Beautiful World Coins

The 75th anniversary of CBC / Radio-Canada 25 Cents Coin

The Royal Canadian Mint is proud to issue this 2011 commemorative 25-cent coin celebrating the 75th anniversary of CBC/Radio-Canada. For 75 years, Canada’s public broadcaster has contributed to the nation’s identity by broadcasting the diverse stories of this country’s people. Despite today’s everchanging media environment, CBC/Radio-Canada continues to give all Canadians the opportunity to share their experiences in brand new ways. Be inspired by CBC/Radio-Canada’s exciting future and join this special anniversary celebration.

The microphone depicted on this coin was created by CBC/Radio-Canada for the Royal Tour of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1939. It was designed for outdoor broadcasts, and its special wind-resisting device — commonplace today—represented a major technological advance. This microphone is a reminder of the past and a testament to CBC/Radio-Canada’s commitment to overcoming challenges, creating new technologies, and breaking new ground.

Year: 2011

Face value: 25 Cents

Finish: Specimen

Composition: Cupro-nickel

Size: 35 mm

Weight: 12.61 grams

Mintage: n/a

All the Colored Poppy Circulating Commemorative Coins issued by the Royal Canadian Mint for Remembrance Day

The Royal Canadian Mint is extremely proud to contribute to the memory of fallen soldiers by issuing colored commemorative circulation coins to mark Remembrance Day. Since 2004, the RCM joins Canadians in Honouring Canada's Fallen, Veterans and Troops with the release of these 25-cent poppy coins.

The poppy became a profound symbol of wartime remembrance in many countries shortly after WWI. The association of the poppy to those killed in the war, however, dates back to the Napoleonic wars in the 19th Century, during which time the red flower suddenly bloomed in war-torn fields where countless soldiers had died. The reason this phenomenon was seen as mysterious is because the poppies bloomed in fields where the land had long been barren, as was the case in Flanders Fields, France in WWI. During the war, bombs, artillery shells, and shrapnel upturned the soil exposing dormant corn poppy seeds to the light it needed to grow. The blood-red flowers painted an almost incredulous scene as they swayed over the graves of fallen soldiers. In 1915, Canadian doctor and soldier John McCrae recorded this phenomenon in his famous poem In Flanders Fields, immortalizing the symbol of the poppy. Today, people from all parts of Canada choose to display their collective reminiscence and remember the sacrifices of fallen heroes by wearing a poppy on Remembrance Day.

The first 25-cent poppy coin was produced in 2004. The red poppy stamped on the reverse with pressurized ink and a fluorescent security coating was the world’s first colored circulation coin and quickly became a collector’s item. The coin was later named Most Innovative Circulation Coin at the Mint Directors' Conference (MDC) in Paris, France.

The second coin was issued in 2008 in association with the Royal Canadian Legion and also featured the iconic red poppy, Canada's flower of remembrance. Ninety years after the armistice of the First World War, the humble poppy endures as a powerful symbol to honor our veterans—past, present and future.

The 2010 25-cent poppy circulating commemorative coin was also developed in association with the Royal Canadian Legion to mark Remembrance Day. It shows two red poppies on either side of a Canadian soldier with his head bowed, on a maple leaf backdrop.

Year: 2004, 2008, and 2010

Face value: 25 Cents

Finish: Circulation, colorized

Composition: 94% Steel, 3.8% Copper, 2.2% Nickel (three-ply nickel finish plated steel)

Size: 23.88 mm

Weight: 4.4 grams 

Mintage: 28,972,000 (2004), 11,000,000 (2008 and 2010)

Coins for the Polish Olympic Team at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games

The National Bank of Poland just issued three coins commemorating the Polish Olympic Team at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. Poland is expecting ambitious performances, new personal and national records and sportsmanlike conduct from Polish winter athletes.

