Description
Step back in time to the Edwardian era of 1908 when the Royal Canadian Mint first opened as a branch of the British Royal Mint. The first gold coin to be struck on Canadian soil was a gold “sovereign” which circulated in Canada as a $4 denomination and could also be used in England or other British colonies with a value of one British pound. The original was struck in 22 karat gold and weighed just over one quarter ounce, serving as an important denomination in trade and commerce while also utilizing Canadian mined gold refined by the new mint. 110 years later, this new $200 coin recreates the spectacular “St. George and the Dragon” design in .99999 fine gold with a weight of just over one ounce and a limited mintage of just 500 coins. With the exception of the amended date of “2018”, the design is nearly identical to the original piece, including the same “C” mint mark that stands for “Canada”. HST/GST exempt.
The Design:
The reverse features Benedetto Pistrucci’s neoclassical-style design for the British gold Sovereign, as it appeared on coins first struck by the Ottawa Branch of the Royal Mint in 1908. Saint George is shown on horseback, his left hand holding the reins while his right hand holds a sword. A dragon lies wounded at the horse’s feet. Above the date a “C” mint mark denotes the country of production (Canada), just as it was denoted on the early gold coins produced by the Canadian Mint. The obverse features the original legend “EDWARDVS VII D: G: BRITT: OMN: REX: F: D: IND: IMP:” meaning “Edward VII: By The Grace of God, Of All the Britains, King, Defender of the Faith, and Emperor of India”, and the effigy of King Edward VII by George W. DeSaulles.
