The Royal Mint unveiled designs for several new commemorative coins last week. On Wednesday, April 20, three coins commemorating Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday were highlighted, two of which are composed of silver and a third is made of gold. Then on Friday, April 22, the Mint launched a silver coin commemorating the start of the Toronto Blue Jays’ 40th major league season.

The first silver coin honoring the Queen’s 90th birthday was designed by Tony Bianco, has a mintage limit of 7,000 pieces, and is available for $99.95 CAD. Its reverse features color depictions of St. Edward’s crown, the Royal Cypher, and a blue garter sash. Inscribed in silver are 90TH BIRTHDAY, ANNIVERSAIRE, 2016, CANADA, and the coin’s denomination of 20 DOLLARS. Engravings of maple leaves and the Queen’s diamond-encrusted maple leaf brooch are also included on the reverse.

This coin is not currently available on the Mint’s Web site, but can be purchased “at the Royal Canadian Mint’s boutiques in Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver, as well as through the Mint’s global network of dealers and distributors, including participating Canada Post outlets,” according to a press release.

The second silver coin is composed of 99.99% silver, carries a Proof finish, and has a mintage limited to 10,000 pieces. The reverse image was created by Claudio D’Angelo and features two roses colored with rose gold plating. The depicted roses are a pink variety known as Queen Elizabeth roses. Inscribed in the field is CANADA, 2016, and the denomination of 3 DOLLARS. This coin weighs 7.96 grams, measures 27 mm in diameter, and is now available for $44.95 CAD.

A third coin issued in honor of the Queen’s birthday was released earlier this month and has already sold out. Composed of two ounces of 99.99% gold, this issue had a mintage of just 125 coins and retailed for $6,999.95. The reverse of the coin features 29 Canadian diamonds and an emerald, along with the inscriptions CANADA, 1926-2016, and 250 DOLLARS.

Finally, the Mint has also launched a one-ounce silver proof coin celebrating the 40th season of the Toronto Blue Jays. The reverse design was created by Joel Kimmel and includes a Blue Jays logo in full color, along with an image of a batter following through on a swing at the center of the composition. Inscribed in silver are CANADA, 40 SEASONS, SAISONS, 2016, and 20 DOLLARS.

The coin is composed of 99.99% silver, measures 38 mm in diameter, and has a mintage limit of 40,000 pieces. It can be purchased for $99.95 CAD.

These coins all share an obverse design that features Susanna Blunt’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and the inscriptions ELIZABETH II and D.G. REGINA.

All photos and captions have been provided by the Royal Canadian Mint. For more information on Canada’s 2016 commemorative gold and silver coins, please visit the Mint’s Web site.



