based in Toronto, ON. Interestingly, he is a former hair stylist and considers "hair to be an art form." (Per his Facebook page.)

The obverse of the coin features the right-facing portrait of Queen Elizabeth II created by Susanna Blunt; the portrait has been in use for most Canadian coins since 2003. QEII's portrait is selectively gold-plated.

The proof finish coin was struck on a 0.9999 fine silver planchet that is 34 millimeters in diameter with a weight of 15.87 grams. In addition to its selectively gold-plated devices, the coin also features a gold-plated, reeded/serrated edge. The coin had a maximum mintage of 8,000 coins, but its total sales reached just 2,469 - it wasn't a very popular coin! Its issue price was $69.95 CAD. (Thanks for sales figure confirmation vonigohcr!)

The coin appealed to me due to its attractive use of symbolism to represent the major geographic regions of Canada - I almost always prefer the use of symbolism on coins vs. literal representations that appear photographic.

In hand, I find the proof coin to be very attractive. The use of multiple finishes on the reverse's gold-plated section make the various elements "pop" to my eyes.


For other of my posts about Canadian coins and medals, see: Commems Collection.