For the first time in history, the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games will be held in a closed-roof stadium. The first Winter Olympic Games were held in Chamonix, France, in January and February 1924. They were then held as the International Winter Sports Week events, and were officially proclaimed the First Winter Olympic Games only a year later. The Polish national team, present at the competition among 16 national teams, consisted of only nine sportsmen.

All three coins show a stylized image of a maple leaf, a stylized logo of the Polish Olympic Committee, POLSKA REPREZENTACJA OLIMPIJSKA VANCOUVER 2010 (Polish Olympic Team Vancouver 2010), the face value, a stylized image of a snowflake, RZECZPOSPOLITA POLSKA (Republic of Poland), the year of issue, an image of the Eagle established as the emblem of the Republic of Poland, and the Mint’s mark. The gold coin shows a male cross-country skier. The silver coin shows two male speed skaters and a male biathlete. The 2Zl coin shows a male ski jumper.

Mint: Warsaw

Year: 2010

Face value: 200, 10 and 2 zlotych

Finish: Proof (200Zt, 10Zt) and Standard (2Zt)

Composition: 90% Gold (200Zt), 92.5% Silver (10Zt) and 89% Copper, 5% Zinc, 5% Aluminum, 1% Nickel (2Zt)

Size: 27 mm (200Zt, 2Zt) and 32 mm (10Zt)

Weight: 15.5 grams (200Zt), 14.14 grams (10Zt) and 8.15 grams (2Zt)

Mintage: 8,000 (200Zt), 80,000 (10Zt), and 1,400,000 (2Zt)

The 40th Anniversary of the Moon Landing 2009 50 Cents Coin from Australia

The Royal Australian Mint celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the Moon Landing with the introduction of this commemorative 2009 dodecagonal 50 cent coin featuring the lunar module in space on its way to Tranquility base on the Moon. The incorporation of pad printing techniques to represent the vast expanse of the night sky is merged with an optically intriguing design which illustrates the foreground/ background relationship that the Moon and the Earth share.

Apollo 11 was the first manned missionto land on the Moon. On July 21, 1969, the first human being set foot on another celestial body, arguably the single greatest accomplishment and technical achievent of all time. This feat of ingenuity was a unifying event of global proportions, made possible by the cooperation of people from many countries, including Australia.

Mint: Canberra

Year: 2009

Face value: 50 Cents

Finish: Uncirculated

Composition: Cupro/Nickel

Size: 31.51 mm

Weight: 15.55 grams

Mintage: N/A

Four 2009 Silver and Gold Coins Celebrating Poland's Road to Freedom

The National Bank of Poland just issued four coins commemorating the 20-year anniversary of the June 4th, 1989 elections.

The elections of June 4th, 1989, were the first parliamentary elections in the Polish People’s Republic neither held under compulsion nor falsified. As a result, a new parliamentary and governmental system was established and the third Republic of Poland came into existence.

The 200-Zloty gold coin shows a silhouette of a person raising a hand and making the “V for victory” sign. In the background, a stylized image of the Sejm hall and people inside. The 25-Zloty gold coin shows a stylized inscription, SOLIDARNOŚC (Solidarity), replicating the logo of the Independent and Self-governing Solidarity Trade Union. The 10-Zloty silver coin shows a stylized image of Pope John Paul II holding a crosier in front of a crowd. Above the crowd, an inscription, SOLIDARNOŚĆ, in red and grey colors. The 2-Zloty coin shows a fragment of the conference hall of the Round Table talks with people inside. In the centre, a stylized image of a calendar page showing June 4th, 1989.

