Description
This 2015 $10 fine silver coin is one of seven in a new series from the Royal Canadian Mint that celebrates the Canadian franchises of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hockey's beloved status in Canada makes it "our game." The coin is struck in a half-ounce of 99.99% fine silver, and boasts an unusually low mintage of only 5,000 pieces. As a pure silver coin struck by the Royal Canadian Mint, this item is GST/HST exempt.
The Design:
The reverse of the coin pays homage to the Calgary Flames, with their logo tucked neatly to the left side of the coin, while a silhouette of an advancing hockey player speeding across the ice towards the viewer is seen on the right. The colours of the Calgary Flames are brought to life through the use of advanced "sheer effect" colourization that makes the colours flash fantastically under the light. This coin boasts a reverse-proof finish, with text indicating the face value of "10 DOLLARS", the country "CANADA" and the date "2015" circling the rim.
The Calgary Flames:
The Calgary Flames, based in Calgary, Alberta, are one of two NHL franchises in Alberta, the other being the Edmonton Oilers. The cities' proximity has led to a rivalry known as the "Battle of Alberta", and games between the two teams are often quite heated events. The team was founded in 1972 in Atlanta, Georgia as the Atlanta Flames, when they relocated to Calgary in 1980. In 1988–89, the Flames won their first and only championship. The Flames' unexpected run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals gave rise to the Red Mile, which is the 17th Avenue SW entertainment district; during the finals, about 60,000 people packed the street, creating a "non-stop party." Nine people associated with the Flames have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
