Commems Collection Canadian: 2014 $100 Majestic Bald Eagle

When the Mint was marketing its $X-for-$X coins a few years back, I generally did not add them to my collection - I did pick up an example of each of the first few $20-for-$20 silver coins, however, as they had, IMO, appealing, traditionally-inspired designs which I liked. When the Mint released a $100-for-$100 coin with a dramatic, natural habitat depiction of a Bald Eagle in 2014, however, I was soon pointing and clicking my way to a new coin for my collection. (With the exchange rate at the time, the coin was about $80 in US Dollars.)

The reverse design of the coin presents a Bald Eagle in flight, as it prepares to pounce on its prey. Its wings are forward and curved inward to slow its approach, its talons are clenched and at the ready and its eyes are fixed on "the prize." In the background is seen wooded foothills sloping toward a still lake with pine trees seen on the opposite shore. The design was created by Claudio D'Angelo, a talented wildlife artist who has designed many coins for the Mint, including other Bald Eagle coins. (I've posted about some of them recently.) The coin's obverse features the Susanna Blunt portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

2014 $100-for-$100 Majestic Bald Eagle Silver Coin


The coin was struck on a 0.9999 fine silver planchet that weights 31.6 grams; the 31.6 grams exceeds the 31.1035 grams weight of a troy ounce - this more than makes up for the 0.0001 portion of the planchet that is not fine/pure silver. The planchet is 40 millimeters in diameter and has a reeded/serrated edge. The Mint describes the coin's finish as "Matte Proof" though, to my eyes, it shares multiple strike characteristics with a regular proof coin (e.g., flat, mirror-like fields).

The coin went on sale on January 29, 2014, and was available directly from the Mint for - you guessed it! - $100 CAD. The coin had a maximum stated mintage of 50,000. The Mint's 2014 Annual Report lists a sales total of 49,166. It's very likely the final number of coins in the marketplace is less, however, as many were purchased by those looking to take advantage of credit card "cash back" offers, airline miles and/or other incentive programs and were then returned or redeemed after such benefits were secured - as was done with all of the $X-for-$X coins. (This unexpected marketplace tact was a primary driver behind the discontinuation of the program.)

The coin was delivered in a "Beauty Box," as termed by the Mint, that features a full-color outer wrap with a magnetic hinge on the lid. The front of the box presents an image of a perched Bald Eagle. Somewhat surprisingly, the image on the box does not match the coin's design, it depicts a Bald Eagle already perched on a barren branch or tree limb without captured prey. The box's image reminds me of the painting by Glen Loates that was used as the basis for the 2015 Baronial Bald Eagle $20 silver coin release. (See 2016 Baronial Bald Eagle Silver $20 to compare for yourself.)

2014 $100-for-$100 Bald Eagle Silver Coin - Beauty Box / Full-colour Front Panel


2014 $100-for-$100 Bald Eagle Silver Coin - Beauty Box / Full-colour Back Panel



Other $100-for-$100 coins in the series: 2013 Bison, 2014 Grizzly Bear, 2014 Bighorn Sheep, 2015 Canadian Horse, 2015 Musk Ox. The 2014 Bald Eagle coin was the third coin of the series.


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more Canadian commemorative coin and medal stories, see: Commems Collection.