Mint: Warsaw

Year: 2009

Face value: 200, 25, 10 and 2 zlotych

Finish: Proof (200Zt, 25Z, and 10Zt), and Standard (2Zt)

Composition: 90% Gold (200Zt and 25Zt), 92.5% Silver (10Zt), and 89% Copper, 5% Zinc, 5% Aluminum, 1% Nickel (2Zt)

Size: 27 mm (200Zt and 2Zt), 12 mm (25Zt), and 32 mm (10Zt)

Weight: 15.5 grams (200Zt), 1 grams (25Zt), 14.14 grams (10Zt), and 8.15 grams (2Zt)

Mintage: 10,000 (200Zt), 40,000 (25Zt), 100,000 (10Zt), and 1,300,000 (2Zt)

Three coins celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the end of the First World War

The Royal Canadian Mint, in association with the Royal Canadian Legion, is proud to issue three coins commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Armistice. Between 1914 and 1918 over 650,000 Canadian men and women fought to protect the peace and freedom our country enjoys today. Of those, more than 66,000 gave their lives and another 170,000 would be wounded.

The first coin is a commemorative circulation 25-cent coin featuring the iconic red poppy, Canada's flower of remembrance. The poppy coin is the third colored circulation coin to be produced by the RCM, following the 2004 red poppy coin honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend Canada's freedom, and the 2006 pink ribbon coin which raised awareness for the fight against breast cancer.

The second coin is an oversized commemorative 25-cent coin depicting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. Three soldiers representing Canada's land, sea and air forces stand in tribute.

The third coin is a limited-edition poppy proof silver dollar featuring a finely sculpted poppy blossom in ultra-high-relief set against a maple leaf with a ribbon of remembrance, and the inscription “1918 ARMISTICE 2008”.

Mint: Ottawa

Year: 2008

Face value: 25 Cents (Poppy and National War Memorial), 1 Dollar (Limited-edition Poppy)

Finish: Circulation (Poppy), Specimen (National War Memorial), Proof (Limited-edition Poppy)

Composition: 94% Steel, 3.8% Copper, 2.2% Nickel (Poppy), Nickel-Plated Steel (National War Memorial), 92.5% Silver, 7.5% Copper (Limited-edition Poppy)

Size: 23.88 mm (Poppy), 35 mm (National War Memorial), 36.15 mm (Limited-edition Poppy)

Weight: 4.4 grams (Poppy), 12.61 grams (National War Memorial), 30 grams (Limited-edition Poppy)

Mintage: 11,000,000 (Poppy), 25,000 (National War Memorial), 5,000 (Limited-edition Poppy)

The 400th Anniversary of Quebec City on coins and stamps

Quebec City was founded on July 3, 1608 by the French explorer Samuel de Champlain, who established a settlement at Kébec, an Algonquin word meaning “place where the river narrows”. Quebec City's Old Town is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only walled city on the continent. It was built by both French and British armies, and is now a tourist district with small boutiques and hundreds of historical and photographic points of interest. The last time I went to Quebec City's Old Town, I visited a traditional glass-blowing workshop where I saw a craftsman at work producing decorative bottles.

To celebrate the 400th Anniversary of Quebec City, the Royal Canadian Mint issued a 2008 silver proof dollar coin featuring Samuel de Champlain with the habitation he built at the foot of Cap-aux-Diamants at Kébec. There's also a proof coin with selective gold plating on both sides available in the 2008 proof coin set.

The RCM has also struck a 2008 commemorative 2-dollar circulation coin. Its design features the encounter between Samuel de Champlain's vessel and the two shores of the St-Lawrence River, which are represented by two of a fleur-de-lys' petals.

Canada Post recently issued a 2008 commemorative stamp celebrating the 400th anniversary of the founding of Québec City, a joint issue with France's La Poste.

Mint: Ottawa

Year: 2008

Face value: 1 dollar, 2 dollars

Finish: Proof (dollar coin), brilliant uncirculated (Quebec City coin)

Composition: 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper (dollar coin), Ring: 99+% Nickel, Core: 92% Copper, 6% Aluminium, 2% Nickel (Quebec City coin)

Size: 36.07 mm (dollar coin), 28.03 mm (Quebec City coin)

Weight: 25.175 grams (dollar coin), 7.3 grams (Quebec City coin)

Mintage: 65,000 (silver dollar coin), 60,000 (silver and gold dollar coin), 2,000,000 (Quebec City coin)